Monday, November 17

A growing number of schools in Minnesota are turning to the state's abundant rivers and creeks to teach students about science. The testing of water quality offers practical lessons in chemistry, biology, earth science and math. Biology classes at Eden Prairie High School make several trips a year to the Mississippi River and its tributaries to test water. Teachers say the use of technology and hands-on learning gives students a greater appriciation of their environment and science. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Child protection costs in Hennepin County have exploded the past two years. They're up 100%. County officials preparing the budget for next year are bracing for another big increase. One of the biggest costs is foster care for children. Officials say the effect of crack cocaine use on families is part of the reason costs are rising. The increase means the county doesn't have as much money for other programs including those designed to prevent the need for child protection. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.

A few weeks ago, before the snow fell, Naturalist Kathy Heidel took MPR's Bob Potter on a walk at the Lowry Nature Center near Victoria. They inspected the winter home of one of the wood's smaller residents.

The US financial markets will be keeping a wary eye overseas this week -- at what happens in Asia and the tension over Iraq. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Potter asked senior business and economics editor Chris Farrell for a preview.

On Future Tense: Tia O'Briens' assignment for "West" magazine was to write a profile of Scott Adams, creator of the "Dilbert" comic strip, which lamppons corporate managers. Not wanting to do a run of the mill piece, O'Brien asked Adams to pose as a management consultant whose job was to infiltrate a Silicon Valley company and guide executives in crafting a new mission statement. Adams pulled off the deception with the cooperation of Logitech co-founder Pierluigi Zappacosta. Adams, who took the name Ray Mebert, began his meeting with Logitech executives by trashing the company's existing mission statement. Tia O'Brien picks up the story.

Tuesday, November 18

Deep under the lakes and woods of Northeastern Minnesota, in the Soudan Underground Mine State Park, a handful of researchers study tiny electronic signals. Shielded by half a mile of solid rock, the researchers seek evidence that might explain the origin and fate of the universe. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher plunged into the University of Minnesota's deep physics lab at the bottom of Minnesota's oldest underground iron mine, and prepared this report.

On Future Tense: Houston Chronicle computer columnist Dwight Silverman is at the Comdex computer show in Las Vegas. He has a review of some of the keynote speeches.

Wednesday, November 19

Minneapolis officials say the city's budget for next year needs to include money to help neighborhoods hit last summer by floods. Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton proposes next year's budget to the city council this afternooon. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.

Real Twins fans don't have much to cheer about these days, but hundreds of Minnesotans flocked to the Metrodome yesterday to ACT like Twins fans in the movie "Major League III." Among them were several busloads of people from Saint Cloud, motivated by a fascination with the movie business. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talked with extras to see whether the experience is worth it.

A Minneapolis charity that provides meals, clothes and even haircuts to the poor is expanding. Sharing and Caring Hands is dedicating a new building today that's more than twice the size of its current quarters. The new center cost 4.7 million dollars and is being paid for with private donations. It's the latest project undertaken by Mary Jo Copeland, who also runs Mary's Place, a transitional housing complex for homeless families.

The American League has given permission to Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad to proceed with sale talks. Pohlad says he expects Don Beaver to make a formal offer soon and he expects Major League Baseball to approve the sale. If the sale and move to North Carolina is approved, the big question is where will the team play. Voters in the Triad area will vote May Fifth on a sales tax increase to pay for a new stadium. Meanwhile, business leaders in Charlotte have begun meeting to discuss whether that city should try and lure the team with a new stadium. We talk to Pam Moore who has been covering this story for The Charlotte Observer.

On Future Tense: More than three dozen Minnesota firms are exhibiting their products at Comdex, the huge Las Vegas computer show. The Eden Prairie-based data recovery firm Ontrack Data International is showing off its new Remote Data Recovery service, which debuts in January. We hear from Ontrack's director of technology, Jim Reinert.

Thursday, November 20

Wolves were last hunted in Minnesota in 1965, nine years before they were declared an endangered species. Since then, the Eastern timberwolf has staged a comeback in the state, so much so that it could soon be taken off the federal endangered species list. "De-listing," as it's known, means the wolf would return to state management -- and a big question is whether the wolf may again be hunted for sport. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Today is D-Day. Since 1974, this is the day each year that smokers have been encouraged to give up cigarettes for 24 hours in hopes that it will help them quit for good. Meanwhile, an alliance of doctors is charging that Minnesota's three largest health plans aren't doing enough to pay for smoking cessation drugs and therapy. Morning Edition Producer Jim Bickal talked with some St. Paul smokers about quitting.

On Future Tense: A new study says information technology rivals health care as the most significant force in the U-S economy. The American Electronics Association and the Nasdaq Stock Market say high tech is the largest manufacturing industry, has wages 73 percent higher than the average and is the largest exporter. AEA research director Michaela Platzer authored the study.

Friday, November 21

This week at the University of Minnesota's Weisman Art Museum, Academics, artists, cultural critics and architects are talking about SHOPPING. An international symposium is covering topics SUCH as Mall-going as a Religious Experience. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.

This Sunday evening PBS will televise the first part of a documentary called "Liberty: The American Revolution." The six hour series, which will air over three consecutive nights, chronicles the birth of this nation from 1763 to 1789. The writing and filming of "Liberty" was done by New York-based Middlemarch Productions, but the project was actually conceived and funded through KTCA-TV, located in the Twin Cities. We talk to Gerry Richman, KTCA's Vice-President of National Production.

Mark Seeley heralds the coming of an Alberta Clipper...and says some snowfall is the norm for Thanksgiving weekend.

On Future Tense: Online journalism is gaining a little respect. For the first time, The Pulitzer Prize committee will allow online entries from newspapers. Papers seeking the public-service prize based on work published in 1998 will be allowed to submit a single CD-ROM carrying the on-line contents. We hear from Geneva Overholser, chairwoman of this year's Pulitzer board and ombudsman at the Washington Post.

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