Monday, February 28

The Confederate flag flying over South Carolina's Capitol is not alone in stirring controversy. During the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 a Minnesota private captured a battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. Today that flag is the only one of its type to not be returned to its home state. Virginia has renewed its effort to have Minnesota repatriate the flag. This month a resolution asking Minnesota to return the flag sailed through the Virginia senate and is now before the house. Minnesota is not likely to comply in what's a passionate tug of war over the historical value of war relics. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports.

Minnesota sells two and a half million fishing and hunting licenses a year. Starting today, nearly all those licenses will be bought and sold electronically. No paper forms; no carbon copies. The DNR says it'll help enforcement and provide a useful database; but hundreds of license vendors have decided the new system is more trouble than it's worth. Mainstreet Radio's Leif Enger reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura has been in Washington D.C. over the past couple of days and he'll be in Capitol through tomorrow as part of the National Governor's Association's winter meeting. Minnesota's governor is not the attraction he was last year at the conference, fresh from his surprise election victory and mobbed constantly by reporters. Ventura says his lower profile suits him. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

While Governor Ventura finishes up his business at the National Governors Association Conference in Washington, legislators at the State Capitol are preparing for a busy week back home. Minnesota Public Radio's Political Editor Mike Mulcahy is up at the Capitol. He joins us for a look at the week ahead.

MPR's Chris Farrell previews the week on Wall Street.

As of Sunday, the number of area codes in the Twin Cities region officially doubled from two to four. But the 612 area code will remain in place for the next ten months while the new codes are phased in for Minneapolis suburbs like Anoka and Apple Valley. Although ten-digit dialing will increase in the metro region, the state Public Utilities Commission says it chose the new plan in order to preserve seven-digit dialing at least within neighborhoods. And the agency says the new plan should keep the Twin Cities region flush with numbers for at least the next eight years. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

When the Red Lake walleye fishery collapsed a few years ago, the Upper Red Lake community of Waskish began a downward spiral. The once bustling fishing and resort town began sprouting 'for sale' signs, and today motorists passing through can't even buy a tank of gasoline. But townspeople have a renewed sense of hope. There's been a boom recently in crappie fishing. But some community members believe their long term economic salvation lies in the massive peat bog in their own back yard. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson has this Mainstreet report from Bemidji.

Governor Jesse Ventura wraps up his National Governor's Association trip to Washington D.C. this afternoon. Last night the governor co-hosted a Minneapolis Convention and Visitor's Bureau dinner with Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. Today he meets with Minnesota's congressional delegation. Ventura will also lobby for federal legislation to help Hmong refugees who helped the United States during the Vietnam War. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

William Mitchell College of Law has reinstated a ban on military recruiting on campus. William Mitchell banned military recruiters for years before Congress passed a law punishing colleges that did so. Now, a new federal law loosens those sanctions and William Mitchell is putting the ban back in place. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

Minneapolis school district officials want to add more all-day kindergarten classrooms. School board members will vote today on whether to spend $1.5 million over the next two years to make the optional program available at every elementary school in the district. Proponents of all-day kindergarten say the extra learning time will pay off in better test scores down the road. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Dania Hall, a Minneapolis landmark in the city's West Bank neighborhood near the University of Minnesota was destroyed yesterday by fire. Minneapolis fire department officials say they're investigating the cause of the blaze. The 116-year-old red brick building was on the National Registry of Historic Buildings. Dania was being renovated, and the developer planned to reopen it this summer. For more than a century, Dania Hall was a gathering place for Scandinavian immigrants and college students. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

The Department of Finance is predicting the state's budget surplus will grow by an additional $229 million before the end of the two-year budget cycle in June, 2001. That brings the total projected surplus to $1.8 billion. Despite Governor Ventura's insistence that most of the money be saved until next year, the news immediately touched off a round of legislative maneuvering over how to divide it between tax cuts and new spending initiatives. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

Minnesota farmers and their supporters will gather at the Capitol in St. Paul today to call for changes to an agricultural system they say is driving many people out of business. Organizers of the rally include several religious groups; the Minnesota Catholic conference; and the Minnesota council of churches. Religious leaders say their participation is a natural extension of their role in shaping community life. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura's push for a unicameral legislature is his top priority for the 2000 legislative session. The issue has spawned a loud and long debate. In outstate Minnesota, there is a growing concern that a one-house legislature would be bad news for rural areas. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports.

In addition to primary victories in Washington and Virginia, Texas Governor George W. Bush won decisively in North Dakota's Republican caucuses last night. Bush had 76 percent of the vote to McCain's 19 percent. As a result, Bush will get 14 of North Dakota's 19 delegates to the Republican National Convention. Joining us to talk about the results is Drew Wrigley, executive director of the North Dakota Republican party.

In his annual State of the City address last night St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman announced his support for a school funding referendum. He also talked about a plan to study the impact of the Internet and emphasized the need to crack down on problem properties. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura is back in Minnesota after several days in Washington, D.C. for a National Governors Association meeting. Before leaving, Ventura met with Minnesota's congressional delegation and lobbied a key member of Congress about a bill that would help Hmong veterans. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Tonight, the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee will consider several proposals designed to protect consumer privacy. But as the debate over the proper use of personal data progresses through the Legislature, some lawmakers say they're having second thoughts about taking aggressive action. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

A Minnesota Pubic Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press poll shows Minnesotans have no clear favorite for president. If the presidential election were held today, Republican John McCain would likely defeat Democrat Al Gore in Minnesota by a narrow margin. But Gore would edge out George W. Bush if the Texas governor were the Republican nominee. Yet, while McCain enjoys a slight edge among Minnesota voters in the general electorate, Bush is the clear favorite among Minnesota Republicans. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Farmers, religious leaders, and family-farm activists rallied Wednesday at the Minnesota Capitol in Saint Paul. The event was designed to bring attention to failing family farms and the growth of large, corporate farms. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports.

A growing number of local high-tech firms are opening offices in India because they can't find enough qualified workers in Minnesota. The companies say the practice also cuts costs and helps them establish round the clock production. Many, but by no means all of these firms are led by immigrants from India. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Minnesota may not be getting a new ballpark, but a Minnesota company will leave its mark on the new Houston Astros stadium. SMI & Hydraulics in Porter, Minnesota is making a replica of an 1860 steam engine. That engine will be shipped to Houston, where it will be a key part of the new ballpark. The train will appear to pull the stadium's retractable roof open and shut. Mitch Growen is the manager of the steam engine project. He's on the line now.

The recent warm weather has a lot of people thinking spring, just as a yearly seasonal ritual begins in the Twin Cities. The 66th annual Home and Garden Show is underway at the Minneapolis Convention Center, displaying what's new for the season. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman joined the crowds to spot a little spring fever, but found out the experts are recommending gardeners restrain themselves and stay inside. Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses another warm February.

In the fight to unseat U.S. Senator Rod Grams, the DFL's strongest candidate isn't even a candidate. A poll commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows former Congressman Tim Penny would beat Grams if the election were held today. But earlier this week, Penny withdrew his name from the race, and as Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, the remaining field of DFLers have yet to prove themselves to voters.

U of M Political Scientist Steven Smith provides a voter's guide to Tuesday's Minnesota caucuses.

Just a few months ago, Minnesota dairy farmers were riding a wave of high prices. But those prices, along with farmer's profits, recently took a dive. Now, after several good years, some dairy farmers need to decide if they can weather this low point, or if it's time to leave the farm. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has this report.

Some at City Hall are hoping this is finally the day for Block E. The Minneapolis City Council plans to vote on a redevelopment proposal for the block later today. The project would put a hotel, restaurants, and a movie theatre on the area across from the Target Center. The plan appeared doomed last week when a key investor in the hotel portion pulled out. Minneapolis advertising executive and downtown real estate owner Lee Lynch has been trying to find investors to fill the $10 million gap. He's on the line now.

Chris Roberts hosts this week's edition of the Word of Mouth Arts roundup.