Monday, August 17

During the summer, Minnesota's pro sports scene revolves mostly around baseball, with a little golf and soccer for good measure. But next summer there may be a new Minnesota team to root for: the Women's National Basketball Association plans to put an expansion team in the Twin Cities. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has this look at the W-N-B-A as the league nears the end of its second season.

Minnesota Public Radio's Campaign 98. From now to the primary next month, we're presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. This week, we're focusing on the health care policies of the gubernatorial candidates. In THIS segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Karen Louise Boothe reports on the views and policy proposals of DFL candidate, Mark Dayton.

As the U-S West strike enters its second day, both the company and its workers' union appear far apart. A federal mediator has called for a cooling-off period, and asked both sides to reconsider their positions before talks can resume. Following this weekend's strike deadline, 35-thousand union members in 13 states walked off the job. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...

Northwest Airlines and its pilots' union return to the negotiating table today for the first time since early July. The pilots are counting down to an August 29th strike deadline. The National Mediation Board called for the resumption of talks. Both sides say they hope to avoid a walkout. However the pilots say there will be no agreement unless Northwest significantly enhances its offer. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

On Future Tense... The Business Software Alliance - a trade group funded by Microsoft and other companies - has registered some big successes with its anti-piracy telephone hotline. Budget Rent-a-Car paid more than 400,000 dollars to the BSA for illegal software. The BSA also recently reached settlements with the city of Philadelphia and Russell Stover Candies after callers turned them in. Robert Kruger is a BSA vice president.

It seems there's never a dull moment on Wall Street these days. After dropping nearly 175 points last week, traders have the usual worries about Russia and Asia to look forward to...plus a meeting by Federal Reserve policy-makers. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell thinks the rough times for the markets aren't over yet.

From now until the primary in September, Minnesota Public Radio is presenting in-depth stories about how the candidates for Governor stand on the issues. But with seven major candidates in the race, voters may need to look beyond the issues in making their decision. That's why we're asking the candidates a series questions that attempt to provide some insights into their personalities. Today's question: what was the last CD you purchased? We begin with Mike Freeman.

Minnesota farmers are predicting 1998 will be another bad year -- not so much because of crop blights or bad weather, but simply because prices are so low, they won't even be able to break even. Some agriculture experts think as many as one THIRD of Minnesota's wheat farmers may quit or go bankrupt after this harvest. During the campaign season, Minnesota Public Radio is conducting occasional conversations with voters; today Martin Kaste talks to wheat farmers about what THEY'RE looking for from the candidates this year:

Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98." From now to the primary in September, we're presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. This week we're focusing on health care. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talks with Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Jesse Ventura...

King Hussein of Jordan is in Rochester's Mayo Clinic for a second round of chemotherapy treatments. Hussein is a regular visitor to Rochester, having checked into Mayo clinic four times in just over a year. By now, residents take the King's presence in stride. In fact, world leaders and celebrities are so common in this city of about 80-thousand people, they barely turn heads. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

As the U-S West strike enters its third day, it's already out-lasted last week's two-day Bell Atlantic strike. Labor analysts in Minnesota say striking telephone employees here and in the twelve other states affected have a couple of advantages on their side - a skilled worker shortage, and public support for union members in recent strikes. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...

On Future Tense... Internet directory Excite has unveiled a new service aimed at helping groups such as small businesses or extended families communicate over the internet. The company says the new service is designed to combine some of the most popular internet services like chat rooms, message boards and e-mail, in such a way that small groups can go to a single site to converse and post things such as photos, calendars or telephone directories. Jennifer Kurkoski is Excite's "community manager."

Representatives of Northwest's pilots union are scheduled to meet today with Michigan governor John Engler. Engler has already met with company officials. Engler, Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson and four other governors recently sent a letter to President Clinton outlining their concerns over a potential strike. Detroit Metropolitan Airport is Northwest's largest hub. As in the Twin Cities, Northwest controls the majority of the air traffic in Detroit. Edward Cardenas is a reporter for the Detroit News.

This morning politicians, reporters and ordinary citizens are weighing in with their reactions to President Clinton's speech last night. Joining us now with his take on Clinton's remarks is Steven Schier, chair of the Political Science Department at Carleton College in Northfield.

The North Dakota National Guard will send a couple of helicopters today to search isolated areas in northwestern Minnesota for sixteen year old Julie Holmquist -- who's been missing for three weeks. Her case is now one of four major unsolved missing persons cases in Minnesota involving a child. Such cases are rare but they're traumatic, with law enforcement called on to mount a massive search and the family living on hope. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe has this Mainstreet story on the search for missing children.

Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98." From now until the primary next month, we're presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. This week, we're looking at the gubernatorial candidate's positions on health care. In THIS segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on the views and policies of DFL endorsed gubernatorial candidate, Mike Freeman.

On Future Tense: If you ring up 70,000 dollars in charges on your credit cards from online casinos, are you obligated to pay? Cynthia Haines of Marin County, California says no, and she's suing her credit card companies to block them from collecting. Ira Rothken is Haines' attorney. He says credit card companies should not associate with online casinos because they are illegal in many places.

Negotiations are scheduled today in both the Northwest Airlines and U-S West labor disputes. While that's going on in private, all the parties are also involved in a public relations battle, taking out newspaper ads to lay out their positions. It's gotten to the point that the Air Line Pilots Association has asked the National Mediation Board to set limits on the amount of advertising that the union and Northwest can buy. Leonard Lee is the President of The Right Stuff, a St. Paul based public relations firm. He's been following the various P-R campaigns and he joins us now.

The city of Richfield is demanding that Metropolitan Airports Commission pay to insulate more than 800 homes against low frequency noise that would be caused by jets if the proposed North-South runway is built. Jim Prosser, Richfield City Manager joins us now.

Mike Freeman is just one of the candidates who is talking about making changes in Minnesota Care, the state insurance program for people who don't qualify for Medicaid, but can't afford private insurance. Mary Kennedy of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, says Minn-Care provides basic health services to people who aren't covered by their employers.

One of Minnesota's newest charter schools is using a professional recording studio to draw in students who've dropped out of other St Paul schools...and give them a chance to earn a diploma. "Studio 4, High School for the Recording Arts" has operated as a small, alternative school for the past year but recently gained charter sponsorship from the Saint Paul school district. Teachers say the students' interest in the music industry is the motivational key to learning. 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. This week we're focusing on HEALTH CARE. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste talks with DFLer and former state senator TED MONDALE.

Minnesota's charter airline companies will have a new terminal at Twin Cities International Airport. The Metropolitan Airports Commission voted unanimously yesterday to build the new $53 million terminal next year. The MAC's plan to build a bigger charter terminal next to the existing facility has some passengers hoping the additional space will attract other air carriers with lower ticket prices. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

During the Great Depression the federal government created programs to get some of the millions of unemployed Americans back to work. One little-publicised program attempted to help unemployed actors and playwrights. But the Federal Theater Project was soon embroiled in controversy because of the plays it sponsored. The story of the project... and how it launched the career of one of the U.S.'s most significant film directors is now being told on a Minneapolis stage by the Arena Theater Company. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports

On Future Tense: Whitier College Law Professor I. Nelson Rose says a California woman's lawsuit could be trouble for internet casinos. Cynthia Haines put 70-thousand-dollars on her credit cards by gambling at internet casinos. Now she's suing to prevent them from colleting. Haines says since these virtual betting parlors are illegal in California, the credit card companies should not have allowed her to use the cards for gambling. Professor Rose, an internet gambling expert, says Haines has a pretty good shot at winning her lawsuit.

There are seven men campaigning very hard to get a new job: Governor of the state of Minnesota. Today, in our semi-regular candidate question of the day we asked each of them what is the WORST job you've ever had. We begin with Jesse Ventura.

In addition to approving the new charter terminal, MAC Commissioners also heard about contingency plans in the event of a strike by Northwest Airlines. Jeff Hamiel is Executive Director of the Metrolpolitan Airports Commission and he joins us now.

Russian stocks tumbled yesterday to their lowest point in more than two years and the rouble's value continued to fall. The financial crisis began Monday, when Russia's government devalued the rouble. Susan Hartman is executive director of Connect US-Russia, a Minnesota-based non-profit organization that organizes exchanges between the US and Russia. She says the crisis is hurting average citizens.

No information available for today.