Monday, August 3

When plans for the Hiawatha avenue Light Rail Transit line first surfaced, at least one Twin Cities airport commssion member opposed any transit link to the airport, and several others were lukewarm. But now the commission seems resigned to accomodating the idea. The airport's light rail segment is the most expensive portion of the route. Negotiaters are trying to agree on where to run the line, and how much money the Metropolitan Airports Commission will contribute. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.

Minnesota is vying for the chance to host the next Republican National Convention in the year 2000. A Republican site selection committee arrived in the Twin Cities yesterday, and officials from Minneapolis and Saint Paul are trying to make sure committee members like what they see. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

From now to the primary in September, Minnesota Public Radio is presenting in-depth looks at the where the candidates stand on the big issues. This week we're focusing on TAXES. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste talks with the Republican endorsed candidate, St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman.

There are now 25 days until the end of the 30 day cooling off period and the time when the Northwest pilots could go out on strike. Even though the strike may not happen, travelers are already making plans to fly on other airlines. We talk with Sis Mishou, the Branch Manager for the Travel and Transport Agency in St. Paul.

The Minneapolis based Children's Theatre Company is proving that Dr. Seuss appeals to all cultures. The Children's theatre company is in Tokyo performing at the Nissay Youth Festival. It's only the second US arts organization ever invited to perform at the festival. Wendy Lehr is both acting in and co-directing the children Theatre Company's production of "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins." She says Japanese kids aren't as familiar with Dr. Seuss as American kids, but there were still good reasons to present the play in Japan.

On Future Tense: Consider this: when you buy a shirt from a catalog company in another state you owe your state something called a use tax, but generally you don't pay it because your state can't force the out-of-state company to collect it. Internet stores say they're like catalog companies and it would be unfair to treat them any differently. So, should state and local governments be able to tax sales on the Internet? Congress is considering placing a moratorium on such taxes for anywhere from 2 to 6 years to give a commission time to solve the problem. Online businesses say electronic commerce will wither if it is subjected to the tax laws of thousands of state and local governments across the country. Tim Masanz of the National Governors' Association, sees big problems if governments can't tax internet sales.

Tonight, thousands of Minnesotans will be joining the millions of Americans taking part in National Night Out, billed as the nation's single-biggest neighborhood crime fighting event. Minnesota Public Radio's John Rabe reports.

Tractor pulls are a popular sport around the Midwest. The flame spitting tractors spewing dirt as they pull a weighted sled down the track attract big crowds. Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson found a slightly tamer version of the tractor pull thats attracting a growing crowd and has produced a new National and potential World Champion from Minnesota.

From now to the primary in September, Minnesota Public Radio is presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. In THIS segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on the TAX platform of DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton.

Many travelers are changing their plans in anticiaption of a possible strike by Northwest Airlines pilots that could begin as soon as August 29th. But travelers aren't the only ones weighing their options. Other arilines are also considering what they might do in the event of a strike. Northwest Airlines leases most of the gates at the Twin Cities International Airport, but if the gates are unused because of a strike Northwest may have to sublet some gates to competitors. Wendy Burt, Public Information Officer for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, explains the policy.

On Future Tense: E-mail glitches that allow hackers to attack your computer are a real threat to computer users. Phillip Fox of Computer Information Advisory Capability explains.

Later today leaders of Northwest Airlines largest union will formally release results of last weeks contract vote. The President of the machinists union says members have rejected tentative contract agreements with the airline and authorized leaders to call a strike. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

From now to the primary in September, Minnesota Public Radio is presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. This week we're focusing on taxes. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talks with Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Jesse Ventura.

While the governor's race is getting most of the attention from political pundits, there's another race that can be just as important to the individual lives of Minnesotans--the race for the state's top lawyer--attorney general. The A-G's office can fight small-time con artists or entire industries that defraud, scam or swindle the public. The post is uniquely powerful because whoever holds it decides which battles its 250 lawyers will pursue. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports on who's in this year's attorney general's race and why.

Saint Paul city council members are poised to approve a new ordinance regarding the hiring of city employees by private businesses. Under the proposal, employees who leave for private sector jobs could not immediately work on the same projects they handled in city hall. The proposal follows the hirings of two city employees by the Minnesota Wild hockey team. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.

The Dow Jones Index fell nearly 300 points yesterday in its third-biggest point-loss ever. The slide extends losses of recent weeks, and raises questions about whether the bull market will continue. The Dow has nearly quadrupled since 1990. Minnesota finance commissioner Wayne Simoneau says he doesn't think the market drop will affect the state's economy or budget surplus - at least in the short-term.

The Saint Paul school board will choose the district's next superintendent today. The two finalists are Robert Gilpatrick, superintendent of the Verona Area, Wisconsin, district and Penelope Kleinhans, superintendent of Athol-Royalston schools in Massachusetts. They've spent two days talking to students, parents, teachers, business people and a citizens' advisory committee. We talk with school board vice chair Greg Felice about how the selection process has worked.

On Future Tense: America Online is distributing a new version of its software for PC users. Journalist Henry Norr reviewed AOL 4.0 in the San Francisco Chronicle. He says the software is worth acquiring eventually.

DFL Gubernatorial Candidate Doug Johnson has called on Governor Carlson to hold a special session on the farm crisis. Johnson was one of several candidates at a forum at Farm Fest in Redwood Falls yesterday. But while more than three hundred people listened to the debate, Minnesota Public Radio's Kathryn Herzog reports few seemed convinced by any of the candidiates proposals.

This week, more than 700 Minnesota school cooks and food service workers gathered in Rochester to discuss food safety, nutrition, and the latest products they serve in their cafeterias. The Minnesota School Food Service Association holds an annual convention to help school cooks find new ways to bring good tasting and nutritious food to their "customers." Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe stopped by the convention and has this report.

The jury in the Coppage fire murder case has found a reputed gang leader GUILTY of ordering gang members to firebomb an east St Paul home four years ago. That fire killed five young children on a wintry, February night in 1994. The case drew widespread attention as one of the most heinous crimes in St Paul history. The five children--ages 2 to 11 burned to death. Two died in their cribs. As Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, the verdict brings a bit of closure to a violent and painful episode in the city's past.

The Saint Paul school board will reopen its search for a new superintendent. Board members voted 5 to 2 Wednesday night to keep looking after a citizen panel failed to endorse either of the board's two finalists for the job. The delay will mean greater expenses for the district and at least a year of interim leadership. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98." From NOW to the primary in September, we're presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. In THIS segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on DFL gubernatorial candidate Mike Freeman's Tax plans.

For several years, Minnesota has been running a budget surplus. Earlier this year, legislators voted to spend some of a projected 2 BILLION dollar surplus on public works projects and on tax relief. But only three years ago, Minnesota was preparing for a budget crisis. Experts warned that cuts in federal aid and growing health care and education costs would squeeze state resources, creating a state budget DEFICIT of up to 8 billion dollars within 6 years. Governor Carlson asked two former lawmakers to prepare a report suggesting ways to cut state spending in order to avoid a tax hike. One of them was former Minnesota Congressman Vin Weber. He says the report identified a problem that still exists today.

After several weeks of number crunching, Minneapolis police have evaluated their 30-day drug crackdown initiative. The crackdown, which began on June 15th, was focused on neighborhoods that are considered drug dealing hotspots...Phillips in South Minneapolis, and the Jordan and Hawthorne neighborhoods in the North . Joining us now is Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson.

Some people are so devoted to backyard barbecueing that it's no surprise there's a book on the subject called The Barbecue Bible. Author Steven Raichlen travelled around the world researching the many styles of barbecue. The result is a book of 500 recipes ranging from "Florentine-style Steak" to "Grilled Okra." He spoke with Minnesota Public Radio's Mike Edgerly, who keeps his grill burning year-round.

Minnesota Folk Festival...Lynette Nyman talks to artists.

Sun Country...Mark Zdechlik reports that they added flights to compete with Northwest.

Gretchen Lehmann talks a filmmaker who documents rural churches.

Dr. David Persing at Mayo on the current state of Lyme disease treatment, tests and vaccines.

Mark Seeley from the national convention of state climatologists in Duluth.

Walter Mondale about the progress of a campaign finance reform bill in Congress.