Monday, January 18

As Atlanta kicker Morten Anderson's kick sailed through the uprights in overtime yesterday, the season ended for the Minnesota Vikings. It's called sudden death in the sports world and resulted in a pit in the stomach for many Vikings fans. The 30-27 upset loss means the Vikings will not go to the Super Bowl as many had anticipated. Star Tribune Sports columnist Don Banks has covered this team all season long and he joins us now.

Fewer than 200 people live year 'round on Madeline Island just off the southern shore of Lake Superior near Bayfield, Wisconsin. While Island Life revolves around the mainland ferry schedule most of the year, islanders can drive across the ice during the depths of winter. But for a few weeks each year, the trip to shore has to be made in the island's unique "wind sled." Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.

The Minnesota Vikings' magical season has ended one game short of the super bowl. The Atlanta falcons rallied to defeat the Vikings in overtime 30-to-27 in the National Football Conference championship at the Metrodome yesterday. For the Vikings, the loss was an abrupt and disappointing conclusion to a season that saw them compile the winningest record in team history. Minnesota public radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

The Super Bowl is always one of the most watched television programs in the United States. But in the African Ivory Coast it will have to compete with reruns of Tarzan. The old show about the heroic Lord Greystoke is very popular there. In her latest audio letter from the Ivory Coast, Peace Corps volunteer Marianne Combs tells the story of Bamory, a real-life hero who supports 15 people in his village.

Governor Jesse Ventura says his inaugural ball will go down as unique in Minnesota's history. About 15,000 Minnesotans packed the Target Center over the weekend for the so-called "People's Celebration," a big bash with fireworks, a Jay Leno monologue, a rock concert, and Purple Pride. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The Minnesota House and Senate both are back in session today after the holiday weekend. Tax rebates, snowmobile studs and the Profile of Learning are on the agenda this week. Kevin Chandler lobbies at the Capitol. He is President and CEO of the Minnesota Credit Union Network.

Second District Representative David Minge wants to see changes in the nation's anti-trust laws to slow the growing tide of corporate mega-mergers. He held a forum Monday on the consolidation of one of the Minnesota's major industries, agriculture. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

Brazil's decision last week to devalue and then float its currency could have an impact on two major industries in Minnesota. Brazil is a world leader in exports of iron ore and soybeans. Brazil can now sell those products more cheaply than it could before, and that could put pressure on local producers of soybeans and taconite. Ed Lotterman is regional economist at the Federal Reserve in Minneapolis. He says the Minnesota steel industry is already being affected.

The contrast of good times and a burgeoning population of homeless people doesn't jibe. How is it that with the economy chugging along nicely the homeless population is increasing? Many assume some of the homeless choose their existence. But people who work with them scoff at the assumption. They cite poverty, a housing shortage and untreated mental illness as the real reasons people become homeless. A small Minneapolis program called Spectrum helps the most vulnerable homeless people: the mentally ill who live outside in the winter. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

A new survey finds that many people believe the year 2000 computer problem could be bad news for their investments. Still, the survey says, not many of those folks are changing their investment strategy because of Y2K. The Piper Jaffray financial services company commissioned the poll. Rich Johnson plots investment strategy for Piper Jaffray.

Tom Triplett is the new president of the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul. The exhibition SMOKE runs today through Februrary 12th.

MPR economics correspondent Chris Farrell discusses what's ahead that may affect the markets.

The House Tax Committee got its first chance to examine Governor Ventura's sales tax rebate yesterday. Republicans, who would prefer an income tax rebate, are poking holes in the plan. DFL'ers on the committee like the idea. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Bruce Bartlett is a senior fellow with the National Center for Policy Analysis in Washington, D.C. and a former Treasury Department official in the Reagan and Bush administrations. He says the IRS will probably rule that the money is not really a sales tax rebate and therefore taxable.

State lawmakers have started the debate over a proposed overhaul of Minnesota's high school graduation standards. The House Education Committee is considering a bill to scale back the controversial Profile of Learning, which is being introduced in the schools this year. Some legislators say the bill would hurt the state's education reform efforts. Others say they'd rather slash the entire Profile system. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Minnesota's Commissioner of Natural Resources resigned yesterday, one week after Governor Ventura appointed him. Al Horner resigned after two DNR officials quit to protest what they regarded as his dismissive attitude toward the work of conservation officers. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has the story.

Now, Department of Natural Resources employees are back to wondering who their new boss will be. Mainstreet Radio's Leif Enger reports on reaction inside the DNR.

Three Minnesota representatives react to the State of the Union: Minnesota Republican Senator Rod Grams says he was able to separate the trial and the speech. Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone was more impressed by Clinton's performance than by what he had to say. Democrat David Minge represents the Second District. He says though Clinton is a wounded President, some of his agenda has a chance of passing.

The Minnesota Legislature is one of the groups working on how to solve year 2000 computer bug problem. A task force has been meeting and legislation is in the works aimed at making sure the state doesn't grind to a halt when the new year starts. Senator Steve Kelly of Minneapolis is the co-chair of the Year 2000 Task Force.

Eighth graders across the state are preparing to take basic skills tests in reading and math early next month. They'll need to pass the tests and a new writing test by senior year in order to graduate. In Minneapolis, 42 percent of students scheduled to graduate next year have failed to pass one or both of the tests. Dave Heistad is director of Research, Evaluation and Assessment for the Minneapolis school district.

Governor Jesse Ventura named two more department heads yesterday. Matt Smith will become commissioner of the Revenue Department. Smith served as acting commissioner during Ventura's transition to office and before that he was deputy commissioner of revenue. Former Republican Representative and House Speaker David Jennings will lead the Commerce Department. Jennings left office in 1986 after serving eight years in the House. Most recently he worked as vice president of Schwan's Sales Enterprises. He joins me now.

Five companies are vying for the right to develop one of the Twin Cities' largest and most controversial pieces of real estate. The land on Minneapolis' near north side was the object of a housing discrimination case. A $117 million out of court settlement included demolishing two public housing projects and redevelopment of the land. But a major component of the case - replacing the public housing that was demolished - is behind schedule. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Federal investigators reviewing last December's Holidazzle accident have found no evidence of mechanical problems with the police van that accelerated into a crowd of parade watchers, killing two people. Their report is part of a state investigation that is still underway. An attorney representing families of the victims says criminal charges should be filed against the officer who was driving the van. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

The Minnesota House has voted to allow snowmobiles with studs back on public lands and rights-of-way. The vote is a victory for snowmobile groups, which complained that a ban on snowmobile studs passed last year has made the sport more dangerous and has hurt tourism. But some Democrats say the House is giving in to the snowmobile groups too quickly. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

Many consumers recognize their homeowner and auto insurance premiums are based on risk; if you've totaled ten cars in the past ten years you can expect to pay higher auto insurance rates. But insurance companies are using another tool to set rates and in some cases, deny coverage: your credit rating. Attorney General Mike Hatch wants the practice stopped and will propose reform legislation today. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.

The amount of electricity produced by wind power will continue to grow in Minnesota under a decision yesterday by the state Public Utilities Commission. The PUC ordered Northern States Power to double its wind capability as the utility searches for the additional power it will need to meet growing demand. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.

The St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission has recommended that the Orpheum Theater and several neighboring buildings in downtown St. Paul be designated historic sites. The decision comes as a blow to the St. Paul Companies which wants to build a new office block on the location. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life will have its annual anti-abortion rally at the Capitol today, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling in 1973.

Yesterday, Governor Jesse Ventura named Michael O'Keefe as Commissioner of the Department of Human Services and Sheryl Ramstad Hvass as Corrections Commissioner. But the big news this week came when Alan Horner, Ventura's controversial choice for DNR Commissioner, removed his name from consideration. MPR's Capitol Reporter Martin Kaste is following all the legislative action and he joins us now.

Patty Hegman discusses what's going on in the world of art.

Meteorologist Mark Seeley on the storms this weekend.