Monday, July 9

There was a time when small communities throughout the Great Plains flourished. But now, a host of powerful forces, including farm consolidation and low prices, are sparking an exodus from farm country. Critics say federal agricultural subsidies and other policies intended to bolster family farms and the communities they support may actually be hastening their decline. That's the backdrop for an intensifying debate in Washington and throughout the Great Plains over how to stem the decline. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg has the first of two reports.

A new poll shows Minnesotans are disappointed that it took the state Legislature extra time to complete a new, $27 billion budget. The survey, commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, indicates two-thirds of respondents rate the Legislature's performance either poor or only fair. The poll does show support for sweeping property tax cuts, but more than half of respondents felt too little was spent on K-12 education. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

Chris Farrell joins us with this economic update.

The Minnesota Twins will send three players to the All-Star game in Seattle tomorrow. It's the first time since 1996 that the team has sent more than one player to the game. Pitchers Joe Mays and Eric Milton, and Shortstop Christian Guzman have led the surprising Twins this year. The team finished the first-half with 55 wins and 32 losses, and are in first place by five games over the Cleveland Indians. Joining us on the line is LaVelle Neal, who covers the Twins for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The continuing decline of small agricultural communities in the Great Plains is fueling a search for ways to keep people from moving away. Increasingly, rather than looking to federal or state governments for aid, townspeople are trying to save themselves. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Governor Ventura has emerged from a bruising legislative session with his approval ratings intact. In the first poll since a special session narrowly averted a government shutdown, Ventura's approval ratings have remained steady, and nearly half of those polled think he should run for a second term next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The Governor leaves later today for Canada, where he will promote Minnesota trade and tourism with the state's neighbor and largest trading partner. During his three-day tour of Toronto and Winnipeg, Ventura will meet with business and government leaders and sign a renewed trade pact with Manitoba Premier Gary Doer. This is Ventura's fourth international trade mission since taking office. Ron Bosrock is the founder and executive director of the Global Institute at St. John's University in Collegeville. He's on the line now.

Governor Ventura says the state had to spend more than $3 million to prepare for a possible government shutdown. Ventura released the preliminary estimate Monday as he again criticized legislators for not finishing a budget until the final days before the new fiscal year. But legislative leaders say the governor can share in the blame. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

The Minneapolis City Council is struggling to figure out the city's next step in light of tax reform that substantially limits future money for a popular neighborhood development program. Neighborhood activists are also not sure whether to try for a referendum in November to make up the funding that was cut. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

A unique summer school program on the White Earth Indian Reservation is improving students math and science skills, and helping them reconnect to their culture. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

St. Paul Republican activists have thrown their support to City Council member Jerry Blakey in the race to succeed outgoing mayor Norm Coleman. The party endorsed Blakey at a meeting Tuesday night, but Coleman, St. Paul's leading Republican, did not attend and has not said whether he will support Blakey. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

A new Minnesota Public Radio/St. Paul Pioneer Press poll indicates Minnesota's next U.S. Senate race is a close one, although the 2002 election is still 16 months away. The poll shows Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone, who's seeking his third term, and Republican challenger Norm Coleman running neck and neck. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

Joining us now is Steve Schier, chair of the political science department at Carleton College.

Governor Jesse Ventura is in Canada today to promote Minnesota trade and tourism. Later this morning he'll meet with business leaders in Toronto. The governor's three-day tour of Canada is his fourth international trade mission since he took office. Later this week in Winnepeg, the governor will participate in a ceremony solidifying an agreement between the Winnepeg Art Gallery, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Joining us on the line is Patricia Bovey, director of the Winnepeg Art Gallery.

A Minneapolis nonprofit agency that builds affordable space for artists to live and work is turning it's attention to small town Minnesota. Artspace has developed projects in the Twin Cities and Duluth, as well as several large cities across the country. It was the organization behind the much publicized moving of the Shubert Theater across downtown Minneapolis. The renovation of an historic building in Fergus Falls is the organizations first attempt to create space for artists in rural areas. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

Patients with congestive heart failure may be interested in a new kind of treatment that has been developed by Fridley-based Medtronic. The device, which has received preliminary FDA approval, is about the size of a half-dollar and is surgically implanted in patients much in the same manner as a pacemaker. Dr. Jay Cohn, at the University of Minnesota medical school says the device, called InSync, appears to be a big step forward for patients who have congestive heart failure.

For many lake cabin owners, those cattails and other plants growing along the shore are weeds cluttering the beach. But those plants are an important part of aquatic habitat, and the Department of Natural Resources is trying to reduce the amount of lakeshore cleared each year. The DNR is prepared to use the courts in some cases. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

Public television stations across the state are facing a crisis. By May 2003, all public TV stations in the country must convert to digital broadcasting technology. But Minnesota's public broadcasters are having trouble funding the switch, and the Legislature in its recent session provided far less money than supporters requested. As a result, some stations, including TPT in the Twin Cities, may eliminate popular programming. And others could shut down altogether. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

A report to be released today by the Brookings Institution says the Twin Cities are among the fastest-sprawling areas in the country. The report says the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area is developing a vast amount of open land to accommodate relatively small increases in population. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.

The weather has been dry as a bone in the last three weeks in Minnesota. Since mid-June, the Twin Cities has had only four days with rain. The recent dry weather is making life difficult for farmers who, a few weeks ago, were worried about flooding. Joining us on the line is Kent Thiesse, ag extension officer in Blue Earth County in the southern Minnesota.

Governor Jesse Ventura's trade trip to Canada is in full swing. Yesterday, the governor met with business leaders in Toronto, and was a guest speaker at the COMDEX Canada technology convention. Later today, he'll be the keynote speaker at the Toronto Board of Trade, where he'll talk about his role in promoting Minnesota business and tourism. Joining us on the line is Jennifer Wells, a reporter and a business columnist for the Toronto Star newspaper.

The dry weather has prompted officials in the Boundary Water Canoe Area to ban open fires throughout the BWCA. Officials are worried that a fire could quickly get out of control and ignite the hundreds of thousands of trees that were knocked down during a severe storm two years ago. Joining us on the line is Cynthia Sage with the Minnesota Interagency fire center.

The number of people hurt or killed in vehicle/train crashes at railroad crossings dropped from 13 to six last year. The number of car/train crashes dropped too. Still, with more than 8,200 grade crossings in Minnesota, there's a huge potential for accidents. For the past 20 years, Operation Lifesaver, an industry supported program has worked to reduce the potential for tragedy. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.

A new MPR/Pioneer Press poll shows the majority of Minnesotans believe their family's financial health is about the same as it was a year ago, despite the economic slowdown. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Ecological economics is a relatively new field combining economics with environmental and social issues. A conference in Duluth this week is bringing together about 200 academics, business people, and government officials. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill visited with some of them to find out what ecological economics is all about.

The University of Minnesota's Board of Regents approved a 13 percent tuition increase yesterday Thursday. While university president Mark Yudof and others on the board expressed regret at having to raise tuition, they also saw it as necessary if the school is to stay competitive in the face of what they call diminishing government subsidies. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Extensive fire restrictions took effect early this morning across northeastern Minnesota and into Ontario. No campfires are allowed in either the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park. The restrictions are in response to extremely dry conditions. Officials are particularly worried about wildfires in the blowdown area hit by a 1999 windstorm. Firefighting planes were called in yesterday to deal with some small but rapidly burning fires on both sides of the boarder. Bruce Kerfoot owns the Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais. He's on the line now.

Mark Seeley joins us to talk about the dry weather and the threat of fire.

In the Wisconsin State Legislature, there's a debate about the future of stem cell research. Republicans in the Assembly want to pass a law that would forbid reseachers from using new embroys after January 1, 2002. Scientists would still be able to use embryos developed before that date, but Senate Democrats say the change would drive pioneering scientists out of the state. It's all wrapped up in a budget battle in the state Capitol, where the two sides have yet to agree on hundreds of budget and policy issues. Joining us on the line is Steve Walters, capitol reporter for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is looking into problems at both the Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear power plants. The NRC says that the problems didn't affect the health or safety of workers in either plant, or the residents who live nearby. Joining us on the line is Jan Strasma with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission office in Chicago.