Monday, May 11

Gubernatorial candidate Mike Freeman appears to be maintaining his lead in the race for the DFL party endorsement. This weekend Freeman won two more DFL straw polls, at the party's 3rd and 4th Congressional District conventions -- which represent Minneapolis's southwestern suburbs and the St Paul area. About HALF the delegates polled indicated they're backing Freeman, with second-place finisher Skip Humphrey scoring about 37 percent. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has more.

While it's hard to gauge how many votes the tobacco settlement will be worth to Skip Humphrey, his political standing has come a long way. TODAY, he's being hailed as a tough attorney general, clever negotiator and even a saavy politician. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Karen Louise Boothe reports, when he filed the suit four years ago he faced criticism and political risk.

Tobacco companies say one of the reasons they settled Minnesota's tobacco lawsuit was their view that they couldn't get a fair trial here - they argued the jury and judge were biased against them. A statement from R-J Reynolds said the court's rulings favored the state, and, quote, "placed a loaded gun to our head." The judge in Minnesota's tobacco trial found his name in the news nearly every day for the past four months - his every word heavily scrutinized as he presided over what might be the most high-profile case in Minnesota history. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at Kenneth Fitzpatrick's reputation and judicial style.

It's an old argument with a new twist. Which is more important, economics or the environment? As new technologies have emerged, some people criticize the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for favoring the economics of new ventures, and ignoring the serious environmental questions posed by emerging industries. All this week we'll look at specific cases, including animal feedlots, expanding potato farms and a new ethanol plant. In some cases, the concerns center around how a variety of state and federal agencies work together, or don't, to protect our environmental resources.

We begin our series of reports, with an issue that's received a lot of attention recently. Opponents of large livestock feedlots say the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has ignored health problems created by those operations. They're especially concerned with air pollution. This spring for the first time the MPCA documented hydrogen sulfide emissions from a hog farm which violated state law. Opponents call it vindication, but wonder if the MPCA will take vigorous action to bring the feedlot into compliance. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.

On Future Tense: Digital Audio took off after Philips Electronics introduced the first compact disc player in 1982. Philips is still bullish on the future of the CD - even as other digital media such as five or six-channel D-V-D audio threaten to displace the humble DC. Dez Poer is director of marketing for Philips' audio division.

Get set for another week of interest rate jitters on Wall Street. The Federal Reserve meets next week, and traders are worried about what Alan Greenspan may do. MN Public Radio's Chris Farrell thinks the Fed is on hold for the time being. He spoke with MPR's Bob Potter.

Hennepin County is halfway through a two-year experiment to reduce drug abuse in the county. The Drug Court moves cases through the legal system very quickly and allows many offenders to avoid jail time if they go through treatment and stay clean. According to a new evaluation, the Drug court has saved Hennepin County over a quarter-million dollars. Peter McLaughlin is a Hennepin Coutny Commissioner.

In addition to the 7 billion dollars that the tobacco companies will have to pay out over the next 25 years, Friday's settlement included a number of provisions designed to discourage smoking in the future. One of those provisions prohibits the tobacco companies from "taking any action to target children in Minnesota in the advertising, promotion or marketing of cigarettes." Tom Purcel helped work out the settlement for the Attorney General's Office. He joins us now by phone.

Tuesday, May 12

It's an old arguement with a new twist. Which is more important, economics or the environment? In Minnesota, the Pollution Control Agency is generally charged with protecting the state's natural resources. But when it comes to regulating chemicals used on farmland the Department of Agriculture is in charge. Today in the second of our week long series, a look at the effects of increasing irrigation in west central Minnesota. The focus of concern is potato farming. About ten thousand acres of irrigated potatos are grown in Ottertail County, most by one large corporation. Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.

Last month, three massive mergers shook the banking and financial services industries, not only because of their size .... but because of the rapid fire pace of announcements. None of the companies involved is a major player in consumer banking in this state, but the situation has many observers wondering if Minnesota companies will be next. Experts say the merger fervor affects a financial services industry that is an important and large part of the region's economy. Bill Catlin has this report.

Author Tom Clancy says he opened his financial books yesterday for NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue in order to show he can raise 200 million dollars to buy the Minnesota Vikings. But an NFL spokesman says Clancy will probably have to make another presentation to the league's finance committee next week. At least 23 of the 30 N-F-L owners need to approve the Vikings sale, but it's unclear whether they'll take a formal vote at next week's meeting. We talk to MPR Sports Commentator Jay Weiner about the Vikings, Twins and the still unresolved stadium question.

After five years of preparation and debate, the Minnesota State Board of Education yesterday formally approved a set of new graduation standards. The Profile of Learning will require students to work on projects that demonstrate what they've learned in 10 subject areas - ranging from reading, writing and arithmetic to more abstract fields like decision-making and managing resources. By 2002, all high school students in the state will have to meet the new requirements. We talk with Beth Aune, director of post-secondary education with the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning.

On Future Tense: In California's Silicon Valley, high-tech workers with Minnesota roots are being asked to come home. the Minnesota High Tech Council is waging a campaign on television, radio and billboards to persuade computer workers to take some of the thousands of open jobs in Minnesota. Rick Kruegger is head of the High Tech Council.

Wednesday, May 13

It's an old argument with a new twist. Which is more important, economics or the environment? As new technologies have emerged, some people criticize the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for favoring the economics of new ventures, and ignoring the serious environmental questions posed by evolving industries. Fishing enthusiasts with the state chapter of Trout Unlimited are monitoring construction of an enthanol plant in the southeast Minnesota town of Preston. In the second story of our weeklong series, Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports officials with the volunteer recreation group Trout Unlimited worry about possible damage to the nearby Root River--one of the state's premier trout streams. They charge the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency with lax permit enforcement and failure to recognize the Root as a valuable resource.

On Future Tense: The Internet is doing a great deal to inform the public on what the tobacco industry has known about the health risks of smoking. Four years ago medical researcher Stanton Glanz obtained 10,000 pages of previously secret documents from tobacco company Brown and Williamson. A year later he put them on the web. These documents are the basis of Glantz's book The Cigarette Papers, which illustrates the gap between Brown and Williamson said it knew about the dangers of smoking, and what it really knew. Glantz says using the net transformed the tobacco debate.

A fleet of five helicopters is criss-crossing the Twin Cities this morning waging war against battalions of the most bloodthirsty predators known in Minnesota. Yes, mosquitoes have emerged early this year... like everything else that comes with spring. And the Metropolitan Mosquito Contro District is getting a jump on the early risers in hopes of making summer a bit more comfortable. Mike McClean is a spokesperson for the district.

Internet users in the Twin Cities area will now be able to get access to the Web that is at least ten times faster than a standard modem connection. US-West's "Mega Bit Service" allows existing phone lines to be used for voice and computer communication at the same time. Greg Gum is the Executive Director of the new venture and he joins me now.

At least four major projects are currently underway in downtown St. Paul. Crews have been clearing space for two new office buildings, the Science Museum is slowly rising on the city's riverfront and the old Civic Center arena is being demolished in preparation for a new hockey arena. What's still unclear is just how the look and feel of downtown will change once these projects are complete. St. Paul Pioneer Press architecture critic Larry Millett will address that question tonight in a free talk at Landmark Center. He joins me now.

The director of the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center says Minnesota's tobacco trial will prove to be one of the most significant public health developments of the latter part of the 20th century. Dr. Richard Hurt was the state's first witness in the case. He testified nicotine is a drug and said tobacco companies conspired to hide its addictiveness. Dr. Hurt told Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe that the trial is as important as any warning issued by the Surgeon General.

Thursday, May 14

Law enforcement officials say despite some recent high-profile homicides, they're beginning to see improvements in some of Minneapolis' toughest neighborhoods. Some neighborhood leaders say they agree, but argue that's no reason to lift the pressure on drug dealers and city officials. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports.

It's an old argument with a new twist. Which is more important, economics or the environment? Residents in the rural parts of Minnesota continually face this question when it comes to feedlots. In the fourth of our week-long series looking at environmental issues around the state...some of which fall under the authority of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Gretchen Lehmann reports on one Central Minnesota county where officials believe counties should handle feedlots, not the MPCA.

An award winning, controversial play is coming to Minneapolis, after dominating the off-broadway scene in New York for the last year. Paula Vogel's, "How I Learned to Drive," which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize last month, explores a disturbingly erotic relationship between a girl and her uncle. The Eye of the Storm Theater scored a coup when it won the rights to stage the play, in part because of its relationship with the playwright. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.

Minnesota's cropland is NOT an endangered commodity...but some contend it's being lost too quickly in places where farming has been a way of life. The United States Agriculture Department says even though urban areas are growing, Minnesota's cropland has not been reduced. That's because the urban landscape is still only a tiny fraction of the state's total amount of land. Minnesota Public Radio's Perry Finelli reports.

Friday, May 15

While many farmers are enjoying perfect conditions for early spring planting there's an area in northeastern South Dakota into southeastern North Dakota where floods prevent farmers from getting to their fields. After years of wet weather, the water tables in this region are so close to the surface, that water is bubbling up from the ground. Recent heavy rains - with more than 12 inches in the past two weeks are making things worse. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports.

It's an old argument with a new twist. Which is more important, economics or the environment? Some people criticize the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for favoring economic development, and ignoring the potential for environmental damage. In the final part of our series on problems at the MPCA, Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure looks at charges that long term changes in the agency's philosophy are responsible for the growing list of environmental problems on its watch.

In June, President Clinton will become the first president to visit China since it's military crackdown on democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square nine years ago. In advance of Clinton's visit, China has released several prominent political dissidents from jail. But concerns over human rights and other issues continue to make the US-China relationshi a tense one. China experts are meeting in Minneapolis this weekend to draw up a list of suggestions to hand to Clinton before his trip. Burton Levin, a retired US ambassador and former consul general in Hong Kong, will convene the conference. Currently he teaches Chinese studies at Carleton College in Northfield.

Bald Eagles are making quite a comeback. Not only are they no longer an endangered species, one will soon have a home on the Internet. The University of Minnesota's Raptor Center will release a bald eagle named Lindbergh in St. Paul today. It will be equipped with a radio transmitter that will allow the bird to be tracked via satellite for three years. People who want to keep tabs on Lindbergh can do so at a special web site. Pat Redig is with the Raptor Center and he joins me now in the studio.

On Future Tense: Vice President Gore has announced a White House effort to help Americans keep their medical records, credit reports and driver's license information private. Gore says the Internet has jeopardized that security. President Clinton has ordered agencies to examine their existing privacy practices. And the Federal Trade Commission is starting a Web site to enable people to keep companies and marketers away from private information. Ari Schwartz is a policy analyst with the Center for Democracy and Technology, a group that works to protect individual privacy. He says the White House policies are not strong enough, but he's glad for the effort.

For more Morning Edition listings: