Monday, October 26

Minnesota's gubernatorial race is likely to heat up this week as candidates try to win over undecided voters before next Tuesday's election. Republican Norm Coleman, DFLer Skip Humphrey and Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura faced off over the weekend in their most contentious TV debate yet. As MPR's Karen Louise Boothe reports, Coleman has begun running TV ads attacking Humphrey on two hot button issues - abortion and gay rights - while Humphrey responds that his views are being misrepresented.

An effort is underway in western Minnesota to preserve the Midwest's last remaining acres of northern tallgrass prairie. Once, the grasslands spanned close to 25 million acres through parts of Minnesota, the Dakotas and Iowa. More than 90 percent of the original tallgrass prairie was plowed under, what remains today are only patches of the early grasslands. Under a new U.S. Fish and Wildlife program the hope is to keep those last few areas intact for years to come. Mainstreet Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports.

Minnesota just concluded a bear hunting season in which a record number of permits were issued. The DNR says the state's black bear population is climbing faster than expected. The agency issued 18,000 permits, with the expectation that five thousand bears would be killed. Bear hunting in Minnesota usually means baiting for bears as well. It's a controversial practice that drastically changes the nature of the hunt. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil brings us the story.

Today is the start of the last full week of campaigning before the November 3rd election. The polls show DFLer Skip Humphrey and Republican Norm Coleman are about neck-and-neck in the race for governor, with Reformer Jesse Ventura threatening to come up from behind. The three major-party candidates met for a televised debate over the weekend, and if that encounter is any indication, this campaign promises to get a lot more hotly contested and negative during the final days. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

A statement from Tom Fiske, gubernatorial candidate for Socialist Workers Party.

A growing number of working people can't afford a place to live. The Family Housing Fund and other housing advocacy groups all report the same finding - Twin Cities housing costs are too high for many people in low wage jobs. Housing costs are high because the economy is booming and demand for homes and apartments is red hot. The crunch is creating a population some are calling the hidden homeless. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

In the final days of the campaign for Governor, Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Skip Humphrey are spending a lot of time looking for votes in outstate Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson has this update on yesterday's activity in the Governor's race.

DFLer Bruce Vento is running for a 12th term representing the 4th Congressional District. His challenger is also becoming a sort of political veteran; this is the third congressional campaign in a row for NSP machinist and former state legislator Dennis Newinski. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has this profile of the race.

One issue that hasn't been getting a lot of attention in the Governor's race, but is a concern to many voters, is the lack of affordable housing. It's a problem all over the state and it affects working people and the businesses that employ them. Part of the crisis stems from landlords who are converting federally-subsidized apartments to market rate units by pre-paying their mortgages and buying out of the federal program. As Laura McCallum reports, this is an issue that the Minnesota Legislature worked on in the 1998 session.

Fancy Ray McCloney tells jokes and explains why voters should elect him Governor.

Work is underway at the Minnesota State Capitol to restore the basement cafeteria to its original appearance - as a German beer hall. Beneath seven layers of paint, workers have found what remains of the Rathskellar architect Cass Gilbert designed as part of the Capitol. The building will mark its Centennial in 2005 and the cafeteria is one of several areas to be restored. Carolyn Compelein is historic site manager with the Minnesota Historical Society. She joins us now.

Minnesota's three major party gubernatorial candidates faced off for their next-to-last scheduled debate in Hopkins last night. This debate, sponsored by WCCO, included a new twist - the candidates were allowed to question each other, and critique their opponents' campaign ads. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The race for a legislative seat in Minnesota House district 13A has jumped into the headlines this week. Democrats are calling for first term incumbent Republican Torrey Westrom to resign after breaking state labor laws, Westrom denies the charge and calls it dirty politics. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson has a profile of the race.

Minnesota's gubernatorial race is up for grabs. A brand new Minnesota Public Radio, Pioneer Press, KARE-11 TV poll shows Skip Humphrey and Norm Coleman are tied and Jesse Ventura is continuing to gain ground. Minnesota Public radio's Karen Louise Boothe reports.

More than 200 people packed a public hearing last night on a proposed high voltage transmission line across the St. Croix river near Taylors Falls. Many of them were powerline opponents, suspicious of Northern States Power's reasons for building the transmission line, which would cross a national scenic riverway. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

In 1990, the Science Museum of Minnesota opened a highly acclaimed exhibit called Bears: Imagination and Reality. It focused on the history, folklore and behavior of North American grizzly and black bears, and examined the relationship between bears and people. The exhibit is now on a national tour that will continue until the summer of 2000. At that time, Science Museum officials will sell the exhibit. As Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji, a number of northern Minnesota communities are already lobbying to acquire the display.

Voters and the candidates have placed education at the top of the agenda for this year's campaign for governor. The three major candidates have similar goals for education. They say they're committed to keeping elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools strong. But the differences begin to show when they describe how to get there. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire looks at the some of the education issues and where the candidates stand.

Steven Schier, chair of the political science department at Carleton College, discusses the latest poll.

Minnesota's gubernatorial race is likely to heat up this week as candidates try to win over undecided voters before next Tuesday's election. Republican Norm Coleman, DFLer Skip Humphrey and Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura faced off over the weekend in their most contentious TV debate yet. As MPR's Karen Louise Boothe reports, Coleman has begun running TV ads attacking Humphrey on two hot button issues - abortion and gay rights - while Humphrey responds that his views are being misrepresented.

An effort is underway in western Minnesota to preserve the Midwest's last remaining acres of northern tallgrass prairie. Once, the grasslands spanned close to 25 million acres through parts of Minnesota, the Dakotas and Iowa. More than 90% of the original tallgrass prairie was plowed under; what remains today are only patches of the early grasslands. Under a new U.S. Fish and Wildlife program, the hope is to keep those last few areas intact for years to come. Mainstreet Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports.

Minnesota just concluded a bear hunting season in which a record number of permits were issued. The DNR says the state's black bear population is climbing faster than expected. The agency issued 18,000 permits, with the expectation that five thousand bears would be killed. Bear hunting in Minnesota usually means baiting for bears as well. It's a controversial practice that drastically changes the nature of the hunt. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil brings us the story.

Today is the start of the last full week of campaigning before the November 3rd election. The polls show DFLer Skip Humphrey and Republican Norm Coleman are about neck-and-neck in the race for governor, with Reformer Jesse Ventura threatening to come up from behind. The three major-party candidates met for a televised debate over the weekend, and if that encounter is any indication, this campaign promises to get a lot more hotly contested and negative during the final days. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

For many infertile Americans, paying for medical treatments can be an enormous struggle. The drugs and procedures are relatively expensive, and most infertile couples get virtually no coverage under their basic health plans. A number of states require employers and insurance companies to offer some kind of infertility insurance, but most do not. In New York, advocates for the infertile say excluding the condition from insurance plans amounts to discrimination. As part of our continuing series, The Fertility Race, Minnesota Public Radio's Stephen Smith prepared this report.

A statement from Tom Fiske, gubernatorial candidate for Socialist Workers Party.

Trading opens on Wall Street in less than 45 minutes, with the Dow Jones Industrials not far from the 8500 level. The most widely watched stock index rose by 35 points last week, finally breaking a six day winning streak on Friday. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell thinks the interest rate rally may be getting a little old.