Monday, April 9

There's a new revolution on the island nation of Cuba, this time in the production of food. The collapse of the Soviet Union forced Cuba to turn to small-scale organic farming and urban gardens. This dramatic agricultural transformation is unparalleled in the world today. American agricultural experts, including some Minnesotans, are taking notice. In the first of a series of reports on Cuban agriculture, Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky takes a close look at Cuba's new urban gardens.

Workers are rushing to keep the city of Breckenridge dry. The city sits at the confluence of the Otter Tail and Bois De Sioux Rivers which form the Red River of the North. With memories of the historic 1997 flood still fresh in most people's minds, crews work nonstop over the weekend to keep rising water out. Current projections by the national weather service say flood waters will crest slightly above 1997's levels. Mainstreet Radios Bob Reha reports.

All of Minnesota's major rivers will begin to hit or exceed flood levels later this week. While the Red River Valley is expected to be hardest hit, communities in the Twin Cities metro area also face flood challenges. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Northwest Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association have reached a tentative contract agreement. The breakthrough in the four-and-a-half-year-old dispute came after two days of meetings in Washington, DC. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

Darryl Jenkins is the executive director of the The Aviation Institute at The George Washington University. He says the tentative agreement is encouraging.

A plan to build a new Minnesota Twins stadium with partial state funding will get a hearing in the House today. The proposal would provide $150 million in state money, which would cover half of the total stadium cost. The other half would come from the Twins and private sources. Joining us now for a look at that issue, and others at the Legislature this week, is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum.

Farmers in the United States who grow food organically, without using chemicals, are in the minority. Not so in Cuba. In the past decade that island nation turned awat from growing food using chemicals, heavy machinery and huge farms in favor of small-scale organic farming and urban gardens. Production of vegetables has soared, which has attracted attention from experts in the United States and Minnesota. In the second of a series of reports on Cuban agriculture, Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky takes a look at one country's experience using organic farming methods to feed a nation.

Northwests Airline and its mechanics union are awaiting a vote by union members to see if a tentative contract agreement reached early Monday morning will end their more than four-year-old labor dispute. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Minnesota safety officials say the flooding situation ranges from "serious" in urban areas to "dangerous" in rural areas with moving water and washed out roads. They say the water levels are quickly meeting or exceeding those seen during the major floods of 1997. State officials say infrastructure improvements mean the state is better prepared than four years ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Helms reports.

The Minnesota House has passed a bill requiring county sheriffs to issue concealed handgun permits to anyone meeting certain eligibility guidelines. Supporters say criminals will be deterred if they fear potential victims may be armed. But opponents say the measure will lead to increased gun violence. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Baseball is back in Minnesota and the Twins scored a resounding victory in their home opener last night. Their 11-5 win over the Detroit Tigers gave the Twins their fourth win in six games so far this year and fueled optimism the team may break its streak of eight straight losing season. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Minnesotans in several areas of the state are fighting to keep their homes and cities dry today. State safety officials say water levels are quickly meeting levels last seen during the major floods of 1997. The main trouble areas are in the Red River Valley. In Breckenridge the river could reach 19 feet, which is 9 feet above flood stage. The situation is improving in Crookston, where the Red Lake River has crested at just over 26 feet and is dropping. Communities along the Minnesota River are expecting crests later this week. In Montevideo, Mayor Jim Curtiss has put out a call for volunteers to help fill 25,000 sandbags. He says so far, the response has been only fair.