Monday, April 30

Labor turmoil in the airline industry has travel experts warning consumers to carefully plan trips this summer. The four largest U.S. carriers are working to resolve open contracts with unions. Thousands of airline workers are under court order not to disrupt flight schedules. Although unions at Northwest and Delta are moving toward settlements, workers at the nation's two largest carriers are threatening to strike. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik tracked down some advice on ways you can steer clear of airline problems if you're planning a trip.

In the mid-1990s, a group of students from the Cass Lake-Bena High School in Northern Minnesota began a campaign to eliminate use of the word "squaw." In 1995 the students convinced the Minnesota Legislature to pass a law eliminating the word from 19 geographic place names in the state. But there still remains one municipality, the tiny town of Squaw Lake on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, that has resisted the change. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson has this Mainstreet report.

Lawmakers at the State Capitol have three short weeks to get all their work done. The Legislature must adjourn by May 21. That leaves little time to work out spending and tax bills and to resolve policy disputes. Later today, the Republican-controled House will take higher education spending to the floor, and unveil their latest tax plans. The DFL-controled Senate will take a look at the budget for health and human services, and will also look at taxes. Joining us on the line is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum.

MPR's Chris Farrell joins us with a look at what's happening on Wall Street.

The economic slowdown is taking a toll on Minnesota's job market. Unemployment remains low, but layoffs and jobless claims are soaring and job growth has shrunk by half. The spate of job cuts is also raising concerns about Governor Jesse Ventura's goal of cutting state funding for a program to help laid off workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

In our youth-oriented culture, the we often miss the wisdom of our elders. A new book titled What's Worth Knowing, attempts to reconnect us with the timeless lessons of life that we acquire through experience. The book is a collection of wisdom from the aged. In it, author Wendy Lustbader passes on those lessons through essays and interviews with people in their 70s and older. She's also a geriatric social worker, and trains care givers about issues that the elderly face. Wendy Lusbader joins us in the studio.

A Los Angeles judge has denied Sara Jane Olson's attempt to delay her trial for a fourth time. Olson, who until her arrest had been living a quiet life in St. Paul, is accused of conspiring to plant a bomb under a police car in Los Angeles in 1975 as a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army. Her trial is expected to begin within six to eight weeks. Frank Stoltze reports.

The McKnight Foundation will today announce plans to spend $2.5 million over the next two years on developing what it calls "clean energy." The money will fund in part the Wind on the Wires program, which is studying how to improve transmission line capacity to maximize use of wind power generated in the upper Midwest. Mainstreet Radios Bob Reha reports.

Abortion politics played out in the Minnesota Senate last night, as an abortion waiting period vetoed by Governor Ventura last year was added to a massive health spending bill. The abortion provision prompted the bill's sponsor to set the spending package aside before a final vote. Abortion opponents call the move an abuse of power, but supporters of legalized abortion say they're not willing to put an $8 billion bill at risk of a gubernatorial veto. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

It will be a busy night tonight for Sun Country Airlines. They will have about 10 hours to move their flight operations from the main terminal at the Twin Cities Airport to the brand new Humphrey Terminal. Sun Country is hoping that the new $82 million terminal, which features more gates, a restaurant and other amenities, will be a boost to their business. Sun Country also has a new president and Chief Operating Officer. He is David Banmiller, and he joins us on the line now.

The Minnesota Timberwolves' season ended last night with a 97-84 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in game four of their first round playoff series. This was the fifth straight first-round elimination for the Timberwolves. Players acknowledged frustration over another early playoff exit, but also took pride in having overcome adversity just to make it back into the post-season again this year. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

A Los Angeles judge has denied Sara Jane Olson's attempt to delay her trial for a fourth time. Olson, who was arrested outside her St. Paul home two years ago, is accused of placing bombs under two Los Angeles police cars in 1975, allegedly as a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army. Laurie Levenson is a law professor at Loyola University in Los Angeles and she's been following the case. She says in court yesterday, defense attorneys made it clear they will be taking a hard line.

Throughout the country businesses are responding to the economic slowdown. In Minnesota alone tens of thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the last nine months. Economists are debating whether the economy may have already hit bottom. But in the real-world managers are faced with hard choices, and none are tougher than the decision to lay off workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik visited with a production veteran who runs a large Twin Cities-based manufacturing company that's been forced to make major changes.

Unseasonable weather that dumped snow in northern Minnesota and poured rain in central and southern sections last week has further delayed spring planting. It was the second wettest April in Minnesota history, but many in agriculture say that could be a blessing in disguise once the crops go in. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.

Last week Minnesota Public Radio ran a series of stories called,

The chief sponsor of a new Twins ballpark bill says he's going to attempt to revive it next week. Meanwhile, the Twins have been lobbying hard for the bill during the broadcasts of their games. Minnesota Public Radio sports commentator Jay Weiner says this latest proposal is better than all the others we've seen before, but it still needs to be improved.

Dozens of school buses will be pulling up to downtown St. Paul's convention center later this morning for the start of the Festival of Nations. For the 69th year the festival will showcase foods, dances, crafts, and cultural traditions from around the world. Additions to the program this year include a Moroccan cafe and a Russian dance troupe. But many of the traditions on display have been standbys at the festival for decades. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen caught up with the man who's organized the Festival's Italian boccie ball demonstration for 22 years and has this report.

The White Earth Chippewa Indian Reservation and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have been working together for a number of years on natural-resource management issues. But despite several attempts over the past two decades, there has never been a formal cooperative pact established. Now the two sides are negotiating to solve some long-standing disputes. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson has the story.

A University of Minnesota professor has published a study that says a popular drug used to treat heart failure is less effective in blacks than in whites. The author says the findings, published in the latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, are important because blacks have higher rates of heart failure. But others argue the findings are skewed and say there's no biological differences between the two races. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

The economic slowdown is sparking cost-cutting campaigns at newspapers nationwide. Here in the Twin Cities, both the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press have announced plans to reduce expenses. But as newspapers look for ways to respond to profit-hungry investors, concern is growing that may threaten their ability to carry out the mission of informing the public. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

At the Twins game last night, almost 40 fans were thrown out because of unruly behavior. Some of the fans threw objects onto the field, including golf balls and coins, at former Twin, Chuck Knoblauch. The game was stopped twice, with the Twins eventually winning 4-2. Joining us on the line is LaVelle Neal, who covers the Twins for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

As gardeners equip themselves for this year's planting season, and those seeking the perfect lawn gear up for the summer, a new study shows many fertilizers on the market contain industrial toxic wastes. Minnesota Public Radio's Laurel Druley has this report.

Mark Seeley talks about the online poll to test the public reaction to new synthesized computer voices for broadcasting over the NOAA Weather Radio system. You can choose among Linda, Paul, Donna, Art, and Craig at NOAA Weather Radio.

The Minnesota House and Senate have approved K-12 education bills that are about $100 million apart on new spending, but both offer considerably more than Governor Ventura's budget. A conference committee must now shape a compromise, and differences over the Profile of Learning graduation standards are expected to once again complicate the negotiations. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

The Republican-controlled House is proposing to cut funding from a program that investigates citizen complaints against law enforcement agencies. The cuts are at odds with both Governor Ventura and the Senate, which recommend fully funding the program. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton is the favorite to win the DFL endorsement at the party's Minneapolis convention tomorrow. Sayles-Belton is running for a third term and is one of three candidates seeking the DFL endorsement. The endorsement ensures the party's money and political support for the chosen candidates. Still those challenging the mayor say they'll compete in the primary election even if they don't get the endorsement. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.