Monday, March 26

Friday is the first committee deadline at the Minnesota Legislature. That means most bills will have to clear policy committees in at least one house by the end of the week to stay alive. Joining us with a preview of the week ahead is Minnesota Public Radio's Capital Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum.

The U.S. Census Bureau will release the first set of data for Minnesota this week. The census is expected to reflect significant increases in many minority populations. States bordering Minnesota and many others report substantial gains among Hispanics and Asians. Many groups in Minnesota are encouraged by the efforts to count minority populations, but they say the process has a long way to go. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

A look ahead at this week on Wall Street with MPR's Chief Economic Correspondent Chris Farrell.

Wireless technologies are changing the way Minnesotans live. For employers, the pay-off is clear. But some workers wonder if they've been liberated or bound ever more tightly to the office. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg has the next report in our series, Minnesota Unplugged.

The outbreak of two livestock diseases in Europe is heightening awareness in beef producers in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has introduced stringent efforts to keep both foot and mouth disease and madcow disease out of the country. But some epidemiologists and agriculture experts say despite the precautions it is possible that cases can occur in Minnesota. In the new global economy, health experts say a virus is only a plane ride away. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

Efforts to kill the Profile of Learning heat up again today at the State Capitol. The House Education Policy committee takes up a bill that would repeal Minnesota's complex system of high school graduation standards. But the state's education commissioner says she plans to wait another year to recommend any changes. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

A bill that would establish a new Minnesota license plate will get a hearing in the House today. Officials from the anti-abortion group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life announced yesterday they have bipartisan support for the new plate, which features a crayon-like image of two kids, and includes the words "Choose Life." They say people who buy the plate would pay a $25 fee which would be used to fund adoption services at a county level throughout the state. Jackie Schwietz is the Executive Director of MCCL.

Connie Perpich is director of public affairs for Planned parenthood of Minnesota. Another abortion-related bill will be debated in a House committee today. This one would require a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could get an abortion.

Labor problems for the nation's airlines could cause disruptions for travelers making summer vacation plans. Regional airline Comair had its pilots go on strike last weekend, affecting passengers flying mainly to the Southeastern U.S. Its parent company, Delta Airlines, could suffer another setback with its own pilots who can't agree on a contract with the company, and they could strike this summer. Meanwhile, Northwest Airlines and its mechanics still haven't agreed on a contract, and could strike as early as May 11. Joining us on the line is George Wozniak with Hobbit Travel.

Just days before the first legislative committee deadline, abortion bills are gaining strength at the Capitol. Bills to require a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could get an abortion, and to create a special "Choose Life" license plate, passed their first legislative hurdles on Tuesday. But Governor Ventura says he'll veto both bills if they land on his desk. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

While high speed Internet connections are already available in the Twin Cities, for many rural Minnesotans, the Internet moves at only one speed: slow. But several outstate companies are now offering connections that are not only fast, but wireless. They say their services are helping to bridge the so-called "digital divide" between urban and rural dwellers. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson tells the story in the next installment of our series, Minnesota Unplugged.

A legislative panel has shown its distaste for the Profile of Learning by approving two bills that could wipe out the Minnesota's controversial system of graduation standards. The House Education Policy Committee passed both measures Tuesday on voice votes, sending them on to other committees. Despite the firm committee action, the fate of the Profile is far from settled. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Advocates for low-income residents are trying to rally support for an heating assistance provision that was tossed out of the final version of a House energy bill and is making its way through the state Senate. About 300 people attended an Energy Cents Coalition meeting with legislators last night the Arlington High School in St. Paul. Several in the audience told of the hardships they face with excessively high energy bills. Lawmakers at the meeting urged the residents to contact members of the Senate committee now hearing the energy bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Advocates for low-income residents are trying to rally support for an heating assistance provision that was tossed out of the final version of a House energy bill and is making its way through the State Senate. About 300 people attended an Energy Cents Coalition meeting with legislators last night the Arlington High School in St. Paul. Several in the audience told of the hardships they face with excessively high energy bills. Lawmakers at the meeting urged the residents to contact members of the Senate committee now hearing the energy bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

The Twin Cities is set to play host to one of the year's biggest sporting events. It's the NCAA men's basketball tournament's Final Four. The semifinal games are set for Saturday and the championship game for Monday night. But as usual, these sporting events aren't always what they seem. They're not all fun and games, says MPR sports commentator Jay Weiner.

There's a big test for the Minnesota Twins stadium proposal at the capitol today. Today is the final chance for the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee to vote on the bill before the Legislature's first deadline tomorrow. Some lawmakers say their constituents don't seem to know much about the latest proposal. But perceived lack of opposition could be the result of the low-profile campaign by Stadium proponents. Minnesota Public Radio's Helms reports.

Young people are generally early adopters when it comes to new technology, so it's no surprise some schools are eagerly pursuing ways to utilize wireless technologies. Minnesota State University in Mankato is staking its claim as a leader in the next wave of the campus digital revolution, and other state campuses are not far behind. Minnesota Public Radio's Laurel Druley has the next report in our series, Unplugged: Minnesota Goes Wireless.

The 2000 Census shows the Twin Cities gained population in the past ten years. It's the first significant population rate increase for Minneapolis and St. Paul in decades. At the same time, the census indicates much larger increases in the suburban counties around the Twin Cities. In addition, many smaller cities saw dramatic increases. The census also documents Minnesota's growing diversity, with strong gains among ethnic Hispanics, Asians, African Americans and American Indians. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

The census numbers will be used to redraw the state's Congressional and Legislative districts. State Planning Commissioner Dean Barkley is the chair of the Governor's Redistricting Commission. He says one of the governor's goals is to make more of the districts balanced between Democrats and Republicans.

Thousands of NCAA basketball fans are beginning to flood into the Twin Cities for the Final Four this weekend. It's the second time the event has come to Minneapolis. All official Final Four events are in downtown Minneapolis, still restaurants and hotels throughout the Twins Cities will see a big spike in business. And the influx of money couldn't come at a better time of the year. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Alex Wolff is a writer for Sports Illustrated. He's participating in a panel discussion at the U of M to promote sportswriting as a career.

All week Minnesota Public Radio has been looking at the promise of new wireless technologies. New uses for web-ready cell phones and palm-top computers on the job, at school, and in rural communities offer greater mobility than ever before . But some of the same features touted by proponents are precisely those raising hackles among critics. Take the ability of mobile phones and other wireless gadgets to pinpoint and broadcast a user's location to within a few feet. That means it'll be easier to find people when they become ill, or get lost in a blizzard. But do people really want marketers and government officials to know where they are at all times? Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon has the final installment of our series, Minnesota Unplugged.

A couple of years ago on this date it was 73 degrees. The ice was gone off of Lake Waconia, and Lakes Calhoun and Harriet in Minneapolis. Today, there's still about eight inches of snow on the ground, at the national weather service office in Chanhassen, up to two feet still remains at the tip of the arrowhead, around Grand Marais. Just how long will the snow hang on? Mark Seely can't answer that question this morning, he's in Great Britain. still stateside is Paul Douglas, chief meteorgist with WCCO TV.

Today is the first deadline for committee action on most policy bills at the State Legislature. Last night lawmakers worked to move legislation before the deadline expires. A notable casualty was an effort to allow the sale of wine in supermarkets and grocery stores. Other measures on handgun laws, seatbelt use, and a new football stadium fared better. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has this wrap-up.

The new Census numbers confirm a controversial fact of Twin Cities life: the growth of small towns on the fringe of the metro area is exploding. Lower land costs are attracting a flock of urbanites and suburbanites. Take St.Michael along Interstate 94 on the way from the Twin Cities to St. Cloud. The town's population has doubled in the past decade. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

For better or worse, the Mary Tyler Moore show put Minneapolis on the pop culture map, and cable reruns keep the show's '70s career woman Mary Richards alive and well and living in Minneapolis. Perhaps the most widely recognized image from the show is the character Mary Richards tossing up her hat in downtown Minneapolis in a triumphant gesture of independence. That image could soon be immortalized in bronze and placed on Nicollet Mall. Cable TV station TVLand wants to give the statue to the city of Minneapolis. But critics wonder about the value of the city erecting a public monument of a fictional television character. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

The focus of the sports world will be on Metrodome in Minneapolis this weekend where the NCAA men's basketball Final Four will be held. The games, which begin tomorrow, will also draw the attention of gamblers. Chad Millman, author of The Odds says March Madness generates over $80 million in sports betting every year in the state of Nevada.