Monday, March 27

Six years has done little to change Senator Rod Grams' campaign style. The first-term Republican remains relentlessly focused on cutting taxes and reducing what he says is unnecessary federal regulation. Political analysts say the conservative Republican is in trouble going into this fall's election, that his relatively low approval ratings and right-wing positions leave him vulnerable for defeat. The prospect of unseating Grams has drawn six DFLers into the Senate race who for months has been ripping into the incumbent. But Grams says he's proud of his Washington accomplishments and he's confident Minnesotans will choose to send him back to the Capitol for a second Senate term. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

A recent report by the U.S. General Accounting Office says federal funds for HIV positive and AIDS patients are going mainly to those living in major metropolitan areas. The report says patients living in rural areas are receiving less on a proportional basis. And since Congress is set to reauthorize how those dollars are spent, a turf war has broken out between urban and rural AIDS organizations. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

After more than ten years of legal and political maneuvering, it appears that the path has been cleared for the construction of a metal shredder along the Mississippi river in Northeast Minneapolis. On Friday, the Minneapolis City Council voted six to five to pay American Iron and Supply Company $8.75 million, the largest legal settlement in the city's history. American Iron had sued in 1992, charging that the city was illegally blocking the shredder. Minneapolis City Council member Joe Beirnat represents the ward where the shredder would be located and has been one of its most vocal opponents. He joins us now.

It's getting down to the nitty gritty at the Capitol as the House and Senate work out the details of the bonding and tax bills. Joining us now with a preview of this week's activity is Minnesota political editor Mike Mulcahy.

MPR's Chris Farrell says lots of folks are getting worried about how high tech companies are being run.

Minnesota House Republicans passed a tax relief package yesterday totaling $3.25 billion over the next three years. But before the final 85-47 vote had even been tallied, Senate DFLers and Governor Jesse Ventura expressed strong reservations. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

The Senate Tax Committee approved a measure Monday to dedicate sales tax revenues to the Department of Natural Resources, if voters pass a constitutional amendment. The bill, sponsored by Senator Bob Lessard, would give the agency about $116 million a year. Supporters of the measure called the 14-6 vote a wide and significant victory. But many lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe are on record opposing any dedicated funds, because they take decision-making ability away from future legislatures. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

The Excelsior Henderson Motorcycle Company says it has reached agreement with a yet to be identified investors' group to take over the Belle Plaine firm. The company fired almost its entire staff and filed for Bankruptcy protection in December. Key details have yet to be released, but it's clear founders Dan and Dave Hanlon will lose their remaining ownership stake in the company. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking permission to burn up to 81,000 acres of damaged timber in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Controlled fires would be set in the area struck by a windstorm last July, to lessen the risk of fire burning out of the wilderness into populated areas. However, the plan will not go into effect until next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will try to extend their winning streak to seven games when they play the Philadelphia 76ers at the Target Center tonight. The Wolves are having their best season ever and are now within two games of a playoff slot that would give them home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Brit Robson covers the T-Wolves for City Pages and he's on the line now.

The trend in farming is to get big: corporate farms with huge acreage, or thousands of animals. But there is also a trend to go small, to escape the standard wholesale-retail track, and sell it yourself. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha visited one family farm where they are discovering the advantages and disadvantages of direct marketing to the customer.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is announcing its new season this morning. The theater will kick off in June with Selena Fever, a musical tribute to the Latina singer who was murdered just as she was topping the charts. Kevin McCollum is President and CEO of the Ordway Center. He's on the line now.

A House panel examined the allegations of a conflict of interest surrounding the Minneapolis light rail project Tuesday, and added what critics say are more troubling details to the picture. The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council are trying to address Federal Transportation Administration concerns about such a conflict. At the hearing, MnDOT officials admitted they tried to skirt open bidding rules in order to meet the project's strict deadlines, but they say no infractions occurred. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

A study of x-rays taken of deformed frogs lends new support to the idea that there are many different causes for the frog deformities found in Minnesota and many other states. It's the most extensive and detailed study to date of bone abnormalities found in deformed frogs. The study shows a wide range of precise and complicated bone problems. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

More and more companies are looking to sell goods over the Internet. But they're finding it's not as easy as setting up a store in a mall and waiting for shoppers to stroll in. In the world of e-commerce merchants must find new ways to attract customers and entice them to buy. A growing number of people who call themselves "usability professionals" are helping companies do just that by studying consumers' online shopping habits. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Jurors in the trial of a multi-state prostitution ring have come to a verdict. The prostitution ring was run out of the Twin Cities, and involved up to 50 women and girls, some as young as 13. Five of the six defendants were part of the Evans family. The six defendants were convicted of 45 counts of interstate prostitution, conspiracy and money laundering. The trial was in St. Louis. Joining us is David Scott, a reporter for the Associated Press.

Governor Jesse Ventura tried to use his high profile Wednesday to help one of his most embattled state agencies, the Office of Technology. In a visit to the agency's St. Paul offices, Ventura praised the office's work keeping Minnesota abreast of new technology, and watched as a fishing license was entered and downloaded from the Internet. The office's fate is another bargaining chip in this year's legislative negotiations: House Republicans say the office is unnecessary and have passed a bill to eliminate it. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Working parents who want to stay home with their babies may get paid to do it under a bill making its way through the state legislature. The bill would provide a paid leave of absence for new parents, if their employers choose to join the project. The parents would receive a maximum of $500 a week, for up to 26 weeks. The cost would be split between the state and the employer. The legislation was approved in the state Senate last week. Jim Koppel is the director of the Children's Defense Fund of Minnesota. His organization wrote the initial proposal, and he's on the line now.

Governor Jesse Ventura heads to Washington D.C. today to lobby Congress for expanded world trade. Ventura will testify before the House Ways and Means Committee. Free trade advocates hope the celebrity politician can use his popularity to sway skeptical members of congress to supporting increased trade with China. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone reacts to Ventura's expected testimony.

A new book called Stadium Games by StarTribune writer and MPR Sports Commentator Jay Weiner charges that a 1997 offer by businessman Don Beaver to buy the Minnesota Twins and move them to North Carolina was a charade. Weiner writes that the offer was made at the encouragement of former Governor Arne Carlson to put pressure on the Minnesota Legislature to appropriate funds for a new stadium for the Twins. Carlson says Weiner is the one making a bogus charge.

Twenty-one homeless families are facing eviction from emergency housing after the hotel they have been staying in was sold to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. MPR's Brandt Williams reports.

Springtime brings with it a rush of outdoor activity in Minnesota. And that means fishing and hunting. Joining us on the line is Shawn Perich, author and columnist for Minnesota Outdoor News.

Meanwhile, Governor Jesse Ventura spent yesterday in Washington urging Congress to approve broad long-term trade relations with China. Ventura brought what he called a common sense message about free trade in testimony before one of the most powerful committees in the House. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports from Washington.

Minnesota teachers have a new tool to teach environmental education. It's a CD-ROM game called "Waters to the Sea" and it's unique because it's about rivers in Minnesota and the way people threaten those river environments. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports.

MPR's Chris Roberts sifts through the Minnesota arts offerings and the result is the Word of Mouth arts round up.