Monday, November 6

Casino signs dot nearly every main street in South Dakota. With 8,000 machines, the video lottery industry has given the state $684 million in the past ten years. South Dakota doesn't have an income tax. Despite the obvious boost to state coffers, South Dakota voters have been asked three times in the past 10 years whether to continue the games. This year on election day they'll vote again, but the debate has changed; religious and business leaders have taken a public stand against video lottery on moral grounds. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.

Minnesota's Sixth District congressional race is one of the nation's most fiercely contested, and over the weekend it showed no signs of cooling down. Incumbent Democrat Bill Luther filed criminal charges against Republican challenger John Kline and the National Republican Congressional Committee alledging campaign literature distributed by the party made false claims about Luther and his record. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has the latest on the race.

Questions on Social Security dominated the final debate between Minnesota's three major U.S. Senate candidates, Republican Rod Grams, Independence Party candidate James Gibson and DFLer Mark Dayton. With just a day to go before the elections, the atmosphere among the candidates at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul was spirited and sometimes tense, with an unusually rowdy audience adding to the mix. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

MPR's Chris Farrell talks about how tomorrow's election will affect the market.

Minnesota's tax on capital gains is one of the highest in the country: 7.85 percent for the top bracket. Capital gains are the profits from selling something whose value has grown over time, like a house or stock in a business. A growing number of voices say Minnesota's high-tax policy is pushing successful entrepreneurs out of the state, robbing the economy of an important asset: people with the ability to grow businesses and create jobs. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

Candidates for races ranging from president to city council are making last-minute pushes before tomorrow's election. Each of Minnesota's three major-party U.S. senate candidates are traveling the state today. The latest Star Tribune Minnesota Poll was released over the weekend, and it appears a once tight presidential race in Minnesota has widened with Democrat Al Gore in the lead by 10 points. That same poll has Democrat Mark Dayton ahead in the U.S. senate race by nine points. There are also some close congressional races that analysts are tracking. Joining us to talk about all this is Steven Smith, University of Minnesota political science professor.

Today is election day and millions of Americans will be going to the polls, but millions of other Americans will not. For years, political scientists have tried to figure out what motivates people to vote. One school of thought suggests that voting is a fundamentally irrational act because any single vote won't change the outcome of an election. Jane Mansbridge is a professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She says making the decision to vote can be a complicated process.

It's an ancient craft borne of necessity and replete with spiritual meaning. It's brain tanning, a method Native Americans used to make the buckskin needed for clothing and moccasins. But it's a dying craft, with only a few remaining practitioners. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha met a Fargo woman who is keeping the tradition alive.

Today is election day. Minnesota voters will cast ballots for the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate seat held by Rod Grams, and all eight U.S. House seats. Many other local races and referendums are also on the ballot. Joining us now is Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.

Minnesota enters election day with a status few would've expected when this long campaign season began: a battleground state in a tight race for the presidency. George W. Bush's strong showing, along with Green party candidate Ralph Nader's popularity gave Minnesotans a surprise front-row seat to this year's expensive, hard-fought presidential race. After years of seeing the Iowa caucuses hog the limelight, Minnesota's political junkies were thrilled. Some theorize that Minnesota's new identity as a two-party state is long overdue. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

When voters in the small western Minnesota town of Rothsay go to the polls, they'll select a mayor and two city council members. But there are no names on the ballot. No one, including the incumbents, filed for election. The empty ballot is something of a Rothsay tradition. The mayor has been elected by write in ballots seven times despite never being a candidate. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman made a remarkable catch of a deflected pass while sliding through the grass, then got up and ran into the end zone to score the touchdown that beat the Minnesota Vikings in overtime last night in Green Bay. The final score was Green Bay 26, Minnesota 20. Despite losing two games in a row, the Vikings are still in first place in the NFC Central with a record of 7-2. Sean Jensen covers the Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and he's on the line now.

The Associated Press is reporting that Republican challenger Mark Kennedy has edged Representative David Minge in the southeastern Second District. Both candidates drew 48 percent, but Kennedy won by 577 votes. Kennedy had 141,184 votes compared to Minge's 140,607. Minge's Campaign Manager Alana Chistensen says the campaign will consider a recount because the totals are so close. We reached Mark Kennedy and he attempted to describe his feelings about winning.

DFLer Mark Dayton is headed to Washington after defeating incumbent Republican Senator Rod Grams. Unofficial returns show Dayton with 49 percent of the vote and Grams with 43 percent. Independence Party candidate James Gibson finished a distant third with 6 percent, but enough to keep major party status. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Steven Schier, chair of the political science department at Carelton College joins us for a review of the election.

Minnesota will remain a tripartisan government in the next legislative session following Tuesdays balloting. Republicans picked up one seat in the Minnesota Senate, but DFLers maintain a majority of 12 votes there. Meanwhile, Republicans in the House retained their majority but by the slimmest of margins Tuesday, with their lead over House DFLers shrinking from seven to four. House DFLers defended all of their open seats in addition to picking up two Republican districts. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

Minnesota's Fourth Congressional district is staying in Democratic hands with Betty McCollum's victory over Republican Linda Runbeck and the Independence Party's Tom Foley. McCollum is only the second woman in state history to be elected to Congress and the first in more than 40 years. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

St. Paul Public Schools will gain an additional $105 million over the next five years. Voters in the state's second largest school district approved their first ever excess tax levy referendum on Tuesday by a margin of 57 percent to 43 percent. In Minneapolis, voters overwhelmingly renewed a school district levy for another 10 years. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

The outcome of the presidential race is still in doubt. The race hinges on whether Texas Governor George W. Bush, or Vice President Al Gore wins Florida's 25 electoral votes. Bush is leading by a razor thin margin, and there are some absentee ballots yet to be counted. It could come down to the results of a recount of over six million votes cast in the state. Joining us on the line is former Minnesota Secretary of State Joan Growe. She says in Minnesota, recounts are required in close state legislative races.

Six of seven Minnesota incumbents seeking re-election to the U.S. House won their seats back yesterday. The two closest races were in Minnesota's Second and Sixth districts.Republican challenger Mark Kennedy upset David Minge in a close race in the Second, and in the Sixth, voters are sending back Democratic Congressman Bill Luther after he engaged in a tight rematch with Republican challenger John Kline. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

The Republicans have, at least for now, taken back Minnesota's Second District, unseating four-term Democratic Congressman David Minge. Republican Mark Kennedy's victory was by the slimmest of margins: he won by less than five hundred votes. But the Democrat plans to challenge the results with a recount lawsuit. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.

DFL Sen.-elect Mark Dayton says he's thrilled to have won the seat he first sought 18 years ago. Dayton defeated Republican incumbent Rod Grams 49-43 percent in yesterday's election. The former state auditor and department store heir spent more than $11 million of his own money in a bitterly-contested race that Grams didn't officially concede until late Wednesday afternoon. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The unsettled presidential race is commanding the most media attention, but who controls Congress also merits watching. Republicans retained control of the U.S. Senate in Tuesday's elections, but their eight-seat majority has almost disappeared. In fact, the Senate could be split 50-50 for the first time in over a century. That will happen if Democrat Maria Cantwell wins in Washington, where the race is still too close to call. The spilt would also occur if Al Gore loses the presidency, sending his running mate Joseph Lieberman back to the Senate. Joining us now to talk about how the new Senate could be different from the old one is Minnesota's senior senator, Democrat Paul Wellstone.

A solution to the odor problem at a St. Paul ethanol plant may still be months away, but city officials say new steps on the legal and environmental fronts represent progress toward taming the smell coming from Gopher State Ethanol. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

A new transportation plan for the Twin Cities calls for a major expansion of the bus system. The Metropolitan Council's 25-year blueprint also contains billions for roads and bridges. But most of that money would be for maintenance and improvements rather than new sections of the freeway. The first public meeting for people to learn about the plan was held last night in Minnetonka. Minnesota public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

State candidates for congressional offices spent more money this year than in any other election cycle in the state's history. A record portion came from outside the state in the form of so-called soft money contributions. The influx of dollars helped fuel a local media blitz, and may provide further evidence for those who want to reform the nation's campaign finance system. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Political pundits will be chewing over the results of this election for some time. In Minnesota, tri-partisan government will continue with the House still controlled by Republicans, the Senate led by Democrats, and Jesse Ventura as the state's independent governor. The Governor's Independence Party in Minnesota didn't come away with many victories on Tuesday. None of its 37 candidates claimed a win. But Senate candidate James Gibson did get 6 percent of the vote, meaning the party will keep its major party status in the state. Rick McCluhan is the chair of the Independence Party of Minnesota. He's on the line now.

With all the buzz about the Florida presidential recount, Minnesota may have it's own recount in the Second Congressional District race between David Minge and Mark Kennedy. This wouldn't be the first time Minnesota has waited for an important recount. In 1962 former Governor Elmer L. Anderson lost to Carl Rolvaag in one of the closest statewide elections in Minnesota history by 91 votes. Governor Anderson's been closely following the FLorida situation and says his own recount was a lenghy experience.

Minnesota nonprofit groups are up in arms about some of Governor Jesse Ventura's proposed tax reforms. Officials have scheduled a strategy session today in Minneapolis to plan their response. Organizers say some policy options being discussed threaten non-profits' financial health and mission. The proposals include making some groups pay property taxes or other fees for services like fire and police. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

It's an event that's a part of Great Lakes lore. Twenty-five years ago today the Edmund Fitzgerald, one of the biggest, fastest and most powerful iron ore carriers at the time, sank in a fierce storm on Lake Superior. All 29 crew members went down with the ship. Captain Dudley Paquette, is the last living captain who sailed on the lake during the storm. He monitored the weather for the National Weather Service that day. Paquette says it was a nice morning, as he left the ore docks in Superior, Wis. about an hour after the Fitzgerald left from the same dock.

Mark Seely recounts the Armistice Day blizzard of 1940 and looks ahead to the storm making its way here for the weekend.

Minnesota technology companies were honored last night for the substantial innovations they have made over the past year. Government officials and business leaders say the state's technology industry is becoming an increasingly vital pillar of the Minnesota economy. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

It's possible that George W. Bush could become the fourth man in U.S history to lose the popular vote yet win the presidency. That would happen if the re-count in Florida is determined to go his way. The electoral votes won't actually be cast until December 18. On that date, Minnesota's electors will go to the State Capitol to submit their ballots. The electors are folks who are chosen for the job by the winning candidate's political party. This year, all ten of Minnesota's electors are Democrats and Matt little is one of them. Mr. Little is the former president of the Minneapolis NAACP and is active in the Democratic Party.