Monday, January 29

The St. Paul Winter Carnival got under way this weekend. Thousands of people from around Minnesota came to St. Paul's Como Park to take part in Carnival festivities. Minnesota Public Radio's Helms reports.

Two notable tragedies last year in which people struggling with mental illness were shot and killed by Minneapolis police, have prompted the department to consider key changes in training. A bill scheduled to be introduced this week would help bring those changes about. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

America is facing an energy crisis. In Minnesota, energy experts say the state needs five new power plants. The crisis is making some folks look west to the Dakotas which could produce more wind power than it needs. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports, the next problem is getting that energy to where its needed.

President George W. Bush is moving ahead with his plan to develop a closer link between the government and faith-based organizations. Yesterday Bush set up a federal office that will distribute billions of dollars to religious groups and charities over the next 10 years. The president says such groups grapple daily with real problems and they deserve a chance to compete for taxpayer money. Fr. Larry Snyder is the executive director of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which serves about 170,000 people in the metro area every year. He's on the line now.

A new report says the costs of problems associated with addiction to alcohol and drugs consume about 16 percent of Minnesota's entire state budget. The study by National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University examined the 1998 budgets of all 50 states. It found Minnesota ranked sixth in the per capita spending on substance abuse. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.

The Federal Aviation Administration has revoked the pilots license of a Northwest Airlines pilot for flying under the influence of alcohol. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

State Senator Dick Day is proposing that the state build and run a casino to raise revenue for transportation and other infrastructure projects. Indian gaming interests oppose the measure, and House and Senate leaders are skeptical about it's chances. Minnesota Public Radio's Helms reports.

It's slow going in many parts of the state this morning, and ploughs are out trying to improve driving conditions. We checked in with Pat Faltersack, at the Minnesota Department of Transportation, to see what roads are like in the metro area.

One of the areas hardest hit by the winter storm was southwest Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We checked in with her to see what conditions are like in her area this morning.

The weather has also affected air travel. We checked in with Amy von Walter with the Metropolitan Airports Commission, to see how things are going out at the airport this morning.

Septic systems are an unpleasant reality of country living. Most rural homes have a tank buried in the ground to treat wastewater. For years there has been growing concern on the North Shore of Lake Superior that most of those tanks aren't working properly and untreated human waste is seeping into the groundwater and the Big Lake. A citizens group is trying to alleviate the problem by working to extend a sewer line up the shore from Duluth. But some people think the sewer might cause more problems that it would solve. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill has the first in a series of reports about development on the North Shore.

Minnesotans headed up north for a little fishing or a weekend at the cabin are used to them: billboards proclaiming great deals, fresh leeches or the best burgers in town. In an area of the state that relies heavily on tourism, billboards are big business. But a group of citizens south of Brainerd want motorists to see only the scenery along a new stretch of road. Their effort has some business boosters worried that thousands of tourists will never know what Brainerd has to offer. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.

The legislative auditor told state lawmakers yesterday that Minnesota has one of the lowest supplies of affordable housing in the nation. The auditor's report says the problem is statewide, but particularly bad in the Twin Cities metro area. While the report outlines the problems, it doesn't make any specific recommendations. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

The North Shore of Lake Superior is one of Minnesota's favorite playgrounds. Just beyond the Lester River northeast of Duluth, it's a drive into wilderness. Small homes on large lots and a few motels dot the rugged rock shoreline, and the generous expanse of the lake gives a feeling of solitude. But that may change dramatically in the next few years as a planned sewer line is laid down from Duluth to Knife River or even as far as Two Harbors. Advocates say the sewer line is needed because most of the individual septic tanks along the shore are failing, allowing raw effluent to drain into the ground water and the lake. But a sewer would allow more development, which critics say could irrevocably change the character of the North Shore, and actually bring more pollution to the area. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill has the second in a series of reports about development along the North Shore.

State lawmakers are teaming up with public interest groups this legislative session to press for campaign finance reform. The 2000 election cycle produced a sharp spike in soft-money contributions and so-called independent expenditures in state legislative races. Some lawmakers say that experience will provide the incentive to tighten controls on campaign finances, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, a simple solution could prove elusive.

Minnesota Twins President Jerry Bell is scheduled to meet with Governor Ventura today and he's expected to make a pitch for a new baseball stadium for the team. Twins officials have a new funding plan and they've been meeting with legislative leaders to discuss it. House Speaker Steve Sviggum met with Jerry Bell last week. Sviggum says Bell has some new ideas on how to pay for a new $300 million stadium.

A new report on the status of minorities in Moorhead says racism is prevalent and institutionalized in employment, housing, education and justice. Those conclusions are the result of an investigation by the Minnesota Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. While the report is specific to Moorhead, Committee members say the findings reflect the status of minorities in many Minnesota communities. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

Ron Rabinovitz is here to to help us celebrate Jackie Robinson's 82nd birthday. Rabinovitz exchanged letters with Robinson, and became friends with him during his major league career, until he died in 1972.

Small towns all across Minnesota are trying to attract businesses to provide jobs for workers. In Cook County on the North Shore of Lake Superior, businesses are thriving but there aren't enough places for the workers to live. It's a problem that plagues many resort areas and people in Cook County are coming up with some innovative solutions. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill has the third in a series of reports about growth along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

The National Mediation Board adjourned talks between Northwest Airlines and its mechanics union on Wednesday, but the Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association made a last ditch contract offer in an effort to avert a possible strike. The board's next step may be to release the mechanics from negotiations. That would set off a 30-day cooling off period before either side could initiate a job action. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Northwest Airline's stock price dropped 2 percent yesterday, suggesting investors are doubtful the airline is close to being acquired. The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday Delta airlines has launched wide ranging talks with Northwest and Continental Airlines about a possible combination or other moves. Delta is under pressure to respond to competitive threats from proposed mergers involving industry leaders United and American Airlines. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

Both of Minnesota's dominant political parties broke campaign funding records last year. Combined, the state Republican and DFL parties raised close to $17 million in 2000: roughly double what they spent just four years ago. The rise in campaign funding has critics alarmed. But the parties say it's simply the cost of modern politics. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Christine Jax, Commissioner of the Department of Children, Families and Learning joins us to discuss this year's round of basic skills testing.

Anne Kapuscinski heads the University of Minnesota's Institute for Social, Economic, and Ecological Sustainability.

Activist, author and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader spoke to students at St Cloud State University last night. Nader spent two hours criticizing the government, corporations and what he says are American's "low expectations" for their country. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.

Analysts say General Electric is gearing up to cut tens of thousands of jobs. Many of those cuts may come from Honeywell, which employs roughly eight thousand people in Minnesota. General Electric agreed to acquire Honeywell International in October. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley talks about Ground Hog day, cold weather, and wind chill.

Governor Jesse Ventura will be in Las Vegas Saturday night to broadcast the first game of the new Xtreme Football League. The league is a joint enterprise of NBC Television and the World Wrestling Federation. Critics say the WWF's involvement has added a certain vulgarity to the upstart league. Ventura, who's signed on to host twelve of the upcoming games, says people should withhold judgement until after play begins. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has this preview of xtreme football.

While some critics have questioned whether Governor Ventura's weekend gig is appropriate, Commentator Dale Connelly says the Legislature might learn a thing or two from the XFL..

Education groups are converging on the Capitol to protest the Governor's budget. Groups representing teachers and administrators say Ventura's K-12 budget is stingy, and will lead to cuts in districts across the state. Ventura says the state gave public schools a massive increase over the last two years, and they can't expect that kind of treatment again. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Minnesota House representative Torry Westrum talks about bio-diesel.

Jon Gordon's Future Tense.

Word of Mouth Arts Roundup with Chris Roberts.