Monday, April 17

The district attorney of Los Angeles has hinted the conspiracy trial of Sara Jane Olson might be settled out of court before the August start date. Olson is accused of participating in a plot to blow up police officers in 1975 by placing pipe bombs under their cars. Kitty Felde reports from Los Angeles.

The news last week that both Minneapolis and St. Paul police departments will start keeping track of the race of people pulled over in traffic stops is part of a much broader examination of racism in Minnesota's criminal justice system. The study will look into a state report which shows black men in Minnesota are sent to prison at a rate more than three times the national average. In fact, Minnesota's imprisonment ratio of blacks to whites is twenty-five to one - the highest of any state in the country. Some say racism is behind the disparity. Others say the causes are more complex. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Last week, most of the news out of the Minnesota Capitol involved a bill that would have required a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could get an abortion. Governor Jesse Ventura vetoed that bill on Friday. This week it's back to the nitty gritty as the House and Senate try to reach a compromise on tax and spending bills. Joining us from the Capitol is Minnesota Public Radio's political editor, Mike Mulcahy.

"Images of Positive Influence" opened Sunday at the Winona Arts Center. The show features a collection of essays by Winona eighth graders that focus on an adult that has made a difference in each of their lives. The show also includes photographs of the students with the adult they profiled and objects of special meaning. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports on how an assignment inspired by remarkable yet ordinary heroes made its way beyond the classroom.

MPR's Chris Farrell talks about what we might expect this week on Wall Street.

Republican John McCain told Governor Jesse Ventura yesterday he was not interested in reviving his presidential campaign as an independent. The Arizona Senator met with Ventura to discuss political reform efforts and re-energizing the electorate. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

A recent survey by the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists found some government offices are not letting people look at information that should be available to the public. The SPJ had volunteers request information in every county state-wide. Nearly 60 percent of jail officials refused to release the names of people they lock up. And dozens of school districts wouldn't say how much their superintendent's make. St. Paul attorney Paul Hannah represents local media organizations. He's on the line now.

House Republicans are fuming over Governor Ventura's veto of the so-called "woman's right to know" bill and the misunderstandings that led up to his rejection of the proposed 24-hour abortion waiting period. Beyond the failure of that legislation, they say their ability to negotiate in good faith with Ventura and his commissioners is now in doubt, adding another level of rancor to this year's stalled legislative session. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Minnesota high school seniors get their last chance to pass the math portion of the basic skills tests today. The reading test was given yesterday. This is the first year that students must pass the state-required tests in order to graduate. Over 2,000 seniors state-wide still haven't passed one or both of the tests. Craig Vana is executive director of teacher and instructional services for the Minneapolis Public Schools. He says about 200 of the 3,000 seniors in the district will be prevented from graduating if they don't pass both tests this time.

The other half of the state graduation standards, the high standards or Profile of Learning is still in limbo at the State Capitol. The House-Senate conference committee on the Profile of Learning hasn't met in over a week, prompting worries that for the second year lawmakers will fail to correct problems with the new system. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura weighed in yesterday on some of this year's biggest legislative concerns. The governor was far from conciliatory on issues ranging from unicameralism to budget negotiations to his credibility. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

The Minnesota Senate revived last week's failed wolf management bill and passed it yesterday along with a funding increase for the Department of Natural Resources. The measure included the hunting and fishing license fee increase already approved by the House and $25 million a year for the DNR from sales taxes on lottery tickets. The bill now returns to the House. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Minnesota travelers will have a new choice when flying out of the Twin Cities airport. Airtran, a low-cost airline, will start flying routes to Chicago and Atlanta in June. Airtran used to be known as ValuJet. The airline had financial trouble after one of their planes crashed in the Florida Everglades in 1996. Joining us to talk about this new entrant into the Twin Cities market is Scott Thurston, a business reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The recent exposure of a multi-state prostitution ring based in the Twin Cities focused the political spotlight on preventing exploitation of homeless and vulnerable teenagers. The Minnesota legislature is considering several measures this year to enhance the safety net for at-risk kids. But at the county level, the situation is getting worse instead of better. Financially strapped counties can offer few options for homeless teens, and youth shelters are struggling to keep their doors open. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Several Minnesota schools are marking this week's anniversary of the tragedy at Colorado's Columbine High School. The shooting deaths of 14 students and a teacher one year ago today sent a shock wave throughout the country, and school administrators say they're still feeling its effect. Some local schools are taking extra steps this week to make their students feel safe and appreciated. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

The owners of Canterbury Park are banking on card game casino gambling to help support live horse racing at the Shakopee Track. Yesterday afternoon Canterbury opened it's so-called Card Club which offers gamblers several varieties or poker as well as versions of black jack. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

House sales in the Twin Cities are getting off to a fast start this year. That's good news for sellers, but not such good news for buyers, who have faced an increasingly tight market since the mid-nineties. The number of closed sales in the Twin Cities for the first quarter of this year is up almost ten percent over the same period last year. Tom Musil is the director of the Center for Real Estate Education at the University of St. Thomas. He's on the line now.

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Dallas Mavericks 113 - 107 last night to finish the regular season with a record of 50 - 32. Star players Kevin Garnett and Terrell Brandon did not play in the game. They were rested in preparation for the playoffs which begin this weekend in Portland. This is the most successful regular season in Timberwolves. Joining us now with a preview of what we can expect in the playoffs is Brit Robson, who writes about the T-Wolves for the City Pages.

Annbjorg Lein is described by some as a Wizard Woman of Norway. She plays traditional music on the Hardanger fiddle, but her presentation is pure 21st century. She and her band blend traditional sounds with modern compositions. Lein is in Minnesota to play at the Nordic Roots Music Festival underway in Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Had the legislative session gone according to plan, lawmakers would have wrapped up their work yesterday and returned home to kick off their re-election campaigns. Instead, both houses will return next week to pick up where they left off - deadlocked over budget talks. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

A small group of Native Americans is camping on Spirit Mountain in Duluth to pray and to protest. Spirit Mountain has been a ski hill for over 20 years, and it may soon become a golf course. But the Anishinabe have long claimed the bluff overlooking St.Louis Bay and Lake Superior as sacred ground. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.

Meteorologist joins us to discuss trends in the weather.

Negotiators for Northwest Airlines and its 11,000-member flight attendants union have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The rank and file of Teamsters local 2000 rejected an earlier tentative agreement last August. But union officials say this deal addresses concerns that sent the earlier agreement to defeat. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura has vetoed a bill to reserve the left-hand highway lanes for passing. But the legislator who sponsored the measure as part of what he called his "Freedom to Drive" package says he'll try to override Ventura's decision. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Ventura adminsitration Policy Director Wendy Wustenberg announces that she is leaving to spend more time with her kids.

Chris Roberts brings us the Word of Mouth arts roundup.