Monday, December 18

The Minnesota Vikings fell five points short of going undefeated at the Metrodome this year. The 33-28 loss to the Green Bay Packers yesterday means the Vikings are still trying to wrap up the division title. They'll also try to avoid heading into the playoffs on a three-game losing streak when they travel to Indianapolis for their final game of the regular season Sunday. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

A Minnesota House committee holds a hearing tomorrow on whether Governor Ventura is a state employee. The hearing is part of the debate over whether the Governor is subject to the state's ethics code, and whether his new job as an XFL analyst is a conflict of interest. Some lawmakers want to require Ventura to disclose details of his contract with the new Xtreme Football League, which begins play in February. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Minnesota's ten electors will assemble at the Capitol in St. Paul today to cast their votes for Vice President Al Gore. The state's "winner-take-all" system gives the winner of the popular vote the entire slate of electors. But nationally and in Minnesota, pressure is building to rethink the electoral college status quo. In Minnesota, House Republican Marty Seifert will propose a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would allocate electoral votes by election results in each congressional district. Observers across the political spectrum say the bill may get a respectful hearing, but they say its chances of passing into law are slim. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

One of Minnesota's 10 presidential electors is Minneapolis City Council member Joan Campbell. She says like most electors, she was selected at a Democratic Party convention.

As colleges and universities wind up for the winter break, many students are filling out evaluations, rating their instructors. This fall, students at two northern campuses, one in Duluth, and one on Superior, asked to see the results of those surveys. Students say they pay thousands in tuition, and ought to know what their fellow students think of professors before they sign up for classes. But Minnesota and Wisconsin laws are different, so students in Superior will see the evaluation results, while students in Duluth won't. UMD students responded by organizing their own instructor evaluations. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin reports.

For the second week in a row, the Minnesota Vikings had a chance to clinch the NFC Central and home field advantage throughout the playoffs and once again were unable to do it. Yesterday's 33-28 loss to the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome leaves the Vikings' playoff position uncertain. Sean Jenson covers the Vikings for The St. Paul Pioneer Press and he joins us now.

A look at the markets with Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell.

The Department of Trade and Economic Development is looking for ways to fund a $15 million proposal to give biomedical startups a boost in Minnesota. Backers of the Biomedical Industry Commercialization Initiative say Minnesota is a good place for biomedical companies to start because the state already has closely related industries firmly established here. Joining us on the line is Jerry Carlson, commissioner of the Department of Trade and Economic Development.

Minnesota's drunk driving laws are about to get simpler and tougher. As of January 1, patrol officers will be able to confiscate drunk drivers registrations and impound their vehicles on the spot. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports that supporters see the changes as much needed tools to remove habitual drunk drivers from the highways, but critics say they are the first salvo in an effort that will lead to over regulation of their industry.

Minnesota could be headed for one of its deadliest traffic years in two decades. The state Department of Public Safety said yesterday that over 40 more people have been killed in traffic accidents this year than at this same time last year. Kathy Swanson is the director of Minnesota's Office of Traffic Safety. She says that rise is reason for concern.

A new report on drug abuse trends by the Hazelden Foundation finds that so-called club drugs are on the rise in the Twin Cities metro area, especially the drug known as Ecstasy, a form of methamphetamine that has hallucinogenic properties. It is considered a club drug because it is often used at rave parties and at nightclubs. Carol Falkowski is the author of Hazeldon's report. She's on the line now.

If you're looking for a holiday show to see this December, there's no lack from which to choose. Minnesota communities and theatre companies all over the state are showing old favorites and new ones too. That means it's a busy time for theatre critics. Dominic Papatola writes for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He's been running around the Twin Cities for the past month trying to see, and review, shows in the metro area. He came by the studio to tell us what he's been doing and what he's seen.

Right now, law enforcement officials in most Minnesota counties have no easy way of sharing information about criminals. That means if officials arrest someone in their county, they may not know that the suspect has a criminal record somewhere else in the state. A bill that will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session would fund the development of a network for tracking criminals. CriMNet would give officials access to criminal justice records statewide. Last session, as part of Katie's Law, the Legislature approved funds to develop a model for such a system. DFL senator Jane Ranum is the chair of the Senate Crime Prevention Committee and she's on the line now.

As President-elect Bush figures out who he wants in his Cabinet, one of the names that is mentioned prominently is Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. Thompson met with Bush yesterday and is considered the leading candidate for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Steve Walters covers the governor for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Holiday advertisements dictate that this season is supposed to be the happiest time of the year. So if you're not happy now, the ads imply, there must be something terribly wrong because everyone else is enjoying the warmth of friends, family and co-workers. But if your holiday get-togethers have all the tranquility of a professional wrestling event, take heart, you are not alone. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.

Former State Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm joins us to talk about the recent spate of food-borne illnesses. Osterholm says the best way to prevent many of these outbreaks is through cold pasteurization and irradiation.

A new children's book examines the struggles of turn-of-the-twentieth century miners in Minnesota. The Journal of Otto Peltonen, A Finnish Immigrant, is the story of a 16-year-old boy who travels to the Iron Range from Finland with his family in 1905. He and his father work in the mines - dangerous, dirty, backbreaking work - to earn money to buy land for a farm. The book is part of the popular My Name is America series, fictional historical journals written for children in grades three through nine. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill talked with the author, Lake Vermillion based writer Bill Durbin.

Putting Sara Jane Olson on trial is proving almost as hard as capturing her. Olson, the alleged 1970's bomber-turned contemporary St. Paul soccer mom, has won yet another delay in the start of her trial. A Los Angeles judge now says the trial will begin in April, more than a year after the original start date. From KPCC in Los Angeles, Frank Stoltze reports.

Minnesota's homeless population has more than doubled over the past decade. That's according to early results from a survey conducted by the Wilder Research Center in October. The largest growth in homelessness was among children in both urban and rural regions of the state. People who died homeless in Minnesota this past year will be remembered tonight at a memorial service in Minneapolis. Monica Nelson is the director of the Simpson Shelter in Minneapolis, and is organizing the service. She's on the line now.

The president of Amtrak is mobilizing support for high-speed rail service in the Midwest. During a Minnesota visit yesterday, George Warrington also backed the idea of making St. Paul's Union Depot the passenger rail station for the Twin Cities: an idea that sits well with officials in the capital city. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Fifty-nine years ago, during some of the darkest days of World War II, apprentice seaman Carl Andersen stepped up to an NBC microphone and sang a Christmas carol to the nation. The l941 Christmas Eve broadcast was a prelude for Andersen and others who would endure the tumult caused by war. Four years later, Christmas Eve 1945, Andersen returned to his home in Minneapolis, his dreams of a professional singing career a memory. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson report.

Lawmakers are criticizing Governor Jesse Ventura's job as an XFL football commentator. One of them even wants to ban the governor from holding outside jobs, saying Ventura is using his office to get the work. The Governor has in turn said many state legislators hold jobs outside their official duties, and if they can do it, why can't he? Joining us on the line to talk about what the rules are for legislators is State Senator Ember Reichgott-Junge. She's retiring from the senate next month, but still chairs the Senate Rules subcommittee on Ethical Conduct.

Mark Seeley says it's highly likely that gifts of boots, hats, skates, and snowshoes will come in handy over the holiday break.

Cold temperatures and blowing snow can be hazzardous for drivers as they head home for the holidays. Getting the car ready for the road trip, and being prepared for the worst, can keep you from being inconvenienced, and even save your life. Joining us on the line is Dawn Duffy, spokesperson for the AAA of Minneapolis.

Cold temperatures and blowing snow can be hazzardous for drivers as they head home for the holidays. Getting the car ready for the road trip, and being prepared for the worst, can keep you from being inconvenienced, and even save your life. Joining us on the line is Dawn Duffy, spokesperson for the AAA of Minneapolis.

Yesterday at this time we talked with Senator Ember Reichgott-Junge about Governor Ventura and state legislators and what kind of outside employment would be considered unethical. During that interview Reichgott-Junge used this example of what would constitute a conflict of interest.

This will be a very busy day at the airport and travelers should allow extra time if they're headed there. With an old-fashioned Minnesota winter on our hands, and some labor disputes, customers could also face flight delays or cancellations. George Wozniak is the president of Hobbit Travel in St. Paul. He advises against relying on electronic tickets.

As evidence of an economic slowdown mounts, consumers are cutting back on spending. Retailers are reporting weak profits, and warning of difficult times ahead. But despite the downturn and the harsh winter weather, holiday shoppers are still flocking to stores and malls. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.