Monday, July 26

Federal Officials could decide as early as today whether the July 4th storm qualifies Northeastern Minnesota for disaster aid. The Storm caused extensive flood and wind damage across much of Northeastern Minnesota. Resort owners and residents of the Gunflint trail say they need help in removing downed trees and clearing trails. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.

The new Gophers basketball coach says he'll make academic achievement a top priority. Gonzaga University head coach Dan Monson signed a seven-year contract with the University of Minnesota over the weekend. University officials say Monson's commitment to good grades was a key factor in their decision to hire him. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura has dominated media coverage since he took office in January. But another state official elected last November has also gotten a fair number of headlines. Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch has spent his first seven months on the job publicly taking on banks, HMO's and insurance companies. But behind the scenes, Hatch has quietly restructured his agency, firing a number of long-time employees and trimming the size of the office. Hatch says every new administration makes changes, but some of those who have been forced out say he's created an atmosphere of fear in the office. In the first of a two-part series, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

A old fight between commercial and environmental interests over the future of the Mississippi River is flaring up again. The Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a series of meetings beginning today in St. Louis. Officials will present alternatives for improving barge traffic they say will help shippers and therefore farmers by keeping shipping costs low. But opponents say the cost of renovating the aging navigation system doesn't add up if environmental concerns are factored in. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

Jay Weiner is a sports writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a sports commentator on MPR. He says new Gophers Basketball coach Dan Monson's comments on the importance of academics are virtually identical to what Clem Haskins said when he was hired 13 years ago.

The Chairman spoke and the markets didn't like it. Now the question is how long the sell-off Alan Greenspan inspired will last. Here's an assessment from Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell.

Fargo's military surplus store, the last of its kind in North Dakota is closing it's doors after 63 years of doing business. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports.

Common Cause Minnesota says St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman is illegally using city resources to support passage of a ballot initiative for a new Minnesota Twins ballpark. Later today, the watchdog group plans to file complaints with the State Auditor and the Ramsey County attorney's office calling for an investigation. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Nine people were arrested yesterday as they protested the cutting of mature elms and other big shade trees in a portion of Minnehaha park in south Minneapolis. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is removing the trees to make way for the first, northernmost phase of the reroute of Highway 55. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

In his first seven months on the job, Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch is living up to his campaign rhetoric as an aggressive consumer advocate, taking on insurance companies, HMO's and banks. Some say Hatch's focus proves he's a fearless populist fighting for the voters, others say he's a reckless crusader driven by his own political ambitions. In the second of her two-part series, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Four children drowned this past weekend in Minnesota, bringing the number of non-boat related drownings to 38 so far this year. That's up only slightly from 32 drownings last year at this time. But the weekend's accidents raise concern about people swimming in unsupervised areas and children swimming while their parents aren't watching. Jack Palmer is the Manager of Community Services at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and he's on the line now.

The city of St. Cloud, Northern States Power Company and its subsidiary Seren Innovations are adopting new safety procedures after a series of gas pipeline strikes. Seven months ago four people died when a crew working for Seren laying fiber optic cable ruptured a gas line in downtown St. Cloud. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.

Since crack cocaine came to the twin cities in the late 1980's, Minneapolis' Phillips neighborhood has been notorious as a drug zone rife with crime. But some residents now think their activism has helped the neighborhood turn a corner. Members of the "park avenue block club" have been working with police and courts to develop a "most wanted" list and track repeat offenders through the courts. While crusading to rid the area of its drug problem, some members have also gotten to know the users and sellers who live on their streets. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Minnesota's unemployment rate is the lowest in the nation. But that's not the only statistic that points to the strength of the state's economy. A new report by the Department of Economic Security shows the Minnesota ranks high in median household income, workforce participation and multiple jobholding and is near or at the top in many of the 28 categories that serve as a barometer of worker well-being. Art Rolnick is director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

A hearing is scheduled today to decide whether Donald Blom's trial for illegal possession of firearms will be moved out of Duluth. Blom's attorney says he'll seek a change of venue because of all the pre-trial publicity. Blom is also charged with kidnapping Katie Poirier, and it will be up to public defenders to represent him in that trial. Attorney Anthony Torres dropped the case because Blom was unable to pay his fee. But the Public Defenders Office is concerned about the cost of defending Blom. Edward Cleary is Director of the Office of Lawyers of Professional Responsibility and a former Ramsey County Public Defender. He says Blom's defense will be expensive because of investigative costs.

One of the tools of anti-crime activists in Minneapolis' Phillips neighborhood is a "most wanted" book that contains criminal histories and mug shots of people considered to be the area's most notorious drug sellers, users, and prostitutes. When anyone in the book lands in court, members of the local block club contact prosecutors and judges to underscore the defendant's nuisance effect on the neighborhood. Activists say it's too early to judge the approach's effectiveness but they take encouragement from the incarceration of a crack cocaine user who neighbors say was particularly aggressive. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Before Jesse "The Body" Ventura even thought about flinging a boa around his neck and entering the wrestling ring, the notorious Baron Von Raschke was goose-stepping and plowing his way through opponents around the globe. Now an elder statesman of wrestling, Baron Von Raschke - better known to friends and family as Jim Raschke - lives in the tiny northern Minnesota hamlet of Lake George. He recently spoke with Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson about his career, his disappointment with today's wrestling industry, and his thoughts on having a former colleague in the governor's mansion.

Minnesota could see some 100 degree temperatures today. After a brief respite early this week, the heat has returned. National Weather Service Forecaster Dan Effertz says a stubborn jet stream is to blame.

Brand new University of Minnesota Gopher's basketball coach Dan Monson is planning the fall season without knowing how or whether the men's basketball program will be penalized for alleged academic cheating. An investigation won't be completed until late October. That means possible penalties could kick in just as the season is getting underway. Professor Jack Friedenthal is former dean of the George Washington University Law School and a member of the NCAA's infractions committee. He says NCAA penalties can range from probation, to revoking scholarships, to shutting down a program, but that if the U is penalized, it won't necessarily affect this year's team.

Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson said this week he wants Wisconsin to join with Minnesota and the Dakotas to create a region for sharing donated organs. Right now, local transplant patients are considered first for organs donated in their area. Proposed federal changes would give the sickest patients priority, even if they're in another part of the country. Thompson says the changes would penalize states like Wisconsin that have very strong organ donation programs. Susan Gunderson is the Chief Executive Officer of Lifesource, a nonprofit organization that manages organ donation activities for Minnesota and the Dakotas. She's on the line now.

On a warm November evening in 1953, 51-year-old Marshall Simonson took his boat out on Burntside Lake and never returned. Only his boat was found, and in it was a single boot. The story of Simonson's disappearance became something of a local legend and a popular mystery until, earlier this month, a scuba diver made a discovery: a collection of bones and a single boot lying in 40 feet of water. Tests supported what longtime Ely residents suspected: It was Simonson. Mike Hillman is a local historian in Ely. He also tells stories on Thursday nights at Burntside Lodge. He joins me now.

Vice President Al Gore arrived in Minnesota yesterday to raise money and deliver a policy speech later today. Many of the DFL's top leaders showed up at last night's fund-raiser but other Democrats say they're looking for an alternative to Gore in 2000. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

This week on Morning Edition we've met crime fighting residents in Minneapolis' Phillips neighborhood who created their own 'most wanted' list. Their crime fighting helped send crack-cocaine user and seller Aaron Steele to prison. Steele has served his time and is back in the Phillips neighborhood. He is one of more than 3000 inmates who will get out of prison this year in Minnesota. Experts say we are ill-prepared to help the ex-cons avoid committing a crime that will send them right back to jail. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Thousands of people of Icelandic heritage are gathering this weekend in Mountain, a tiny town located in the hills and valleys of northeastern North Dakota. Even the president of Iceland will be there. The party of the century will mark the 100th year Icelanders in Mountain have celebrated the Icelandic holiday known as August the Deuce. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

An independent structural engineer says the 90-year-old high school in Pipestone is deteriorating and will only get worse. But he says for now, the school is not in danger of immediate collapse. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports.

Not only was yesterday the hottest day of the Multiple Sclerosis Society's 300-mile Ride Across Minnesota, it was also the longest stretch - 76 miles between New Ulm and New Prague. In fact, several hundred cyclists had to hitch a ride to the day's destination. Mark Seeley is on the TRAM. Mark is a meteorologist and climatologist at the University of Minnesota and he joins us this morning from New Prague.

Steven Schier chairs the political science department at Carleton College in Northfield. He says Al Gore faces some competition from Bill Bradley in Minnesota.

There's lots going on in popular and alternative music in the Twin Cities area this weekend. Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal talks with James Diers who writes about music for sidewalk.com.