Monday, January 5

Many independently owned movie theatres have gone out of business over the past couple of decades. But a few independent movie houses are finding success serving niche audiences. Holly Nelson reports on two Twin Cities' independents and how they keep going.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources holds the first of twelve public hearings today to gain input on managing the wolf when it returns to state control. That could be as soon as next year. Timberwolves were placed on the endangered species list in 1974. Since then, the population has recovered and wolves have extended their range to cover the northern half of the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports from Duluth.

On Future Tense: The emergence of handheld computers is one of the top tech stories of 1997. So says Dan Gillmor, columnist for the San Jose Mercury News.

Stock and bond investors will have some important economic data to digest this week, the first full trading week of the New Year. The psychology of the market is a little nervous at the start of 1998, as we hear from Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell.

Minnesota's community notification law went into effect a year ago. Since then, seventeen public meetings have been held to notify communities that a convicted sex offender would be moving into their neighborhoods. Each of those cases involved the release of a level three sex offender, someone considered most likely to re-offend. But all in all more than 500 sex offenders were released in Minnesota last year. Will Alexander is a research analyst for the state Corrections Department.

Lt. Robert Maskel of the State Patrol discusses roads and accidents in the metro area in the wake of yesterday's ice storm.

Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes discusses storm aftermath in southern Minnesota.

Tuesday, January 6

Twin Cities officials are doing their best to mix business with politics! It's their attempt to propose hosting the Democratic National Convention in the year two-thousand. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, Twin Cities officials face a January 16 deadline and find themselves up against some stiff competition. A number of other U.S. cities are making similar bids.

Around 200 angry landowners at a hearing in Thief River Falls forcefully told state officials they want changes in the laws protecting wolves. The Timberwolf will likely be removed from the Federal Endangered Species list next year, and the Minnesota DNR is gathering input at 12 public hearings around the state on how to manage the wolf population. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

On Future Tense: A couple of weeks ago, America Online won the right to sue anyone who spammed AOL customers with junkmail. In retaliation, Melle promised to put five million email addresses on the web where they can easily be downloaded and used by even more junkmailers, clogging up even more mailboxes. But yesterday, Melle--who runs a group called the National Organization of Internet Commerce--withdrew the threat.

Mike Zimms is an extension horticulturalist with the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, discusses Little Alfie and how it fits into the big picture of forests and trees in Minnesota.

Wednesday, January 7

A Minnesota state representative is visiting North Carolina this week and finding the debate there over whether to build a new baseball stadium is a lot like the one here. Reporter Michelle Johnson reports from Winston-Salem.

On Future Tense: A gathering of Macintosh fans is always a good look at the state of the faithful. Even when the company was on death's doorstep a year ago, hard core fans of the Macintosh were still imploring others not to toss in the towel and head for the PC. MacWorld is underway in San Francisco and I talked with Tim Bajarin, a computer consultant who follows Mac.

A new documentary airs tonight on public television. It's called "Literature and Life: The Givens Collection." The Givens Collection of African-American Literature is housed at the University of Minnesota and contains a wide range of materials from slave narratives, to writings from the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s. The documentary explores the collection through readings, interviews and contemporary links to the literature. John Wright is a professor of African-American studies at the University of Minnesota and the principal scholar for the Collection. Turning a collection of books into a compelling television program is a challenge. Producer Daniel Bergin says one of his goals was to find themes in the work that are still relevant today.

Thursday, January 8

A nationwide survey of wildlife refuges shows a low rate of frog deformities. It's an indication that most deformed frogs may be confined to isolated "hot spots" like Minnesota ----not part of a widespread problem. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

Dawn Halverson of Resources for Child Care for reaction to Clinton's proposal for increasing federal funds for child care and an update on MN efforts to boost child care.

St. Paul City Council member Dan Bostrom who's expected to be elected chairman yesterday.

Friday, January 9

As the annual flood of tax mailings enters the mailstream, state education officials are spreading the word about the state's new tax credit and deduction law. The new law allows low income families to take a dollar-for-dollar credit for educational expences incurred this year, and increases the deductions available for all families. They'll actually see the money in next year's tax refunds, but education choice advocates who helped pass the controversial law say they now want to make sure people are using it now. Businesses providing some of the services eligible for the tax breaks are also gearing up for the law's potential impact. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

The news this week that a maverick Chicago researcher intends to defy President Clinton's request for a voluntary moratorium on human cloning may accelerate Congressional efforts to make cloning illegal. Infertility specialists warn that bills now before Congress might go beyond cloning to stifle research on important new infertility therapies. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephen Smith has more as part of our on-going series, The Fertility Race.

An official in Minnesota's hospitality industry calls this week's Immigration and Naturalization Service raid at a St. Paul restaurant a wake-up call to the state's employers. But even if businesses do step up their efforts to ensure immigrant workers are legally documented, more I-N-S raids in the Twin Cities seem likely. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports the federal agency is putting more resources into stopping the trafficking of fraudulent identification documents.

On Future Tense: Sometimes the way to make millions in technology is not to think so much. Take an idea that one entrepreneur came up with after watching Sandra Bulluck orderaa pizza by computer in the movie "eThe Net." From that, Cybermeals was formed - a company that allows you to order take-out or get a pizza delivered through the Net. Company Veep Greg Eckstrom says a simple name and address kicks in an impressive computer backbone.

Garth Morrisette of the Atorney General's Office discusses US West's potential entry into the long distance phone service market.

Meteorologist Mark Seeley on the wacky weather and expected cold front.

Author Ron Handberg talks about his latest book, Malice Intended.

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