Monday, September 7

It's harvest time for wild rice in Minnesota. On the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota there are more than 6,000 acres of wild rice beds. For hundreds of years, rice has had a significant cultural and spiritual importance to the Ojibwe people. That tradition remains strong today, and as Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji, the Leech Lake tribe is working to strengthen the plant's economic impact.

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 the environment. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste talks with the Republican endorsed candidate, St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman.

Readers of Douglas Wood's best-selling fable Old Turtle know the work of Duluth artist Cheng-Khee Chee, who brought the book's world to life with stunning watercolors. Since the book's publication in 1992, Chee has been wined and dined by the publishing industry, but has yet to accept any more commissions. Instead, these days he is working on his own, painting full time and teaching, as he always has, about the creative act. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this report.

Talks aimed at restarting contract negotiations between Northwest Airlines and its pilots' union resume tomorrow. The National Mediation Board recessed talks after two days in Chicago saying both sides needed time to reconsider their positions. The next round of discussions will take place in the Twin Cities. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

John Remington, Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, discusses the latest on the Northwest pilots strike.

Over the past year, the number of genetically engineered crops grown in Minnesota has increased dramatically. Soybeans, corn and wheat have all been genetically altered to withstand disease and pests. But a growing consumer movement is fighting to ban the foods from grocery store shelves. Mainstreet Radio's Kathryn Herzog reports.

Minnesota voters go to the polls September 8 in this year's primary election, or at least, some Minnesotans will go to the polls. Voter turnout has been very low in other states this year, and the pundits are predicting the same here: a turnout that might dip below twenty percent. Strategists at all five DFL gubernatorial campaigns are assuming a low voter turnout, and some think it might even cause an upset in the governor's race. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste 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 the environment. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talks with DFL gubernatorial candidate Skip Humphrey.

Students return to classrooms all over Minnesota today. Schools in Hallock, Minnesota, opened last Wednesday, two days after the funeral of 16-year-old Julie Holmquist, who was murdered at the end of July. Administrators and teachers in Hallock have been dealing with students' emotions and concerns during the first days of school. Bruce Jensen is Superintendent of the Kittson Central School District. He says teachers in younger grades are giving lessons on personal safety while older students attended assemblies to talk about Julie herself.

Chris Farrell, Minnesota Public Radio's Senior Business and Economics Editor, previews what we can expect on Wall Street.

A national shortage of school bus drivers is putting the squeeze on school districts in Minnesota. Last week, several metro area districts reported delays in picking up students with the worst waits lasting for an hour or more. With St. Paul schools opening for their first day today, the crunch may get worse. Mickey Johnson is transportation director for Minneapolis Public Schools.

Representatives for Northwest Airlines and its pilots union will be meeting with a mediator today in Plymouth, as efforts continue toward restarting negotiations. The strike is now in its eleventh day. Meanwhile, demand for business travel is expected to increase this week as vacations end and people get back to work. George Wozniak is the President of Hobbitt Travel and he joins us now.

The year-round school movement is picking up speed in Saint Paul. Saint Paul and five suburban districts opened a new year-round middle school yesterday. Most of the students came from two existing year-round elementary schools. Another year-round elementary is scheduled to open in Saint Paul next fall. Parents are pushing for the schools because they say they're convinced the alternative calendar means better education for their children. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Minnesota Public Radio's Campaign 98. From now to next week's primary election, we're continuing with our in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. This week, we're focusing on the environmental views and policies of the gubernatorial candidates.

In this segment, MPR's Karen Louise Boothe reports on DFL candidate Mark Dayton: The five gubernatorial candidates running in the DFL primary debated the issues on the Minnesota News Network last night. They weren't allowed to mention Republican candidate Norm Coleman, so they criticized front-runner Skip Humphrey on his tax cut plan, abortion and stadium funding. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

National Mediation Board talks with Northwest Airlines and its pilots' union continue today in the Twin Cities. The discussions, aimed at renewing actual contract talks, began over the weekend in Chicago. Yesterday, high level Clinton administration officials checked in on the discussions. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Arguments on the school playground may not seem very significant to most adults, but for the children involved the issues in a dispute can take on the importance of a Supreme Court case. And the conflict may be a symptom of larger problems. Several Minnesota schools are trying "circles" as a way of handling conflict and discipline in the classroom. At Lincoln Center Elementary school in South St. Paul students, teachers and parents use this approach to talk face-to-face about why a student may have started a fight or called someone a name on the playground. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports.

It's been five days since Mel, the grey kangaroo, hopped over an eight foot fence and escaped from his home at the Duluth Lake Superior Zoo. Although Mel'sbeen sited hopping on hiking trails and munching on Wade stadium's baseball diamond, zoo keepers and local law enforcement haven't been able to catch the fugitive. One of the people looking for Mel is Mike Janis, director of the Duluth Lake Superior zoo and he joins us now.

Steven Schier, Chair of Political Science Department at Carleton College, discusses the last days campaigning before the DFL primary on Tuesday.

Throughout this election season, Minnesota Public Radio is examining campaign advertising for the state's gubernatorial candidates. With less than a week to go until the primary, the candidate who's leading in the polls, DFL'er Skip Humphrey, has finally started running television spots, and DFL'er Ted Mondale came out with the first candidate attack ad in the race. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum 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 the environment. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talks with Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Jesse Ventura.

More and more southeast Asian immigrants are hunting, fishing, and enjoying Minnesota's outdoors. But DNR officials say they sometimes have difficulty communicating with immigrants who don't speak English. As a result, the DNR is training the state's first Asian conservation officers. It's an important step since immigrants don't realize some of the fish they're catching may be contaminated with pollutants. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports.

Naitonal Mediation Board efforts to resolve the Northwest Airlines pilots strike continue for a third day today at a suburban Minneapolis hotel. The White House has stepped up its involvement in the talks. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

The campaign for the DFL nomination for governor is in its final week and the mission is clear for front runner Skip Humphrey: withstand a week of attacks From his four challengers. Minnesota Public Radio political editor Bob Collins has the latest from yesterday's day of campaigning.

Before Northwest's pilots went on strike, the airline estimated a strike would cost the US economy 700 million dollars in the first ten days. Now the strike is in its 13th day. But so far, business seems to be going on almost as usual. Eileen McMahon directs the St. Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Kiwi International Air Lines plans to become the first new carrier to enter the Twin Cities market as a result of the Northwest Airlines pilots' strike. This Sunday, Kiwi Air will begin scheduling flights between the Twin Cities and Chicago, Detroit and Newark. It expects to schedule one or two flights a day on each route. Rob Kulat is a spokesman for Kiwi Air, based in Newark. He joins me now.

Governor Arne Carlson's ineptitude as a fisherman is well documented. But what about the men who hope to succeed him? As part of our crusade to learn as much we can about the candidates, we asked each of them to tell us what kind of bait he would use to catch a Walleye during the Governor's opener next spring. We begin with Mark Dayton.

Negotiators for Northwest Airlines and the Airline Pilots Association have reached proposed settlement that could end the strike of six thousand pilots that began two weeks ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

If this does end the strike, it doesn't mean Northwest airlines is free and clear of labor problems. Five other unions are on deck to hammer out their contracts with Northwest management. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports on what's next for Northwest labor negotiations

As news of the tentative pilots agreement rippled through the Minneapolis-Saint Paul international airport, passengers were glad to see an end to the strike that created havoc with their flight plans. Most say they'll continue flying Northwest, although some blamed the company for their headaches. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Word of a possible settlement to the nearly two-week-old Northwest Airlines strike is welcomed news for the 13 rural communities that have been cut off from Northwest Airlink service through Mesaba Airlines. The resumption of air travel will come none to soon for these communities, where the strike is taking an increasingly harsh economic toll. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji.

One of the best-known landmarks in the Twin Cities is not a skyscraper or a church, but a bridge that's really an over-sized spoon with an enormous cherry balanced on its end. The whimsical art works on display in the Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis make it a favorite haunt for tourists and natives alike. This weekend for the garden's 10th anniversary the Walker is unveiling a new sculpture called The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Dutch sculptor Joep van Lieshout says the work consists of two pieces that fit together, one stationary and the other mobile.

George Wozniak, President of Hobbitt Travel says travelers should wait to see what happens Saturday before booking new flights.

North Dakota Governor Ed Shafer is just back from Washington where he lobbied for Presidential intervention in the strike. He says he's happy about the proposed settlement.