Monday, November 22

The academic misconduct scandal in the University of Minnesota's men's basketball program could ultimately cost more than $5 million - not to mention the jobs of top university administrators. A report issued late last week confirmed widespread fraud in the program. Most observers approve of university president Mark Yudof's job confronting the scandal - but some are raising questions. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Dairy farmers all across the state will feel the effects of the budget bill that passed in Washington on Friday. That's because the new law includes language that pays Northeastern dairy farmers more for their milk than farmers in the Midwest. Members of congress from Minnesota complain that the language was inserted into the budget bill at the last minute and without debate. Joining us to talk about dairy farmers, and the budget is Democratic Congressman David Minge. He's on the line now.

Star Tribune sports writer and MPR commentator Jay Weiner came by the studio to discuss the latest developments in the University of Minnesota's academic fraud scandal.

Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics correspondent Chris Farrell came by the studio for Monday Markets, a look at recent financial news.

James McQuairter is a forecaster for the National Weather Service. He joined us by phone for a look at the winter storm coming our way.

The U.S. Forest Service and environmentalists faced criticism at two separate gatherings in northeast Minnesota Monday. In Grand Rapids, Forest Service officials discussed President Clinton's proposal to ban new roads on at least 50 million acres of national forest land. Later at a Duluth fund-raiser, politicians including U.S. Senator Rod Grams, and State Senator Doug Johnson, addressed citizens concerned about increased government regulation, promising to work to keep government land open to industry and recreation. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

A proposed unicameral legislature received mixed reviews from a crowd of nearly 800 attending a legislative hearing last night in Fergus Falls. What drew most people to the hearing was not the debate over whether to go from a two chamber to a single house legislature, but an appearance before the committee by Governor Jesse Ventura. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

Educators from around the state will be at Hamline University today to discuss teaching diverse students. They're coming from around the Twin Cities, as well as from communities like Bemidji, Duluth, and Winona. They'll discuss how to teach a room full of students who come from different races and classes. Lurline Baker-Kent is the Executive Director of the Hamline University Center for Excellence in Urban Education. She is a former teacher and Duluth School Board member, and she's on the line now.

Duluth's three Edison Schools will keep their charter for three more years. Last night the Duluth school board narrowly voted to renew the contract after more than two hours of contentious debate. Critics - and even some allies - of Edison Schools, Inc., a for-profit company based in New York, said the vote was premature because the contract does not expire until next summer. New school board members set to take office in January are known to oppose the Edison schools. But Edison proponents said they need to know where they stand with the Duluth board in order to properly plan for the next school year. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

A new report says Minnesota's public education system is falling short when it comes to preparing students for the world of work. The Citizens League Committee on Workforce Training says the growing shortage of high-skilled workers could force some businesses to leave the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

State lawmakers are beginning to square off for what promises to be a major battle over highway funding this winter. This morning, House Republicans will unveil a plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to repair roads and bridges and add new lanes to the regions most congested highways. The new emphasis on cars and highways threatens to put the Republicans on a collision course with the Ventura Administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.

Tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day feast usually includes Turkey. But if you're looking for something different this year, how about venison. The deer hunting season has been a good one according to the DNR, so there's plenty of deer meat around the state. To tell us how to prepare it for a Thanksgiving Day meal, is John Schumacher, the author of Game Cooking Made Easy, and the chef at Schumacher's New Prague Hotel. He's on the line now.

Stores will be crowded this holiday season, and retailers expect the cash register to be ringing. That's according to a survey of store owners and managers around the state conducted by the Minnesota Retail Merchants Association. Joining us now is Annette Henkel, president of the Association.

Minnesota is the second largest turkey producing state in the country. One bird grown in Minnesota this year will live past Thanksgiving. That's because President Clinton will pardon the turkey in a Rose Garden ceremony today. It's part of an annual ritual in Washington. Jim Reith will present the turkey to the President. Reith is the C-E-O of Wilmar-based Jennie-O and chairman of the National Turkey Federation. He's on the line now.

Several Twin Cities organizations are providing free Thanksgiving dinner today for those who don't have their own. One of those organizations is Meals on Wheels, which will deliver about 14,000 dinners before the day ends. Bill Foussard is the founder of the program here in the Twin Cities. He's over at Cretin-Derham high school right now, helping prepare the meals.

On this day known for eating you still have time to join thousands of others for a Thanksgiving Day run. The Arena 5-K won't start until 8:30 this morning at the Arena Club in the Target Center. The event started as a Thanksgiving Day tradition at the home of its founder Bob Pickering, who was looking for a family-oriented activity to start the holidays. Mr. Pickering is this year's official starter, and he joins us on the line.

For the past few months, we've had a guest from Germany at Minnesota Public Radio: Torsten Teichmann, a journalist from Bavarian Public Radio. Torsten got a bit homesick during his visit, so we sent him to New Ulm, for the ultimate German experience in Minnesota.

In a period when the amount of low income housing is declining, one community agency in Minneapolis is creating places for people to live. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports on the work of the Central Community Housing Trust and two of the lives it's profoundly changed.

Ham radio enthusiasts take their hobby seriously. They surround themselves with hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars worth of equipment, so they can talk to people across the state, the country and the world. They also perform a community service by watching the weather and relaying wireless messages during emergencies. As the Internet changes what we can expect from our communication systems, some radio amateurs are trying to recruit new members to the hobby, so there is a next generation to take over. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.

Bargain hunters with access to the Internet are finding a shoppers paradise as e-retailers battle for business in the new marketplace. Many online shops offer first time customers free merchandise or dramatic discounts with the hope they'll return. Retail analysts say the fight to win over the trust of customers new to e-commerce will only intensify this holiday season. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Meteorologist Mark Seeley on a warm November and a look to the winter ahead.

Chris Roberts brings us this week's Word of Mouth arts round up.