Monday, December 7

When the Minnesota legislature convenes in January, two suburban lawmakers will serve as House Majority and Minority Leaders. The bulk of the House committee chairs are also from the suburbs. As the suburbs grow, so does their political clout. But some worry their increasing power may come at the expense of rural communities and the cities. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The Minnesota Vikings improved their record to 12-1 and clinched the NFC Central title with a 48-22 victory last night over the Chicago Bears. Randall Cunningham threw for 349 yards and combined with Randy Moss for three touchdowns. The Vikings did lose another player to injury, though. Cris Carter left the game with a sprained calf muscle after the first play. Don Banks covers the Vikings for the Star Tribune and he joins us now.

Minneapolis Police are taking between six and 12 vans off the road as a precaution. The vans are similar to the one that crashed into a crowd of people, killing two, at the Holidazzle parade Friday night in Minneapolis. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating what caused the van to accelerate into the crowd. Paul Brand is an automotive columnist for the Star Tribune and he also trains the State Patrol in driving technique. He says the cause could be mechanical, human error or both.

Wall Street investors have got the jitters again. It turns out that most of the problems they had overlooked during the October and November rally did not go away for good. Here's Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell.

Minnesota's future First Lady is planning a "populist party" to mark her husband's inauguration next month. As honorary chair of the Inaugural Committee, Terry Ventura has nixed the traditional black-tie gala, and has opted instead for a rock-and-roll-style blowout in the Target Center. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has more.

A long- disputed proposal to build a three-story-high metal shredder on the banks of the Mississippi in Minneapolis will go before the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency today. American Iron and Supply Company wants to build the so-called "Kondirator" at the company's riverside scrap yard in a north Minneapolis neighborhood. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

A few miles downstream from the proposed site of the Kondirator, there's a factory building where Northstar Blankets were once made. Tomorrow the big red Northstar sign will be lit for the first time in 50 years. The moribund riverfront building in downtown Minneapolis is being turned into loft apartments. The developers say re-lighting the sign shows that the downtown riverfront is returning to life after decades of neglect. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

The first poll since the election gives Governor-elect Jesse Ventura high marks for his performance so far. Nearly half the people polled for Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press consider Ventura a needed breath of fresh air in state government, although the other half say it's too soon to judge. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

A new poll shows more Minnesotans would rather get a rebate check than see the state spend the budget surplus on programs. But they're divided over whether the state should cut property, income or sales taxes. The poll conducted for Minnesota Public Radio and the Pioneer Press fuels the debate at the Capitol over how and when to return the surplus. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

In Minnesota and across the country, there seems no end to the good economic news. Unemployment is down. The stock market is once again humming. But some critics argue the rosy outlook obscures the situation of the so-called working poor: those whose jobs don't pay enough to meet basic living expenses. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

It has taken seven years, but a former pornographic book shop in Minneapolis is now a community theater. The Central City Theater on Lake Street is now offering its first holiday show. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports.

A new poll by Minnesota Public Radio and the Pioneer Press indicates 62% of Minnesotans do not want Congress to impeach President Clinton. Nineteen percent say Clinton should be impeached, but not convicted. Only 14% say the President should be convicted and removed from office. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has more.

An advisory panel is expected to tell lawmakers today to scale back the state's high school graduation requirements. The panel has been studying ways to improve the "Profile of Learning," and subjects like art, music and physical education might not make the cut. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire.

Some students will return to Somerset Elementary School in Mendota Heights today, even as workers continue cleaning up damage caused by vandals. Four teenagers have been arrested for breaking into the school last Friday, trashing computers, TV's and splattering paint around the school's media center. Damage is estimated at $150,000. All students are expected back in school by Monday, after the cleanup is finished. Dr. Robert Monson is Superintendent for the District. He told MPR's Perry Finelli damage was spread throughout the school.

The Minneapolis City Council has passed a budget that will raise city property tax levies for the first time in five years, but council members say residents won't have to pay more out of their own pockets. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports.

An advisory panel is asking legislators for a major overhaul of the state's high school graduation standards. The committee of business people and educators wants to scale back the controversial Profile of Learning; eliminate state performance guidelines and require 11th graders to pass a test before earning a diploma. But some members of the committee say it slashed the program without knowing whether it was working. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone has all but announced he's running for President. The two-term Democrat says he's going to make the final decision over the holidays, after he gets a chance to discuss it with his family. But in a speech to supporters and financial backers last night, Wellstone made it sound as though he's already embarked on the campaign trail. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

A federal panel has given the go-ahead for a major rebuilding and expansion plan for the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern railroad. The approval by the federal Surface Transportation Board is no surprise—the board rarely denies applicants. But the decision is the first major hurdle cleared by DM&E since the company announced its $1.4-billion plan last spring. Now, both opponents and supporters say they're looking ahead to the next big decision that scrutinizes the proposal's environmental impacts. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

One advantage of this winter's unusual weather is that many small northern lakes have frozen with no snow on the ice. You can't ski, but it's perfect for skating. Writer Peter Leschak, relates what this rare privilege means on Secret Lake,

Meteorologist Mark Seeley says this winter could be one for the ages.