Monday, September 4

St. Louis County Commissioners are being asked to reconsider their denial of support for a methadone clinic that's opening in Duluth. Clinic operators have the necessary permits to open, but would like a vote of support from the county. But county Commissioners say there's no need for the clinic in St. Louis County. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.

The state fair comes to a close today. As of Sunday, attendance was up by about 50,000 people over last year and organizers say the great Minnesota get-together has gone smoothly. In a festival that celebrates sameness and tradition, fairgoers gave thumbs up to some of this year's new, adventurous culinary offerings. Meanwhile, some merchants blamed this year's cool weather for throwing off sales of thirst-quenching treats. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this report.

Even a quick search of the Internet shows law-based web sites are growing exponentially. That expansion is expected to continue in large part because the Internet and the law, which is text-based, are a good fit. But web-based law is largely unregulated and there are pitfalls for the unwary. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports on what law on the web means for the profession and the consumer.

When Americans pick a representative to send to Congress, they send that same person to Washington for several terms. While the power of incumbency makes it difficult to replace a sitting Representative, it also means an open seat becomes a magnet for Congressional hopefuls. Such is the case this year in Minnesota's fourth district. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has this look at the race to succeed the retiring Bruce Vento.

After a nationwide search, St. Cloud State University has a new president, Roy Saigo. A career educator, Saigo is already a fixture on campus and as Mainstreet Radio's Marisa Helms reports, the new president has taken some unusual steps getting to know his new surroundings.

Monday Markets with Chris Farrell.

With less than a week to go until the September 12 primary, three DFL candidates in the Fourth Congressional District have started running television ads. The Fourth District candidates are competing for voters' attention in a campaign that's largely been dominated by the big-money Senate candidate ad buys. In the latest in our series of Ad Watches, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Republican Linda Runbeck will have one competitor in the Fourth District primary: Ramsey County Soil and Water Conservation Commissioner Patricia Reagan. Reagan has run for public office many times, under several different names. She says she's now using her middle name, Patricia, because she feels former president Ronald Reagan has been mistreated.

Money problems have delayed today's expected announcement from the Metropolitan Council that it has awarded a major contract for light rail construction. Officials expect to make the announcement next week, but in the meantime planners are recommending the Metropolitan Airports Commission increase it's contribution to the project as a way to help cover a higher-than-expected bid for the light line tunnel at the airport. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Investigators looking into the crash of the Concorde airplane in France this summer say that a 17-inch piece of metal sitting on the runway may have caused the crash. The metal came off of a DC-10 airplane that took-off on the same runway just four minutes before the Concorde. Debris on airport runways is a constant problem, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission at the Twin Cities International Airport has a team of people who carefully watch the runways. Joining us on the line is Paul Sichko, manager of airside operations at the airport.

As the U.S. economy and stock market have boomed, so has charitable giving. But philanthropy is changing, especially among corporate programs. The shift reflects companies' changing priorities and the reshaping of Minnesota's business landscape after a series of mergers and acquisitions. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has the first report in a three-part series, The Changing Face of Philanthropy.

Today in New York, Governor Jesse Ventura begins a nine-city tour promoting his new book entitled Do I Stand Alone?, in which he talks about "going to the mat," as he puts it, against politicians and media types. A year ago Ventura was caught up in a storm of criticism from politicians and watchdog groups over his moneymaking activities outside the governor's office. But as he begins his latest book tour, Ventura's determination to shake up the system, and pursue his own projects, seems to have prevailed. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

These are times of plenty for foundations in Minnesota and around the nation. Savvy investments in the long bull market have driven their assets to unprecedented levels. While newfound wealth brings great opportunity, it also raises new difficulties for foundations, who must ensure the money is put to good use.Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg has the next report in our series, The Changing Face of Philanthropy.

Tom Vander Ark is the executive director of Education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; he talks with us now.

A new study says that undocumented immigrants play a critical role in Minnesota's economy. The study was sponsored by a Hispanic advocacy group and supported by the University of Minnesota's Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. Researchers estimate that undocumented workers contribute $3.8 billion to the state's economy each year. Jim Kielkopf is an economist and the author of the study. He says his numbers are based on interviews with insiders in several key industries.

The Twins added a new twist to an old debate Thursday when they invited a couple of political adversaries to address the Minnesotans for Major League Baseball task force. Members of the task force, a veritable who's who of business and community leaders, met last night, to hear ideas on how to keep the Twins in Minnesota. State Senator John Marty, DFL-Roseville, a vocal opponent of public financing for sports stadiums and professor Kenneth Zapp told the group that before the Twins look for a new stadium, they need to first force Major League Baseball to change how it conducts its business. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams Reports.

More on Minnesota's weather with Mark Seeley.

An affidavit released by the Anoka County attorneys office shows what may be a link between Republican Senator Rod Grams' reelection campaign and some e-mails critical of one of his DFL rivals, Michael Ciresi. The affidavit says the e-mail account used to send the e-mails was used in the home of one of Grams' campaign advisors, Christine Gunhus. Last weekend Grams emphatically denied that his campaign was involved in creating the e-mails, in which the sender posed as a DFL activist. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

The four prominent DFL senate candidates are scattered across the state today searching for votes in advance of next week's primary election. With only days remaining, the quartet are struggling to differentiate themselves. Last night, the group squared-off during a live debate. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

Often when people talk about charitable giving and business, the emphasis is on large corporate-funded foundations. But the vast majority of businesses in Minnesota, as around the country, are small companies. Research suggests that employee-for-employee, small companies are much more generous than their larger counterparts. Small businesses will often pay for projects that benefit the community and boost their standing with neighbors and customers. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik has the last report in our series, The Changing Face of Philanthropy.