Monday, August 14

Over the past year Minnesota based Hutchinson Technology International has cut more than 3,000 jobs: 40 percent of its work force. HTI, as the company's known, has been battered by changes in technology that cut demand for its main product, a key component of computer disk drives. But the firm's fortunes are improving, and that's good news for the small towns where the company is one of the biggest employers around. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports.

The Democratic National Convention opens today in Los Angeles. There will be no more suspense over the nomination than at the GOP convention two weeks ago, but Minnesota's 91 delegates say their convention will provide more substance. And they say it will offer more diversity: nearly a quarter of Minnesota's delegates represent ethnic minorities. Democrats say that's in sharp contrast with the Republicans. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

One of the people who have been selected to speak at the convention today is Minnesota State Auditor Judi Dutcher. Minnesota Public Radio Political Editor Mike Mulcahy is in Los Angeles where he talked with Dutcher about her speech.

Look for Mike Mulcahy's convention notebook and lots more coverage of the convention on our web site: MPR Coverage

The lawyer who led Minnesota's successful lawsuit against big tobacco is tackling what some may see as an even bigger challenge: Minnesota's U.S. Senate race. Mike Ciresi hopes to win a competitive four-way DFL Senate primary, and go on to beat Republican incumbent Rod Grams. Ciresi has money, a creative ad campaign, a good grasp of the issues and some big name support. But he's never run for office before, and must convince DFL primary voters that he's the best Democrat to take on Grams. In the third in our series of candidate profiles, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the career and campaign of Mike Ciresi.

Monday Markets with Chris Farrell.

Hennepin County Public Defender William McGee is expected to have no trouble winning reappointment at the end of this year. An uneventful reappointment will suit McGee just fine after the turmoil he went through to get the job four years ago. Since then, McGee has concentrated on facing new challenges and has won the admiration of his colleagues. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams has this profile.

Today is the deadline for Minnesota school districts to report to the state about how they'll change the Profile of Learning in their schools. The profile is the show-what-you-know system that requires students to complete 24 projects to graduate. At the end of last session, the State Legislature gave districts the power to temporarily reduce the number of standards students are required to complete. The Department of Children, Families, and Learning will produce a report of each district's plan at the end of the month. Jessie Montano is assistant commissioner for the office of Teaching and Learning. She's on the line now.

There's no "Clinton Fatigue" among the Minnesota delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Delegates praised Clinton's speech last night. They also heard from several other heavy hitters in their own meetings, and a Minnesota official made her own speech to the convention. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

The jury in the Donald Blom kidnapping and murder trial deliberated for four hours last night before retiring for the evening. The jury got the case after hearing several hours of closing arguments from prosecution and defense attorneys. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.

While coverage of the Democratic National Convention focuses on the nightly speeches, as much, if not more of the action is occurring offstage. Last night, Minnesota delegates attended a private reception at the Santa Monica Beach Club: just one of dozens of sideshows to the primetime events. As Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, some observers are concerned the sponsors of the extracurricular activities are buying influence.

See more MPR Coverage of the convention on our web site.

Members of a group called Minnesotans for Major League baseball will make the trip to Houston, Texas later today. They're going to visit Houston's new baseball stadium called Enron Field. Minnesotans for Major League Baseball is sponsored by the Minnesota Twins, and the group is looking for ways to keep the team in Minnesota. The group in Houston will tour Enron field and meet with Houston Astros officials. Joining us to talk about Houston's experience in building a new ballpark is Eric Berger, a reporter with the Houston Chronicle. He's on the line now.

Natural gas prices are on the rise, and some Minnesotans are already getting bigger bills. Customers on Minnegasco's budget plan are seeing increased rates this month. The budget plan lets people spread winter heating costs throughout the year. Minnegasco officials say that on average, budget plan customers can expect to pay about $20 more a month than last year. Linda Taylor is an assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Commerce and is in charge of the Energy Division. She joins us now.

The location of a proposed Hiawatha light rail station in Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood has placed business owners at odds with residents, and public-housing dwellers at odds with their neighbors. Originally the station would have been located some distance from Cedar Avenue, farther from businesses and bus connections. A new redesign places the station closer to pedestrians and commerce, but residents of a nearby public-housing complex say the station would be right in their front yard. Wednesday's public hearing gave residents a chance to try and influence the final choice. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Community healing was on the lips of several hundred residents of St. Paul's East Side neighborhood last night at East Immanuel Church. Their prayers for unity and peace are a response to a string of violent crimes killing three and wounding two in their neighborhood. The most recent incident was just yesterday morning. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports.

Donald Blom will be sentenced today for kidnapping and murdering Katie Poirier. He now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The sentencing comes just one day after a jury found him guilty. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports on events at the courthouse in Virginia Wednesday.

Joining us now with analysis of the Blom verdict is Professor Joe Daly from the Hamline University School of Law.

Vice President Al Gore will take center stage stage tonight at the Democratic National Convention when he'll formally accept the party's nomination for president. The nomination was made official during a roll call last night, just minutes after running mate Joseph Lieberman called on the party to unite around the ticket. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Emotions ran high last night as 40 citizens addressed a Minneapolis City Council hearing on police conduct during last month's animal genetics conference. During the three-hour hearing, people who were involved in the protests against the conference or who were just observers railed against the police department, Police Chief Robert Olsen, and the City Council over the conduct of officers and the cost of the operation. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams Reports.

Minnesota's harsh winters and short summers make it an unlikely place for producing wine, but three north woods entrepreneurs are making a go of it. Forestedge Winery is the state's newest and northernmost winery, nestled on the edge of the Paul Bunyan State Forest, 30 miles south of Bemidji. As Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji, the owners are using fruits and berries grown mostly in their own back yard.

Is Autumn in the air? Mark Seeley talks about the weather.

Vice President Al Gore and running mate Joseph Lieberman are beginning their day today in La Crosse, Wisconsin. They're starting a campaign boat trip down the Mississippi River and through several key swing states. Minnesota delegates are also on their way home after the curtain came down on the Democratic National Convention last night. They say they're energized by Gore's acceptance speech, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, state DFLers admit the campaign won't be easy.

While the Democrats finished their convention in L.A., there was an observer in Minnesota who watched with keen interest: state Republican chair Ron Eibensteiner, who joins us on the line now.

Vice President Al Gore is in LaCrosse, Wisconsin this morning to kick off his campaign in the Midwest. He's there with his wife Tipper Gore, and vice-presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman and his wife Hadassah. The group will take a four-day riverboat trip down the Mississippi, finishing in Hannibal, Missouri. The Midwest states along the Mississippi are closely contested this year. John Medinger is the mayor of LaCrosse. He's out in the park where the ceremonies are scheduled to begin in just over a half hour.

The U.S. Olympic trials for gymnastics are being held this weekend at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Minnesota native John Roethlisberger is hoping to make the Olympic team for the third time. MPR Sports Commentator and Star Tribune writer Jay Weiner is covering the trials and he joins us now from Boston.