Monday, March 23

A cast of corporate super stars is assembling in Las Vegas today to mark the 60th anniversary of Minnesota-based Carlson Companies. Several CEO's including top executives from British Airways, Coca Cola and Walt Disney, even former President George Bush, will toast Curt Carlson's career. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Scientists investigating the deformed frogs found in Minnesota and other states are narrowing their search for a cause. A year ago, researchers were still considering three main possible culprits. Now it appears that the first two explanations may be scientific dead ends, and the third, more troubling scenario may be the most likely. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

Judging by comments at a recent Minnesota Public Radio/Star Tribune/KTCA TV citizens forum on education, Minnesota's gubernatorial candidates will be stepping into tricky territory when they try to outline their education proposals. The citizens complained that the state's education system isn't meeting the needs of today's children and demanded the next Governor do something about the problem. But many said the problem with schools is that they're being micromanaged by the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports on the mixed messages and candidate questions that came out of the forum.

On Future Tense: New technology allows you to operate your computer without your hands. With a product from the Brain Actuated Technology Company, you strap on a headband, and use your eyes and facial gestures to move a cursor and open program. B-A-T's Christian Berg explains.

The Minnesota tobacco trial is entering its ninth week and the plantiffs, the state and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota are about to rest their case. MPR reporters Elizabeth Stawicki and Laura McCallum have been covering the trial from the beginning. They've joined me in the studio this morning with an update on where things stand.

The stock market opens for trading in a little over a half hour with the Dow Industirals at a record 8906. Several other popular market averages are also at all-time highs. Mn Public Radio's Chris Farrell is as surprised as everyone by the market's strength.

Capitol Reporter Martin Kaste previews the week ahead at the Legislature.

Tuesday, March 24

This month, about one thousand of Minnesota's 50-thousand welfare recipients had their checks reduced by ten percent for failing to show up to orientation sessions which explain how the new welfare system works. They're being given a second chance to attend, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, if they fail to show up AGAIN, their benefits will be cutback even FURTHER.

With the announcement yesterday that Minnesota Public Radio is selling its for-profit catalog company to the Dayton Hudson corporation...MPR's financial footings become substantially stronger. The 120 million dollar deal means that MPR's endowment fund will become the largest in all of public broadcasting. MPR officials say the event is good news for network and its listeners...but there may be a risk to its fundraising. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephen Smith reports.

Have you ever wondered how an artist comes up with the ideas that inspire a work of art? You would probably imagine the artist alone in studio somewhere, deep in thought. But that's not how Trimpin works. Trimpin creates elaborate sculptures that integrate sound and movement. His work has been exhibited all over the world. Trimin says he often finds his inspiration in junk shops. Last week he was in the Twin Cities to give a talk about his work. And whenever he's in town he makes it a point to spend a few hours at one of his favorite shops: the Axman Surplus Store in St. Paul. Morning Edition Producer Jim Bickal met him there and has this report.

Congress is considering a bill that would require many health insurers to expand their coverage of alcohol and drug addiction programs. The bill is co-sponsored by Minnesota's Republican Congressman Jim Ramstad and Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone. It's intended to force insurers to treat addiction as they would any other disease. We talk to Congressman Ramstad.

Minnesota Public Radio announced yesterday that it's selling its for-profit catalog company to the Dayton Hudson corporation for 120 million dollars. About 90 million dollars in proceeds from the sale are expected to go into MPR's endowment... which would make it the largest in all of public broadcasting. Tom Thomas is with the Station Resource Group, an Washington D.C.-based organization of public radio stations from around the country. He says endowments are a relatively new development in public radio.

On Future Tense: Richard Grimes has seen a lot of web sites come and go. Grimes is one of the people behind a popular web site called "cool site of the day." Grimes says too often, individuals or small groups who put up web sites aren't able to keep them on the web.

Wednesday, March 25 More than two months into Minnesota's tobacco trial, the defense has called its first witness - University of Minnesota history professor Hy Berman. The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota rested their case against tobacco companies yesterday, but could call more witnesses later in the trial. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman used yesterday's State of the City speech to highlight some ways the city can help residents who are struggling with poverty during these comparatively prosperous economic times. Preventing teen pregnancy and overcoming drug addiction were among the themese included in Coleman's speech. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Next week the U-S Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the case of Finley vs. the NEA. At issue is a law passed in 1990 that requires artists who receive money from the National Endowment for the Arts to meet "general standards of decency." Lawyers representing four performance artists including Karen Finley will argue that the provision violates the First Amendment. Before heading to Washington for the hearing Finley will be performing this week in Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal talked to Karen Finley about her legal case and her new performance.

On Future Tense, the elements of a bad web site.

When the cigarette was first introduced in this country, it wasn't associated with any strapping Marlboro Man for many years. In fact, it was considered unmanly... and according to one writer at the time, suitable only for "pseudo-accomplished foreigners." So how did cigarettes become big business? John Burnham is professor of history at Ohio State University. He took on that question in his book Bad Habits: A Social History of National Vices. A rash of counterfeiting incidents were reported around Minnesota last November through January. In Austin alone, 6 counterfeit bills were passed to local merchants in the past three months. Craig Einsel is assistant special agent in charge of the Secret Service field office in Minneapolis. His office trains merchants on how to spot fake money. Einsel says while there hasn't been a boom in counterfeiting, the complexion of the crime is changing.

Thursday, March 26

State's attorneys in Minnesota's tobacco trial are expected to begin cross-examining a historian who testified yesterday that Minnesotans have long known about the health risks of smoking. University of Minnesota history professor Hy Berman told jurors the public has known cigarettes were hazardous more than 100 years ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.

Minnesota's challenge against Big Tobacco is providing inspiration for SIMILAR challenges overseas. THIS WEEK, attorneys from Britain were in St. Paul to meet with the state's attorneys in the case, and to observe courtroom proceedings. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.

St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman says the deal to build a new hockey arena for the Minnesota "Wild" is good for the state AND good for taxpayers -- no matter what his critics say. Yesterday evening Coleman was grilled by state legislators, many of whom think the arena deal is politically and financially flawed. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

A Ramsey County judge is considering whether to order the Minnesota Twins and major league baseball to submit over 30 years of documents to Attorney General Skip Humphrey. Humphrey's office is investigating whether a threatened move of the Minnesota Twins to North Carolina violates federal anti-trust laws. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Collins reports.

The World Figure Skating Championships begin this week in Minneapolis and you can choose any superlative you wish to describe the event. "Biggest" and "best" certainly work. The event spotlights 225 of the world's best figure skaters from 50 countries. The World Championships is the biggest skating event in Minnesota figure skating history - which is saying quite a lot since the area was once one of the world's figure skating capitols. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

On Future Tense: Medical device makers say millions of people with life-saving electronic gadgets in their bodies such as pacemakers shouldn't worry about malfuntions related to Year 2000 computer programming problems. Dick Reid is a spokesman for Medtronic, the world's largest pacemaker manufacturer, and he says despite some nasty rumors, pacemakers will not fail on January 1, 2000.

The activity is fast and furious at the Capitol these days as lawmakers try to finish their work before Easter. Both the House and Senate will conduct floor sessions today. Meanwhile, conference committees are meeting to work out differences on a number of bills. Judy Cook is the President of the Minnesota Retail Merchants Association and a busy lobbyist. She joins me now.

Friday, March 27

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