Monday, March 8

We're at the midpoint of the 1999 Minnesota Legislative Session. This week committees will continue their discussions on a tax rebate compromise and what should be done with the Profile of Learning. Judy Cook is a lobbyist at the state capitol who represents various groups including the retail industry, highway construction companies, drug manufacturers and electric utilities.

Dairy farmers are the latest group of agricultural producers to feel the pinch of low prices. Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a 60 percent cut in the base price that farmers get for their milk. Prices for pigs, soybeans and corn are already very low. Second District Congressman David Minge held a town meeting in Olivia, Minnesota over the weekend to discuss the state of the farm economy and he joins us now.

It's been said the American West would still be wild were it not for the windmill, the traditional water-pumping machine that allowed homes and farms to thrive in the prairie states. Though long ago relegated to lawn-ornament status, the market for old windmills is gaining strength, with many being restored to their original use. Mainstreet Radio's Leif Enger reports.

The legislature will soon debate Governor Ventura's proposal to reduce class sizes in elementary schools. Ventura wants one teacher for every 17 students in kindergarten through third grade. He's convinced smaller classes will improve student achievement. Ventura holds up Centerville Elementary School to prove his point. But the success of one school's experiment might be tough for other schools to copy. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

The stock market roared ahead into record territory last week. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell explains what happened.

Two months into the legislative session, lawmakers are hearing from their constituents about competing tax rebate plans and permanent tax cuts. DFL Representative Ann Lenczewski of Bloomington, who serves on the House tax committee, says the public is having a hard time making sense of the tax debate. The freshman lawmaker recently held her first town meeting to hear what her constituents think. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum has been following Lenczewski's first session at the Capitol, and has this report.

So is there a deal, or isn't there? DFL Senate Majority leader Roger Moe says he and Governor Ventura have reached agreement on a one-point-three billion dollar sales tax rebate. But there's still a major sticking point between the Governor and Senate Democrats - and house Republicans are nowhere near signing on to the deal. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

It has been snowing for 24 straight hours and accumulations in many areas are more than a foot. The most snow has fallen in the Twin Cities, but significant amounts have fallen in other areas as well. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes in Rochester, Cara Hetland in Sioux Falls and Bob Kelleher in Duluth describe the impact of the weather in their area.

The 1996 Telecommunications Act is changing the service map in small Minnesota cities and towns. The legislation's goal is to foster more competition in the telephone industry. While widespread competition for local service has not materialized yet, ownership changes are already affecting many Minnesota communities. One major phone company is pulling out of the state and another is selling a large number of its local exchanges. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.

Acclaimed British Director, Sir Peter Hall is in the United States setting up an American Shakespeare Company in Los Angeles. He is a founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and yesterday he was in Minneapolis to speak at the Guthrie Theatre as part of their Global Voices program. During his speech he talked about the role of government subsidies for the arts.

MPR's Bill Catlin reports on the snow on his block in St. Paul.

Meteorologist Byron Paulson describes how much we got and how much more we're likely to get.

Grant K. of MNDOT describes the traffic situation.

As Governor Ventura recently observed, Minneapolis and St. Paul streets are laid out quite differently. So it should come as no surprise the two cities have vastly different approaches to plowing those streets. Monday's snowstorm - the winter's biggest, so far - makes for a good comparison. St. Paul declared a snow emergency Monday night. Under its two-shift, 24-hour plowing system, streets were clear by last night. Minneapolis declared its snow emergency Tuesday morning, and under its three-phase, three-day procedure, plows won't finish work until tomorrow. Brian Lokkesmoe is deputy director of public works in Minneapolis. St. Paul Director of Public Works Tom Eggum discusses St. Paul's plowing strategy and philosophy.

Governor Ventura has revised his tax cut proposals to reflect the state's increasingly rosy budget. The new plan edges closer to the kinds of permanent cuts called for by the House Republicans, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports, Ventura and the Republicans are still no where near an agreement.

Voters in Hennepin County's third district will choose between an array of candidates in a primary election next Tuesday. The candidates are vying for the seat vacated by Commissioner Mark Andrew. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports on a forum attended by eight of those candidates last night.

The federal Food and Drug Administration is drafting new rules that could restrict how farmers use antibiotics on livestock. A recent study conducted in Minnesota indicated chickens being fed a new antibiotic developed drug resistant bacteria which may have then been passed on to humans. The new rules could prevent farmers from feeding antibiotics to livestock if the same or similar drugs are also used to treat infections in people. Dr. Jerry Shurson is a professor of animal science and director of the swine center at the University of Minnesota. He says the concern is over the 'sub-therapeutic' use of antibiotics - adding them to feed at lower levels than those required to treat a disease.

Minnesota Public Radio Sports Commentator Jay Weiner discusses the allegations of cheating by members of the University of Minnesota Men's Basketball team.

Crop insurance got a lot of attention on Capitol Hill Wednesday, with committees of both the Senate and the House taking first steps to overhaul the program. There appears to be commitment from all sides to somehow overhaul crop insurance, but exactly what changes, and how to pay for the changes are the subjects of intense debate. From Washington, Emily Harris reports.

University of Minnesota officials will announce later today whether four players on the men's basketball team will be eligible for today's first-round, NCAA tournament game. Their eligibility came into question yesterday when a copyright story in the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported allegations that a former U of M staff member had prepared research papers and homework assignments for at least twenty basketball players over several years, including four current team members. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

The Moorhead Police Force will soon expand by a dozen. But The city is not hiring new officers, its starting a volunteer citizen police unit. As Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports, law enforcement agencies across the country are finding new ways to use volunteers.

Minnesota farmers plan to put 25 percent more land into a federal conservation program this fall. The Farm Service Agency reports 1.4 million acres of Minnesota farmland will be enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program this October, up from 1.1 million acres currently. The CRP pays farmers to take environmentally sensitive land out of production for 10 to 15 years in order to reduce erosion and restore natural habitat. Farmers in Northwestern Minnesota are leading the state in putting land into conservation. Ray Thompson is an extension agent in Marshall County.

Representative Jim Oberstar discusses a proposal to increase the fines leveled against airlines for inconveniencing passengers.

Honeywell chairman and CEO Michael Bonsignore is the first recipient of the newly created Renaissance Award from the College of St. Benedict. The prize, awarded by the liberal arts college in St. Joseph Minnesota, aims to honor a person who combines global involvement and community leadership. MPR's senior business editor Carl Goldstein reports on how Honeywell has fared amidst the stiff head winds of the modern global economy.

The University of Minnesota's men's basketball team was eliminated yesterday in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Their season ended on a controversial note as four players, including two starters, were declared ineligible for the game after allegations of academic fraud surfaced earlier this week. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

For the last week the Twin Cities has enjoyed a rare musical opportunity: to hear a full range of the work of one of the worlds leading composers, with the artist himself in the audience. Einojuhani Rautavaara is one of Finland's best-loved composers, and he has come to Minnesota with a new work, which premieres this weekend. Finland's Spirit: Rautavaara is sponsored by the Plymouth Music series, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and St. Olaf College. Minnesota Public Radio's Vaughn Ormseth reports.

Climatologist Mark Seeley defends meteorologists for slightly miscalculating the amount of snow that fell last Monday.

MPR capitol reporter Martin Kaste talks about negotiations going on at the state capitol over tax cuts and rebates.

A lot is going on in the world of popular music this weekend. Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal talked with James Deers, music critic for Sidewalk.com about some of the highlights.