Monday, September 13

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons 17-14 in their NFL season opener yesterday in Atlanta. It was a rematch of last season's NFC Championship game that was won by the Falcons. This time, Falcons kicker Morten Anderson missed a key field goal attempt in the fourth quarter that would have tied the game. Don Banks covers the Vikings for the Pioneer Press and he's on the line this morning from Atlanta.

Today in Washington, farmers from around the United States will push congress for emergency assistance and other legislative solutions to agricultural problems. The annual Farm Aid concert yesterday in Bristow Virginia, near Washington D.C., kicked off several days of lobbying by farmers who say basic changes must be made in government farm programs. Among those in Washington are some-30 Minnesota farmers. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.

An FBI investigator whose interrogation tactics are being challenged by defense attorneys in two high-profile Minnesota cases also led an investigation that resulted in the wrongful conviction of two men in Wisconsin eight years ago. Special agent Daniel Craft was praised by Goodhue County prosecutors for his skill in getting a confession in the killing of three-year-old Jessica Swanson. Craft also got a confession from a Houston County man in the killing of his own three-year-old son. But in both cases, defense attorneys say Craft violated their clients' constitutional rights in the process of getting those confessions. The FBI and prosecutors will not comment on any of the cases. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

A federal appeals court hears arguments today in a Minnesota case that pits renters against those who research their rental histories. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

MPR's Chris Farrell reads the financial tea leaves.

More than one quarter of University of Minnesota students have racked up credit card debts of at least $1,000. That's according to a survey released last week by Boynton Health Service. The survey of about 1,100 randomly selected students found that 83 percent had at least one creditcard, and nearly 12 percent had accumulated debts of $3,000 or more. Ruth Haden is a financial educator and author of For Richer Not Poorer: the Money Book for Couples. She's on the line now.

The debate over whether Governor Ventura's money-making activities violate state conflict of interest laws shows no sign of ending. One legislator plans to introduce a bill holding elected officials to the same standards as state employees, and the Minneapolis city attorney is considering an activist's complaint over Ventura's return to the wrestling ring last month. An internal memo written by a state ethics officer concluded if Ventura were a typical state employee, he would be violating the law. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talked with the state ethics officer who wrote the memo, and has this report.

Twin Cities based Best Buy company, the nation's leading consumer electronics retailer releases its second quarter earnings today. The company's share price has fallen 23 percent since hitting a high of 79 last July. The drop reflected fears in some quarters that higher interest rates and other factors could hurt consumer spending. If the company's earnings report falls short of Wall Street's expectations, the stock could plunge further. But several analysts say the company's prospects remain good. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

US farmers lobbying in Washington this week say they're willing to use confrontational tactics to push a message that federal farm policies must change. The farmers held a rally on Capitol Hill as they began a week's worth of intense lobbying efforts designed to get congress to address major portions of its farm policies. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.

Officials in the paper industry say they face a shortage of quality wood pulp in the next 10 to 20 years. To make up for the future pinch in supply, paper mills are raising their own trees to harvest. And now some Minnesota farmers are trying to get a piece of the action by planting trees as a crop. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has this report.

Congress is moving ahead with a short-term aid package for farmers but the chances of long term federal solutions appear much dimmer. Several hundred farmers showed up in Washington this week to lobby lawmakers on farm policy. At a house agriculture committee hearing yesterday some representatives said they want to find a way out of what they consider an unhealthy pattern of yearly emergency farm bills. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.

The precarious farm economy has accelerated population decline in northwest Minnesota. In turn, that's intensified competition for students among schools. Some say the competition allowed under Minnesota's open enrollment law makes for better education, but others worry where marketing schools may lead. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

If your nose is running and your eyes are itching, you're not alone. It's ragweed season, and that means many people are suffering from fall allergies. Ragweed is a stubborn plant that grows in ditches and fields. It produces pollen that is responsible for allergy symptoms in millions of Americans. Dr. William Schoenwetter is an allergist at Park Nicollet Medical Center in Minneapolis and a former President of the Minnesota Allergy Society. He's on the line now.

Some sundry characters are the heart of Minnesota author Lorna Landvik's new novel. The Tall Pine Polka is set in a fictitious Minnesota town that is home to an eccentric group of neighbors. The characters often gather at a local coffee shop for what they call the Tall Pine Polka, a night of food, company, and heavenly coffee. But, as Landvik explains, it's a particular kind of coffee shop.

Duluth's Edison charter schools are expanding into three locations this fall, providing spots for a total of 800 students. Their parent company, Edison Schools, Incorporated, a for-profit firm based in New York, is expanding nationally too. This year Edison will operate 77 schools around the US Edison promises better education, But critics say the firm's ability to improve student test scores is still unproven. The company's decision last month to make an initial public offering will likely bring even more scrutiny to its controversial enterprise. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley stumped for campaign volunteers and money in Minneapolis yesterday. Some recent polls show the former New Jersey Senator neck and neck with his only other Democratic rival, Vice President Al Gore, and Bradley has picked up the backing of some prominent Minnesota DFL'ers. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The St. Paul Companies has reduced the number of positions it will cut from its downtown St. Paul headquarters. The insurance giant announced last month it would cut 1,500 to 1,600 jobs system wide. Now the projection is 1,250 job cuts, with 350 positions coming from corporate headquarters. Since the Spring of 1998, the insurance giant has reduced its workforce by nearly 5,000 people as a result of restructuring. John Challenger is the CEO of Challenger, Grey, and Christmas, an International Outplacement Firm with an office in Minneapolis. He's on the line now.

One of the signs of the changing season is underway in Duluth as the annual hawk migration brings ten of thousands of birds down the shore of Lake Superior. The hawks come from as far away as the arctic, and some go all the way to South America. And hawks aren't the only ones who will be in the area - large numbers of bird watchers will go to see the spectacle. Laura Erickson is a bird watcher and the author of For the Birds: an Uncommon Guide. She's on the line now.

The nation's major airlines are promising to treat their passengers better. The airlines delivered a new service plan to the US Transportation Department yesterday. The plan was prompted by complaints following a New Year's storm that left thousands of travelers stranded. It includes pledges to keep passengers better informed of delays and tell them the lowest available fares when they call to book flights. Still, some congressional critics say the plan didn't go far enough. Mike Boyd is an analyst for Aviation Systems Research Corporation. He's on the line now.