Monday, May 22

The strong economy has fueled perhaps the strongest housing market in memory. Residential construction permits in the Twin Cities in the first four months rose almost ten percent compared to the same period last year. It's not just the number of new houses being built. Minnesotans are building bigger and more expensive homes, with more amenities. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Now that several legal and legislative attempts to stop construction of a light rail transit line in Minneapolis have failed, attention is turning to what impact the line may have on Minneapolis neighborhoods. Residents along the line are discovering the promised development the project will spur is a mixed blessing. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

The driver of a pickup truck that collided with a vehicle being driven by Timberwolves player Malik Sealy is expected to be interviewed by police as early as today. The truck was going the wrong way on Highway 100 in St. Louis Park early Saturday morning when the accident occured. Sealy was pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to playing basketball, Sealy owned an apparel business and acted in movies and television. Timberwolves players are grieving the loss. Vice President Kevin McHale called Sealy one of the most popular players on the team. Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal, who interviewed Sealy last year, has these thoughts.

Scientists from around the world met at the University of Minnesota this weekend to discuss the hopes and potential dangers of gene therapy. Patients and physicians believe innovations in the field will bring dramatic changes to medicine and the treatment of diseases. But federal government officials are urging caution that the therapy can also be life threatening. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

They say cleanliness is next to Godliness, but few congregations interpret the saying as literally as the Jordan New Life Community Church in Minneapolis. The church christened a new laundromat this weekend and is inviting neighbors in need of a wash to come have a cup of coffee and some fellowship as well. The congregation itself is also new, and is part of the Lutheran church's efforts to be more in touch with urban, ethnically diverse communities. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

The fight to normalize trade relations with China is expected to come down to a handful of votes in the House of Representatives. Democratic congressman Jim Oberstar is the only member from Minnesota who is still undecided. Oberstar is getting the close attention of the White House which has made permanent normal trade relations, or PNTR, with China a major priority. The House is expected to vote tomorrow. Joining us on the line is Congressman Oberstar.

The driver of the truck involved in the accident that killed the Minnesota Timberwolves' Malik Sealy is under guard at a Minneapolis hospital, following his arrest on suspicion of criminal vehicular operation. Authorities will submit the case to prosecutors once blood tests and an accident reconstruction are complete. The Timberwolves players and staff, meanwhile, are beginning to face life without Sealy, their popular and personable starting guard who died at the age of thirty. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Today, Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency is scheduled to vote on the future of a proposed dairy feedlot in Fillmore County. Over the past year, plans for the Reiland farm feedlot which includes construction of a seven-million-gallon manure lagoon have been highly controversial. Now with the DNR, the state health department, and some local legislators weighing in, Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports despite a possible MPCA ruling, the debate is far from over.

Earlier this year Moose Lake became the first Minnesota city to ban smoking in restaurants. Now a half dozen Minnesota communities are considering similar ordinances. Crookston has had a voluntary ban in place for several months. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson paid a visit to see how its working.

With the coming of summer, anglers by the hundreds of thousands are stalking Minnesota's lakes and rivers. Their objective, almost always, are walleye, northern pike, panfish and trout. Yet for a few anglers, a walleye holds no attraction; a twenty-pound northern, no allure; a rainbow trout, no romance. On the Rainy River, the border between Minnesota and Canada, the lake sturgeon is rising. Surviving near obliteration by commercial fishing and polluting paper mills, the sturgeon has resurfaced as a gamefish of almost mythical power. Mainstreet Radio's Leif Enger reports.

Despite prolonged testimony against a proposed southeastern Minnesota feedlot the State Pollution Control Agency has decided not to order an Environmental Impact Statement for the site. The early evening 5-2 MPCA ruling came a week after the Minnesota department of health dropped its request for an environmental review. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports.

Political contributions from lobbyists and Political Action Committees rose in Minnesota last year, and some political observers expect the trend to continue this campaign season. Fueling the flow of money in part is a Minnesota Supreme Court decision allowing parties to spend unlimited money to help their candidates. Since laws to curb spending have failed at the Legislature, reformers and political leaders are trying another tactic: they'll be offering more scrutiny of campaign advertising by political experts and, hopefully, citizens. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

A resolution introduced yesterday by Hennepin County Board Chairman Randy Johnson would ban smoking on all county property by the year 2003. The ban would include outdoor areas and employees would be banned from smoking in county-owned vehicles. A representative of AFSCME, which represents 5,000 county workers, says his union will oppose the ban. Commissioner Johnson says he introduced the resolution after hearing many complaints.

Voters in three school districts in the Twin Cities metropolitan area voted yesterday to approve bond referendums. The referendum passed in Osseo for $139 million was the largest in state history. It will pay for improvements to all 27 buildings in the district Joining us now is Chris Richardson, superintendent for the Osseo Area School District.

Minnesota's oldest taconite mining operation announced yesterday that it will shut down next year, putting 1,400 people out of work. Officials with LTV Steel say the Hoyt Lakes plant is obsolete, expensive and the quality of the ore it produces has deteriorated in the past few years. Governor Ventura says he'll work with state officials to see what the state can do to assist the community. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

Joining us now is State Representative Tom Rukavina, who represents a taconite-producing district on the Iron Range. He has served on the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board for fourteen years.

Minnesota farmers and business leaders celebrated the house of representative's approval yesterday of permanent normal trade relations with China. They say passage of the bill will eventually lead to more trade between the state and China. But opponents, including union officials, say freer trade with China puts thousands of local jobs at risk. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

United Airlines plan to buy US Airways has triggered speculation the deal will fuel a new round of mergers and consolidation in the airline industry. Some analysts are singling out Twin Cities based Northwest Airlines as a likely target. The company's stock soared from the start of trading yesterday, closing up 20 percent. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

Congressman Jim Oberstar finds himself in the middle of several issues affecting his district and the nation. The announcement that LTV is closing a large taconite plant in his district means 1,400 workers will lose their jobs. Oberstar is also the ranking member of the House Transportation Committee, and is looking at possible consequences of the proposed United Airlines merger with US Airways, and its possible affects it may have on Northwest Airlines. Joining us on the line to talk about these issues is Congressman Oberstar.

Minnesota farmers have all sorts of opinions about what the China trade deal means for them. Some say it will single-handedly lift the farm economy out of the financial doldrums it's been mired in the last three years. Others say the trade deal offers no real certainty except to guarantee that China will continue to mistreat its citizens. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.

In the 1970s, the City of Minneapolis blocked off Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street to make room for a K-mart store. It seemed like a good idea at the time: a way of getting rid of an area full of what many considered sleazy businesses. Now, city officials and neighborhood activists want to stitch Nicollet back together so the entire avenue can share in urban renewal. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura says there's little he can do to prevent the closing of the LTV Steel Mining plant in Hoyt Lakes. Company officials announced Wednesday that the operation was no longer profitable and would be shut down within the year. Speaking on MPR's Midday program yesterday, Ventura said the layoffs are an unfortunate fact of life in the private market over which he has little control. The governor also took the opportunity to clash with the local media over their coverage of his administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

Two men who left their mark on St. Paul's Harriet Island Regional Park will be honored later today. Dr. Justus Ohage and Clarence Wigington will be remembered in a ceremony in the park. Ohage donated Harriet Island to St. Paul 100 years ago this week. Wigington designed the island's pavillion. Virginia Coontz is the editor of Ramsey County Historical Society's quarterly magazine. She says Harriet Island isn't an island at all anymore.