Monday, January 8

Energy officials say Minnesotans could be in for higher prices and even blackouts if the state doesn't address an electricity shortfalll projected for later this decade. The Legislature is expected to consider several proposals for dealing with the shortage. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

MPR's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell guides us through conflicting interpretations of recent economic activity.

DFLer Betty McCollum and Republican Mark Kennedy became Minnesota's newest U.S. Representatives last week. They'll face the usual first-term challenges in Congress, but each can count on a peculiar distinction. McCollum is the first woman elected from Minnesota since the late 1950's, and Kennedy is the only Republican House member in the nation to defeat a Democratic incumbent this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

One of the big business stories today is the reported takeover of financially troubled TWA by American Airlines. TWA is close to filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. You may remember that Minnesota based Northwest Airlines held talks last summer with American on a possible merger, but those talks didn't go anywhere. So, what happens to Northwest now? Joel Denny is an airline analyst for Piper Jaffrey; he says from a competitive standpoint, the acquisition won't have a big impact on Northwest.

A Mayo Clinic study published in the latest issue of Neurology has found that people with diabetes and high blood pressure are more likely to experience a decline in mental ability than people who don't suffer from these conditions. The nationwide study backs up earlier claims that diabetes and high blood pressure can impact a person's mental acuity late in life. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

Starting on Sunday, Minnesotans will have to dial new area codes to reach some parts of the Twin Cities. As of that day, the optional grace period for using two new codes is over. That means in order to call parts of the northwestern Twin Cities as far north as Princeton and Cambridge, you'll have to dial 763 first. Calls to the southwest Metro as far south as New Prague will need the 952 area code. The additional codes have been introduced to accommodate an increasing demand for telephone numbers brought about by mobile phones, computer connections and other communications equipment. Bryce Hallowell is a spokesman for Qwest Communications.

Supporters of campaign finance reform say the 2001 session may be the best chance in years to pass significant changes. Governor Jesse Ventura and leaders in both parties say they want to reduce the amount of money flowing into politics. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

A stadium advisory panel created by the Minnesota Twins says Twins owner Carl Pohlad should contribute $150 million toward a new outdoor baseball stadium. A draft report obtained by the Star Tribune from Minnesotans for Major League Baseball says that amount would cover about the half of the cost. The other half would be financed through taxes as opposed to a "direct public subsidy." Meanwhile, the Vikings are already lobbying the Legislature for help in funding a new football stadium. Joining us to discuss the latest in the never-ending stadium saga is MPR Sports Commentator Jay Weiner.

Minnesota lawmakers and tax experts are mulling over Governor Ventura's proposal for significantly changing the state's tax structure. In his State of the State address last week, Ventura suggested reducing property and income taxes, and relying more heavily on sales taxes. The most controversial part of his proposal would reduce the sales tax to 6 percent, but extend it to nearly 20 categories of services, from lawyers, to barbers, to funeral homes. Dale Busacker is a tax partner at Aruthur Anderson and teaches a course in state law at the University of Minnesota. He says Ventura's proposal to extend the sales tax is playing very poorly in the business community.

More than 1,000 band members gathered at Mille Lacs Tuesday to hear their new chief executive's State of the Band address. Melanie Benjamin defeated former executive Marge Anderson last June. Her campaign stressed accountability and reform. Yesterday's speech amplified those ideas. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill has this Mainstreet report.

If you started your morning with a bowl of cereal, you probably didn't think much about where it came from. But artist Jeff Morrison is trying to change that. He has a new exhibit at the A-Z Gallery in St. Paul called Cereal Killer. It looks at where we think our food comes from through the eyes of children. The exhibit looks like a classroom. One hundred fifty-eight pictures and essays are taped up on the blackboard. They were created by first and second graders in Minneapolis and in rural South Dakota. Morrison asked the kids to answer the question: Where did your breakfast cereal come from? I stopped by A-Z Gallery to take a tour with Morrison, who says there's a purpose behind the art.

The controversial issue of racial profiling will be before the state Legislature this session. A bill will be introduced that would encourage the statewide collection of racial data on traffic stops. St.Paul voluntarily collects such data. Figures released by the department show that in the past eight months, officers in the Capitol city have stopped more white drivers than drivers of color, but after the traffic stop, more Hispanic and black drivers are frisked or searched than white drivers.

Robert Olson is up for his second contract renewal after six years as chief of Minneapolis police. Olson is expected to win reappointment, even though he faces opposition by some residents and city leaders. His opponents point to rough handling of protestors at a Minneapolis genetics conference earlier this year as evidence that Olson permits a culture of brutality. Opponents plan to speak out at a city committee hearing today but are not likely to sway enough Council votes to oust the chief. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

Joining us now is Lee Frelich, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Hardwood Ecology.

A citizens panel put together by the Minnesota Twins to look at the baseball team's future has finished its work. After six months of study, Minnesotans for Major League Baseball says the state risks losing the Twins unless the team gets a new ballpark combined with financial reforms in big league baseball. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.

Last year, lawmakers approved a one-time infusion of more than $550 million for transportation improvements statewide, but the push has already begun to boost spending once again. The proposals are finding support in most corners of the state Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

The city of St. Paul and the Target Corporation have reached a tentative agreement to spend $20 million to remodel the Dayton's store in downtown St. Paul. The money would come from Target, the city and the state. As part of the deal, the corporation would agree to keep the store open for at least ten years. St. Paul City Council member Chris Coleman was briefed on the deal yesterday. He says it is tentative, but looks like it will be approved.

Education Week magazine has given Minnesota schools an "F" rating in the area of standards and accountability. The publication citied inadequate testing and a lack of clear standards as reasons for the rating. Sandy Pappas is the chair of the Senate Education Committee. She says she was shocked by the rating.

Mark Seeley joins us with a look ahead at the weather for the Viking-Giants NFC Championship Game.

Governor Jesse Ventura has come under fire from lawmakers for taking vacation time during the legislation session and for agreeing to provide color commentary during broadcasts of the upcoming Xtreme Football League. It now appears he's combined the two by stumping for the XFL this week while out of town. The governor has said the extracurricular activities won't interfere with his policy agenda, but some legislators think otherwise. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

The National Mediation Board has broken off talks between Northwest Airlines and its mechanics union, a day sooner than their scheduled conclusion. Contract negotiations that have spanned more than four years are again in limbo, suggesting an agreement between the airline and a powerful labor group remains far off. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

The Minnesota Vikings are one win away from going to the Super Bowl for the first time in 24 years. The Vikings will be in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday to play the Giants in the NFC Championship Game. Sean Jensen, who covers the Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, will be there as well and he joins us now.