Monday, February 21

Heart attacks are the number-one killer in America. There's an effort to lower that death rate by making portable defibrillators as available as fire extinguishers in public places. To do that, the South Dakota Legislature has unanimously passed legislation that would limit civil liability for a public access defibrillator. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.

It's hard to believe with all the whiz-bang high-tech entertainment available to kids nowadays that something as simple as storytelling could compete. But Judith Simundson not only competes, she wins by spinning Norwegian tales of enchantment. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports.

It's looking to be a busy week in Minnesota politics. Rod Grams is expected to announce his candidacy for U.S. Senate today. He's scheduled a news conference in his hometown of Crown, Minnesota. The unicameral legislature gets its first hearing in the Senate today, and Governor Ventura's choice to head the Commerce and Public Service Department could be in the hot seat again this week. Minnesota Public Radio's Political Editor Mike Mulcahy joins us now from the capitol, for a look at the week ahead. Listen online.

Homeowners in Maple Grove returned from vacation yesterday to find that their home had been turned into an illegal meth lab while they were gone, and had exploded. It's the latest in a string of fires blamed on the manufacturing of the drug methamphetamine. DFL State Representative Doug Peterson of Madison is proposing new legislation to fight the spread of meth labs. If passed, it make it a felony to steal or illegally transport anhydrous ammonia. That common farm fertilizer is an ingredient in methamphetamine. Representative Peterson is on the line now.

A Montana sugar beet processor is denying published reports it will soon file for bankruptcy. But the report reflects an industry, long an agricultural gold mine, now struggling to survive. The economic stakes are high for our region. The largest sugarbeet processor in the U.S. is in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports. Over the next two weeks, a nonprofit group called Minnesota e-democracy is holding an online debate with almost all of the declared Senate candidates. Through March 3, candidates will stake out their positions and send each other rebuttals. Voters can follow along on the e-democracy web site or keep up via e-mail. A similar forum helped Governor Jesse Ventura get his message out in 1998. Tim Erickson is the debate coordinator. He's on the line now.

The Minnesota Senate is scheduled to take up the confirmation of Governor Ventura's controversial Commerce Commissioner appointee later this week. Two Senate committees have already voted overwhelmingly against confirming Steve Minn, and barring a last-minute resolution, the Senate is poised to reject a gubernatorial Cabinet appointee for the first time in more than a generation. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

For the first time in ten years, arson is the leading cause of fire in the state. That's according to a report called "Fire in Minnesota" which is put together by the State Fire Marshall. The report finds that arson caused over $11 million in property damage in 1998. Joining us on the line is Jamie Novak, fire investigator for the St. Paul fire department.

MPR's Chris Farrell speculates on the impact of the declining stock market on the U.S. economy.

Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe says the Senate will vote tomorrow to reject Steve Minn as Commerce Commissioner. It would be the first time in more than 25 years the Senate has voted not to confirm a major gubernatorial appointee. Minn appeared on MPR's Midday program yesterday to defend his qualifications, and he accused his harshest Senate critic of lying. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

A key investor in the proposed development project for Block E has pulled out of the deal, putting the entire project at risk. The investor will no longer supply $10 million for a hotel on the downtown Hennepin block. City officials consider the hotel a key part of the project, which also includes a movie theater and restaurants. Minneapolis has been trying to decide on a redevelopment plan for the area since the city demolished the block ten years ago. Steve Cramer is the executive director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency. He's on the line now.

The six announced DFL candidates for U.S. Senate agree with each other on most political issues and so far the wide field of DFl-ers hoping to unseat Republican Rod Grams is saving criticism for the incumbent. They gathered last night for a debate in St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik was there.

The Senate race in Minnesota is just one of a number of big political stories going on right now. Joining us on the line is Steven Schier, chair of the political science department at Carleton College.

Wolf populations once hunted nearly to extinction are rebounding in a number of countries around the world. Now, many experts are worried about a backlash, as wolves begin expanding their range into populated areas. Wolf biologists from around the world will be gathering in Duluth this week to discuss that and other issues in the effort to restore wolf populations worldwide. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

Minnesota has seen its wolf population quadruple since the 1960's, when the animal was put on the federal endangered species list. Many of the issues that confront Minnesota as the state tries to figure out how to manage its growing wolf population are similar to those seen in other parts of the world, where wolf populations are also increasing. In Duluth yesterday, wolf experts from around the world compared notes on their experiences.. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

After 72 years in St. Cloud, Herberger's - a storefront business that grew into a retail department store chain - has announced it's moving its home offices to Milwaukee. The move is the latest in a string of business takeovers that have moved company headquarters away from central Minnesota. Business officials say its an unfortunate trend and are worried about its impact on the St. Cloud area. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.

Reform Party presidential candidate Pat Buchanan is making his second swing through Minnesota in a week. Last night he stopped in Saint Cloud for a fund-raiser on his way to the Twin Cities. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Minnesota Politics publisher Blois Olson discusses the 4th Congressional Districts race.

The girls' state high school hockey tournament begins today. It will run through Saturday. This is the sixth year that girls have had teams of their own in Minnesota. Doug Johnson is the publisher of "Let's Play Hockey," a Minneapolis-based magazine that covers the sport in North America. He's on the line now.

The Pipestone Jasper school district in southwest Minnesota has faced a series of crisis recently, the latest is a million dollar budget shortfall. Just two months ago voters approved building a new high school. But at a school board meeting last night some residents wondered if the district can still afford the new building. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.

Meteorologist Mark Seeley talks about the warm temps, high dew points and thick fog.

For the first time in several decades, the Minnesota Senate has rejected a Governor's Cabinet appointee. Steve Minn was Governor Jesse Ventura's choice to head a merged Commerce and Public Service Department. The Governor says the Senate vote shows that a Commissioner's qualifications are less important than currying favor with legislators. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The Minnesota Department of Health has signed a contract with two big agencies to mount an anti-smoking campaign aimed at 12 to 17-year-olds. What's unusual about the arrangement is the agencies' pay will be tied to the results they achieve in the next 18 months. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

If you're interested in what the light-rail transit stations might look like, tomorrow is your chance to see. Architects will present their designs for each station of the proposed Hiawatha line at the Anne Sullivan School in Minneapolis. Five teams of architects are designing the stations. They're trying to customize each station to its surrounding neighborhood. The preliminary designs are based on earlier input from the public. Ken McQuade, of Julie Snow Architects, is a designer for the Lake Street Station. He's on the line now.

The Senate K-12 Education Committee will hear brief presentations today on proposals to alter Minnesota's Profile of Learning graduation standards. Yesterday, a House committee heard presentations on ten bills, each with a different plan for retooling the Profile. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

MPR's Chris Roberts gives up the straight poop on the arts offerings this week.