Monday, August 24

Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil talks with D-F-L gubernatorial candidate Doug Johnson about his proposals for economic development.

Last year, St. Cloud State University was thrown into the public spotlight after two hate crimes occurred on campus. Someone wrote "K-K-K" on a black student's dormroom door; and in another incident, a swatiska was carved into an instructor's car door. The events provoked angry speeches and public demands that the university address what some called a history of rampant racism. Today, St. Cloud State begins a new school year, and administrators and staff say they are poised to confront racism and hate crimes head on. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports.

Metropolitan State University begins the new academic year today with an interim president...and an unclear future. Dennis Nielson, a vice president at Winona State University, is temporarily replacing Susan Cole, who is departing for new job as president of Montclair State University in New Jersey. Cole had a big impact in her five years at Metro State... helping the institution grow in programs and buildings. She also battled state officials over the university's role in higher education... a role that's still being debated. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Sudan is demanding a public apology from the United States for launching a missile strike that destroyed a pharmaceutical plant in the capital Khartoum. Sudan has asked the United Nations to investigate U.S. allegations that the factory produced the ingredients for chemical weapons. We hear from Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone about the US airstrikes and about whether President Clinton should intervene to stop a Northwest Airlines strike.

The Asian financial crisis has now spread to Russia and is also threatening economies in South America. We get an economic forecast from Edward Nicoski, market strategist for Piper Jaffray.

Companies like Microsoft make tons of money conceiving, writing and selling software. With this top-down model, users have little say in how the programs come out. But another model goes like this: a lone programmer has an idea for a piece of software, creates it, gives it away, and makes the code available on the internet. Others jump in and improve the software, making it a global collaborative effort. The best example is Linnux, the operating system that's making a run at Microsoft's Windows. On a much smaller scale, there's Free-Dos, created by St. Paul Resident James Hall. Hall says he created Free-Dos because there was still a need for such an text-based operating system after Microsoft switched from MS-Dos to Windows.

Communications workers say Minnesota's shortage of qualified workers could help union members here weather a long strike against U.S. West. And both sides in the 10-day-old labor dispute say managers are tiring of doing all their employees' work. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports.

Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98." From now to the primary in September, we're presenting in-depth looks at the where the candidates stand on the big issues. This week we're focusing on economic development. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste talks with the Republican endorsed candidate, St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman.

On Future Tense: Pitney bBwes announced this week it would offer an online document delivery service, joining U-P-S in the marketplace. It's an alternative to using a network of trucks and airplanes to send a document overnight. And it's designed to be more reliable and secure than regular email. To use the service, you upload a document to the Pitney Bowes or U-P-S web site, and the companies take it from there. The recipient gets an email notification with a web site address where she retrieves the document. Mark Pastore is a Vice President at Tumbleweed Software, which provides the service for both U-P-S and Pitney Bowes. I asked him who's using Internet document delivery now.

The Minnesota State Fair gets underway this Thursday and one attraction sponsered by the University of Minnesota is designed to teach fairgoers the truth about... quicksand. It turns out that quicksand isn't the dangerous trap that Hollywood portrays it to be. Joe Laybuz, associate professor of civil engineering at the U of M, showed me his quicksand tank. He explains that all sand-- even the sand found on beaches, can become quicksand:

A controversy is brewing in the home run chase. Mark McGwire has admitted to taking an over the counter steriod which increases the level of testosterone in the body. While McGwire says it's no big deal, MPR Sports Commentator Jay Weiner disagrees.

Next month, the US Treasury will begin circulating its newly designed 20 dollar bill. New hundred and fifty-dollar bills are already in circulation, but the twenties will be the most widely used bills issued so far with an updated design. Like the larger denominations, they feature special anti-counterfeiting features, larger portraits, and - of course - the signiature of United States treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow who is in the Twin Cities today to introduce the bill. She joins me now:

District Judge Dennis Schilleen discusses his unusual sentencing practices which include making a teenager who vandalized a veterans park watch "Saving Private Ryan."

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 economic development. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talks with D-F-L gubernatorial candidate Skip Humphrey.

This year has brought bad news for many Midwestern farmers, but a movement known as Community Supported Agriculture -- or CSA -- is demonstrating the viability of local, small-scale farming. Members buy shares in a farm at the outset of the growing season and are then entitled to a portion of the weekly harvests. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo visited one such farm, Natural Harvest in Stillwater.

Northwest and its pilots have moved talks from the Ozarks to Minneapolis marking another day of mediated sessions. Neither side will comment on the status of those talks. Pilots could walk off their jobs 11 pm Minnesota time Friday. But as Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports travel officials are encouraging consumers to begin making alternative travel plans right now.

Minnesotans have the opportunity this week to help decide the future of Voyageurs National Park. National Parks officials are convening informal meetings throughout the state in order to develop a management plan for Voyageurs. The park is relatively young; it was created in 1975. But in its short life it has been the subject of litigation, mediation, and now, some fear, overcrowding. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this report.

On Future Tense: You've probably never heard of Jonah Seiger but you might know of his work. He's one of the guys that organized the World Wide Web protest against the Communications Decency Act, in which thousands of web sites turned black. These days Seiger is one of two people who run a Washington DC lobbying and consulting firm. Mindshare Internet Campaigns helps political interest groups, coalitons and non-profits use the 'net to advance their agendas. Seiger says the 'net is a cheap and effective way to go politicking.

Moving passengers won't be the only problem if the Northwest pilots go on strike. Many businesses rely on the airline to move cargo. Minneapolis-based Coastal seafoods counts on Northwest airlines to ship 85 to 90 percent of its fresh seafood. Tim Lauer, general manager of Coastal Seafoods joins us by phone.

The Minnesota State Fair starts tomorrow... and politicking is as much a part of the Fair as cheese curds and butter-heads. Each of the candidates running for Governor is expected to be looking for votes at the Fair this year. But politicians face a challenge competing for attention with the fair's other attractions. DFL candidate Doug Johnson, for one, plans to hold a fishing contest featuring rubber frogs at his booth. Former Minnesota Senator Rudy Boschwitz had his own unique strategy for attracting fairgoers. He joins me now.