Monday, December 20

Only 12 days to Y2K. Do you know where your bottled water and extra money is? Do you know how to keep your computer happy? There are some things you can try to ward off the millennium bug, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon reports, you just might beat it by doing nothing at all.

Mormons in Minnesota are celebrating a new temple in Oakdale. Once the temple is dedicated in January, Mormons approved by the bishop will be able to perform rituals they previously had to travel at least as far as Chicago to carry out. Minnesota Public Radio's Shirley Idelson reports.

The kidnapping and presumed murder of Katie Poirier last spring captured the attention of the state, generating constant news coverage -first of the massive effort to find her, then of the legal proceedings surrounding her alleged killer, Donald Blom. Blom's trial now promises to drag on for months or years but Poirier's disappearance may have a more immediate effect at the state Legislature. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports on lawmakers' rush to approve new legislation inspired by her disappearance.

Chris Farrell drops by the studio to talk about the financial markets and interest rates.

Bob Potter talks with Brian Dietz of MediaOne regarding the cable company starting local phone service in the suburbs of St. Paul.

We're entering the home stretch of the holiday eating season where eggnog and Christmas cookies beckon at seemingly every social gathering. Research shows more Americans are overweight and nutritionists say it's easy to see why: the culture emphasizes high fat foods and ways to avoid physical activity. Health experts at the Mayo Clinic have embarked on an effort to reverse the trend in Olmsted County. They want to prove they can change the lifestyle of an entire community and decrease the rate of heart disease in the county. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports from Rochester.

Belle Plaine motorcycle manufacturer Excelsior-Henderson plans to file today for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors. The company has ceased operations and laid off nearly all of its staff. Its creditors include Minnesota taxpayers. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Nearly 300 Mille Lacs area residents crammed into an Onamia school room last evening to ask legislators to repeal an agreement with the Mille Lacs Ojibwe tribe. Locals say the agreement gave the tribe jurisdiction it isn't entitled to, and they fear that it paves the way for increasing Indian authority over non-Indian residents. Leif Enger of Mainstreet Radio reports.

The number of methamphetamine labs in Minnesota is growing, but the number of people who use the drug does not seem to be on the increase. That's according to a study published by the Hazelden Foundation today. The study looks at indicators such as meth-related deaths, emergency room visits, and admissions to treatment programs. It found decreases in these indicators in the Twin Cities. Carol Falkowski is a senior research analyst at Hazelden and the author of the report. She's on the line now.

The Minnesota Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive with a 24-20 victory over the Packers at the Metrodome last night. Randy Moss caught two touchdown passes and made a key catch on the one-yard line to set up the winning touchdown. The Vikings are now 8-6, just one game behind the division leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Don Banks covers the Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and he's on the line now.

Law enforcement agencies around the region are targeting alcohol-related offenses over the holidays. Fargo police and city leaders say alcohol abuse is such a pervasive problem it needs more than an occasional appearance in the spotlight. They are developing a long term comprehensive plan to change community attitudes toward alcohol. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

Belle Plaine motorcycle manufacturer Excelsior-Henderson is filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company has layed off nearly all of its employees and ceased operations. This comes only a year after the company started making motorcycles. Excelsior-Henderson was partly financed by the city of Belle Plaine, which put $2.7 million in tax increment financing, loans, and grants toward helping develop the company's plant. Gerald Meyer is the mayor of Belle Plaine. He's on the line now.

A new cable-access show airing in Saint Cloud takes a closer look at homosexuality. The show's creator and host says the program is designed to educate people. He says he hopes it'll lead to more acceptance of different lifestyles in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

That's author Jim Lenfestey reading from his book The Urban Coyote: Howlings on Family, Community, and the Search for Peace and Quiet. The book is a compilation of columns he's written for a community newspaper in Minneapolis. Lenfestey stopped by the studio to discuss his book and read a few selections. He says that the columns are different from the work he did as a journalist at the Star Tribune.

Because of possible terrorism at airports related to Y2K, federal officials are urging local officials to heighten security. Jim Welna is the Twin Cities' airport's public safety director.

Roughly 200 demonstrators turned out for yesterday's St. Paul City Council meeting to register their complaints about a plan to link Ayd Mill Road with Interstate Hwys. 35E and 94 in southwestern St. Paul. The Council took no action on the matter, but supporters of the proposal say it will relieve congestion on residential streets. Opponents say it will only encourage more traffic. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Northwest Airlines says today will be its busiest travel day of the holiday season with about 200,000 people boarding its planes throughout the world. Tens of thousands of people will pass through Northwest's Minneapolis-St. Paul hub, all of them hoping for safe on-time flights. But some flight attendants have been talking about interfering with the flight schedule this Christmas to protest stalled contract talks. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch is supporting the proposed merger of Northern States Power with Denver-based New Century Energies. In exchange for his support, the utility agreed to reduce electric rates by $50 million over six years. If the two companies merge, they will form the nation's second largest power company. Attorney General Mike Hatch is on the line now.

Christmas gatherings are the stuff of family memories. Some people remember these through photographs, others through journals. Six generations of family history are gathered in British author Sallyann Murphy's new book, The Metcalf Family Album. Resembling a scrapbook, it's actually part fact, part fiction. It includes pressed flowers, family photos, recipes, and letters supposedly gathered at Christmas by the family matriarchs. Minnesota's Public Radio's Stephanie Curtis talked with Sallyann Murphy about how she collected real stories from letters and journals to create the book.

Thousands of University of Minnesota football fans are making plans to join the Gophers at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, on New Year's Eve. The game against the University of Oregon marks the first time in 13 years Minnesota will take part in one of college football's showcase events, and it follows the winningest season at the U of M since 1967. Some long-time fans hope this year sparks a return to the Gophers' football glory of previous decades. But changes in the sports landscape could make it hard to recapture Minnesota's gridiron heyday. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Despite a booming economy the problem of homeless and hunger continue to grow. Especially in rural areas. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports about the situation in the Red River Valley.

Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts takes a look at arts news around the state in the Word of Mouth Arts Roundup.

Meteorologist Mark Seeley came by the studio for a look at this week's weather news.

Light snow across parts of Minnesota may have raised the hopes of cross country skiers across the state. The DNR monitors snow conditions on trails in state parks, and it prepares the trails for skiing. Joining us is Kevin Kyle, a customer service consultant at the DNR.