Monday, June 5

The four remaining DFL candidates in the U.S. Senate race are now looking toward the September primary. On Saturday, the DFL state convention endorsed State Senator Jerry Janizich. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

MPR's Senior Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell talks about how the economy fared during the month of May.

Jury selection begins today in the trial of Donald Blom, who is charged with kidnapping and murdering Katie Poirier in Moose Lake a year ago. The case has drawn more media attention than any case in Minnesota in many years. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reminds us of some of its twists and turns.

The high school graduation season is in full swing throughout Minnesota. In large schools and small, young men and women are ready to leave familiar surroundings for uncertain futures. Robbinsdale Cooper High School, located in New Hope, is among the schools holding commencement exercises this week. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire talked recently with a group of students from the school's class of 2000.

The Minneapolis City Council could vote today on a design proposal for Block E, the downtown area that has been undeveloped for ten years now. The proposal would fill the block with a hotel, a 17-screen movie complex, restaurants, retail space and a parking ramp. The design has been critcized by some because it attempts to re-create the way Minneapolis looked in the past. Reknowned architect Ralph Rapson, who designed the Guthrie Theatre, says the whole complex is a bad idea.

Rapson says he has a different vision for the block.

Minneapolis officials yesterday approved financing and design plans for the long-vacant piece of downtown real estate known as Block E. The action is the latest step in a 15-year-old saga that began when the city bought the land on Hennepin Avenue and demolished the buildings on it. The developer says he hopes to have the new Block E businesses open in two years. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are releasing the results of a study that may help people with multiple sclerosis. The findings show the potential for repairing damage to the central nervous system. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

If you're out fishing or canoeing in Minnesota lakes this spring, you might notice a lot of weeds in the water. It's likely those weeds would be Eurasian water milfoil, an exotic weed that can form dense clusters of vegetation and crowd out other plant life. The weed was first discovered in Minnesota in 1987, and has spread to more than 100 lakes. Wendy Crowell is the Eurasion water milfoil program coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. She's on the line now.

A group of business and government leaders in Minneapolis have been meeting since January to discuss plans for a scaled-back ballpark for the Twins. They hope to have formal plans in place by August for ballpark that would be smaller and cheaper than those previously proposed. Hennepin County Board member Mark Stenglein is part of the group. He says this park would be paid for primarily with private money.

State leaders are pressuring Governor Ventura to work at preventing a possible Northwest Airlines merger but the governor is steering clear of the fray. Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch says the proposed merger announced between United Airlines and U.S. Airways sets a dangerous precedent, and he's working against its approval. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Officials with Minnesota's Independence Party have scheduled a news conference this morning to talk about the 2000 campaign and introduce some independent candidates. Party officials hope to elect a handful of independents to the legislature this fall, where they could act as a bloc of swing votes. The party recently ran newspaper ads to try to recruit candidates, a move scoffed at by many in the two major parties, but one that seems to have appealed to some disenfranchised voters. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Gov. Jesse Ventura says he'll mount a world-wide campaign to bring an industry to Hoyt Lakes to replace the closing LTV Mine. Ventura made the pledge to a gathering of LTV workers yesterday in Aurora. The governor has been criticized for taking a hands-off attitude toward the closure, which will put 1,400 people out of work. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.

Minnesota Republicans will gather in Rochester this weekend to nominate a candidate in the U.S. Senate race. But unlike the Democrats who met last weekend, there is no mystery. The nominee will be incumbant Senator Rod Grams. Joining us now to assess the race at this point is Steven Schier, chair of the political science department at Carleton College.

There's a new baseball stadium plan in the works, this time from a group of business and government leaders who are considering a ballpark in downtown Minneapolis to be funded by mostly private sources. The group has been meeting since January to talk about the plan and while it has some general ideas, it hasn't decided on a price or a location for the stadium. Members of the groups say they want to build a neighborhood ballpark like Wrigley Field in Chicago or Fenway Park in Boston. They hope to have recommendations for an architect, site, and financing plans developed by August. Jay Weiner is a Star Tribune sports writer and commentator for Minnesota Public Radio who's been following the stadium issue closely. He's come by the studio this morning.

Discussion of consolidation in the airline industry is continuing. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that American Airlines is now talking with Delta Airlines about a possible merger. American has also talked with Northwest Airlines about combining the two carriers. The value of Northwest stock fell about 8 percent yesterday after riding aloft on reports of the possible merger with American. All of this comes in the wake of a proposed United/US Airways merger. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

According to the Guttmacher report on public policy, 900,000 teens become pregnant each year. Young people today, deciding whether or when they will become sexually active, face additional concerns like HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Sexual education has addressed the issue, but now a change in focus is being advocated, from contraception to abstinence. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports.

The prospect of Northwest Airlines merging with a larger competitor has renewed concern among some Minnesotans that the Twin Cities could be close to losing another corporate headquarters. Losing a transportation hub and headquarters would have far-reaching implications for the region. But in some cases the impact of losing a corporate headquarters may be less dramatic. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports on the upcoming name change of Norwest Bank, which moved its headquarters to California after its takeover of San Francisco-based Wells Fargo two years ago.

Researchers in the United States are starting to investigate a new and potentially serious problem in the water supply. The United States Geological Survey has begun a study of streams in 31 states including Minnesota, looking for both prescription and over the counter drugs. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

By the year 2030 it is expected that 23 percent of all people in Minnesota will be over the age of 65 and according to a coalition of long term care providers, the state is not ready to provide the services those people will need. The Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance, and Care Providers of Minnesota are hosting a series of forums this month with former Democratic congressman Tim Penny as the moderator, and he joins us on the line now.

A St. Paul lawmaker is calling for a criminal investigation into the finances of Success Academy, the St. Paul charter school which abruptly closed its doors near the end of this school year. Representative Matt Entenza says the problems with the school may go beyond financial mismanagement and he joins us now.

Home ownership is not only the goal of most Americans; it's generally considered good for communities as well. But it's not always easy to achieve. These days, many young people have a tough time saving for a down payment. Meanwhile, urban neighborhoods decline as they turn more and more to rental housing where people move in and out. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports on an innovative public/private partnership in Duluth that's designed to address both problems.

A group of about 15,000 Twin Cities hotel workers has voted to authorize a strike. Ninety-four percent of the workers, who voted, rejected the latest offer from management. Union officials say they'll give hotel management some time to improve their salary and benefit offers before workers walk off the job. A strike could leave nine hotels in Minneapolis and Bloomington without workers during the busy convention season, including the international Alcoholics Anonymous convention which begins June 29. We'll hear from several perspectives on this issue starting with Jaye Rykunyk the principal officer of the Hotel Employees union local 17.

Mike Colloton is an attorney representing the hotel owners. He says the union is asking for too much.

Greg Oratalle is the president of the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association. He says a strike would be damaging to the Minneapolis convention industry.

The Minnesota Republican Party begins its state convention today in Rochester. Unlike the democrats who got together last weekend, there's no contest for the party's U.S. Senate endorsement. Delegates will end their convention united with a unanimous endorsement of Senator Rod Grams for another term. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Mark Seeley joins us with information on the emerging field of paleotempestology.

Minnesota Republicans gathering in Rochester this weekend are not only concerned about keeping the U.S. Senate seat held by Rod Grams, but also in maintaining control of the Minnesota House. Republicans have a slim two-seat majority in the House, and are losing four members to retirement this year. They're planning to campaign on their push for tax cuts over the past two years, and hoping the healthy economy and another round of rebate checks will benefit incumbents. House Democrats are counting on a presidential year and dissention within the Republican ranks to help propel them back into the majority. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.