Monday, October 11

State officials say it's difficult to determine exactly how Minnesotans are spending the $1.3 billion state sales tax rebate. Preliminary numbers show August sales tax receipts increased but only slightly. But many retailers say business picked up significantly when the checks went out. And Minnesota's rebate windfall may have been enough to throw Wall Street for a loop. The appearance of unexpected dollars in a key national economic indicator last month may have contributed to a short lived stock market nose dive. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura has made creating a one-house state legislature the centerpiece of his reform agenda. But a new poll conducted for Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows many Minnesotans have yet to form an opinion of the idea. Of those who have, the poll shows respondents are evenly divided in their beliefs. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

The St. Paul school district's push to improve test scores will mean a lot more homework for students. School leaders are revising district policy to set the amount of time students at each grade level should spend on homework, even kindergartners. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver Randy Moss has contacted the Minnesota Timberwolves about the possibility of playing in the NBA after the football season is over. And right now, it looks like he'll be done with football sooner than he was last year. The Vikings are now 2-3 after losing to the Chicago Bears at the Metrodome yesterday by a score of 24-22. Don Banks writes about the Vikings for the Pioneer Press and he joins us now.

MPR's Chris Farrell says the stock may actually be under-valued right now.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty today, but President Clinton has asked for a postponement of the vote. In a letter to Senate leaders yesterday, Clinton said he firmly believes that the treaty is in the national interest. The President is concerned that a failure to ratify the treaty will damage the United States' national security and its relationship with its allies. Senator Rod Grams is on the line now.

With the Twins and the Vikings both seeking public support for new sports facilities, tracking the ongoing stadium debate becomes more complicated each day. Last night, key figures in the discussion gathered at a forum sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. They came to give the issues a thorough hearing and left with little to agree upon. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura is stressing self-sufficiency in the second part of his so-called "Big Plan," a set of goals for his administration. At a press conference yesterday he said his priorities include welfare reform, health care and lifelong learning. Several lawmakers say they agree with the Governor's philosophy, but note the "Big Plan" lacks details. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

An Ohio man is recovering in an Upper Michigan hospital, after falling overboard from a lake freighter and having to swim five miles in the frigid waters of Lake Superior. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.

Duluth is one of North America's largest seaports. It's common knowledge that hundreds of ships from across the world enter the port every year; this season a record amount of grain will be exported through Lake Superior. What's not common is an understanding of the 2000 or so foreign people who cross under the lift bridge each year; an understanding of life aboard. Mainstreet Radio's Leif Enger recently shipped aboard a Bulgarian tramp freighter as it departed for Italy with a load of North Dakota wheat.

The field of DFL candidates is shaping up in the 2000 Senate campaign. Trial lawyer Michael Ciresi plans to enter the race to challenge Republican Senator Rod Grams today, while Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe and Congressman David Minge have decided not to jump in. DFL leaders are hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's gubernatorial race, when a six-way battle divided the party. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The state House Crime Prevention Committee is again exploring options for changing Minnesota's law on concealed handguns. Last night, the committee took public testimony on a proposal that would make it easier for some Minnesotans to carry concealed weapons. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

A Who's Who of North America's biggest engineering and construction companies met yesterday in Minneapolis to hear state officials describe the proposed Hiawatha Avenue light rail line. Several of the interested bidders say the project is attractive because so much of the funding is already in place. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Minneapolis trial lawyer Michael Ciresi has entered the race for the U.S. Senate. Ciresi announced yesterday that he will run for the DFL nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Rod Grams. Some political analysts consider Grams a vulnerable candidate, and national democrats have targeted him in their efforts to regain control of the Senate in the next election. Jennifer Duffy is the Senate editor for the Cook Political Report, a newsletter published in Washington, DC. She's on the line now.

After decades of denial, Philip Morris is talking about the dangers of smoking. The tobacco company has now admitted on its Web page that tobacco is not safe, and that it's addictive. Philip Morris also announced a $100 million ad campaign to remake its image. Some Anti-tobacco groups are leery of this new candor. Dr. Tom Kotte of the Mayo Clinic is a former President of Smoke Free 2000.

Duluth's Young at Heart record store has been described as a popular music mecca, a time machine, and a Valentine to vinyl. Duluth resident Richard Wozniak dedicated his life to the store, serving up pop music platters to the youngsters of the city since the late 50's. But Wozniak is in declining health and has moved to a senior citizens' home. The store is now closed and Wozniak's niece is seeking buyers for the massive record collection. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura says he wants to see all Minnesota children covered by health insurance by the end of his term. The Governor highlighted the health care priorities included in his so-called Big Plan at a teen clinic in Minneapolis yesterday. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Fall is filled with traditions. The warm days and cool nights seem to energize Minnesotans to get their work done before winter. Lawn mowers get put into storage and the rakes come out. But in St. Cloud, part of the fall tradition - the smell of burning leaves - has fallen by the wayside. St. Cloud was one of the few cities left in Minnesota where residents could burn leaves, that is until the city council banned it recently. People who didn't like the smoke are happy, but not everyone is cheering the action, Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.

The debate over a baseball stadium in St. Paul is grabbing attention these days but it's only one of many projects proposed for the city. There's everything from improvements to major thoroughfares like Payne Avenue to plans for the defunct Hamms Brewery to a park promoting poetry. Eighty of these projects are on view through Saturday as part of the Mayor's Design Forum at the National Guard Armory in St. Paul. They may not have lawn signs like those promoting the stadium, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports, there's no less passion about these projects.

Governor Ventura's chief spokesperson says he's trying to repair the bad relations between the local news media and the Governor. Speaking yesterday before journalism students in St. Paul, John Wodele said despite the friction, he still believes Minnesotans are getting the information they need to stay informed about Ventura's policy positions. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports.

Minnesota's most famous chemical dependency treatment center is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Hazelden Foundation will mark the occasion with a conference, an exposition, and entertainment today and tomorrow. Hazelden is based in Center City, Minnesota and has achieved national recognition for its work in treating addiction. Jerry Spicer is the President of Hazelden. He says that attitudes toward addiction in the late 1940s led to the creation of the treatment center.

Here's MPR's Chris Roberts with roundup of what's going on in the world of arts in Minnesota.

Minnesota property taxes went up a little in 1999, but not as much as the average home value did. That's according to a survey published today by Minnesota Taxpayers Association and the Citizen's League. The survey looks at data from Minnesota communities with a population of over two thousand. Lynn Reed is the Research Director at the Minnesota Taxpayers Association. He's come by the studio this morning.

Mark Seeley on the weather and composting.