Monday, July 16

Three Minnesota women are on their way to federal prison in Illinois Monday. They are among 26 U.S. citizens who were sentenced in May for participating in a protest last November against a military school in Fort Benning, Georgia. Another protestor from Duluth was sentenced to one month at the Duluth Federal Prison Camp. Last night, about 150 people came to St. Paul to show support for two of the Minnesota women, who will serve six-month sentences in the Federal Correction Institution, in Pekin, Ill. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

There's a new round of mineral exploration in Northeastern Minnesota. The region best known for iron-bearing taconite could soon produce precious minerals like gold, silver and platinum, maybe even diamonds. New developments are making the prospects of prospecting more appealing. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.

This time of year, biologist Jim Lind looks forward to sleeping in his own bed. Lind has spent two months living in motels, like a musician out on the road. He's been across northern Minnesota, and into Wisconsin. But Lind isn't making music, he's listening to it. He's part of a team from the University of Minnesota in Duluth that's tracking songbird populations in the northwoods. It's almost impossible to see birds deep in the forest, so these biologists count birds by ear. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin reports.

Summer means work for many Minnesota teenagers. Despite lay-offs and corporate cutbacks that have put thousands of Minnesotans out of work in recent months, there are plenty of temporary jobs for students. Minnesota Public Radio's Kaomi Goetz reports.

Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell with an update on the economy.

The price of an education at Minnesota's 34 state colleges and universities is going up. Under a budget expected to be approved today by the MnSCU board, students will pay an average of nearly 11 percent more this year than last. The highest increase will be at Bemidji State University, where students will see a 17.5 percent hike. Some BSU students fear they'll have to cut back on classes and take out more loans. But university administrators say increases in financial aid will take the edge off the tuition hike for most students. In the first of two reports on state college tuitions, Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports.

When the MnSCU board meets Wednesday, it's expected to approve a 10 percent increase in tuition for its largest school, St. Cloud State, an increase that only goes part-way toward balancing the books. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich has this look at the changes in store in St. Cloud.

Members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission met with managers of the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant Monday night to address the plant's safety record. The NRC says the plant is safe, but also says officials need to better monitor the facility's operation. Managers at the plant agree and say they are working to better address safety issues. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.

Randy Admasick, the outgoing executive director of the Minnesota Film Board joins us to talk about the sudden departure from his post.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota and elsewhere are releasing an article today that concludes that Abraham Lincoln may have suffered from severe mercury poisoning. Dr Ian Greaves, who works in occupational medicine and toxicology at the University of Minnesota, contributed to the article which is being published in the journal Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. Greaves says Lincoln took what were known as blue mass pills for a number of years. He stopped taking them right before he was elected president.

A gunfight Tuesday afternoon in a residential neighborhood in Columbia Heights left a suspect and three police officers wounded. The shoot-out began after a 65-year-old man allegedly started shooting at an off-duty Columbia Heights officer walking home from work. One responding police woman from Minneapolis was shot in the shoulder and later released from the hospital. The other two wounded officers are from the Columbia Heights police force. They remain in stable condition at the Hennepin County Medical Center. The suspect is also at HCMC in satisfactory condition. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Minneapolis City Council Member Brian Herron resigned Tuesday evening and abandoned plans to seek a third term after pleading guilty to charges that he extorted money from a businessman in his ward. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

The hot weather and lack of rain have many farmers across the state worrying about their crops. Only 1 percent of the state's corn is tasseling right now, compared to a fourth of the crop at this time last year. Corn is also 15 inches shorter than the record crop last year. Tom Rothman is farm director for the Minnesota Farm Network.

Detroit Lakes residents are threatening to sue in the wake of a police drug sting. In June police arrested 18 people on drugs charges after a 10-month undercover operation. Officers confiscated $300,000 worth of drugs, and promise dozens more arrests. But residents are furious that police set up a drug house next to a school as part of the sting. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.

People who live in Duluth love this time of year. They think it's fun to get outside where they can look at the big lake and watch out-of-towners huddle on street corners, shivering in their shorts and sandals. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin reports.

There's a handy new tool available for people who research their family histories. The Minnesota Historical Society has developed a website where you can search for death certificates. The index includes the names of people who died in Minnesota between 1908 and 1946. Until now, genealogists had to know the date and place of death in order to find a death certificate. Duane Swanson is the government records program manager at the Minnesota Historical Society, and he's on the line now.

Dead fish are popping up in several southern Minnesota lakes. Department of Natural Resources officials have reported several "summerkills." Minnesota Public Radio's Laurel Druley has this report.

Critical shortages of engineering graduates are prompting those in the field to turn their efforts toward making the occupation more attractive to girls and women. To that end, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers is sponsoring free, week-long summer engineering camps for girls grades 6-12 in the Twin Cities and in Alexandria. One of the camps for sixth grade girls, started this week at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Wednesday, Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton appointed an internal work group to review the city's regulatory services department. The announcement came the day after City Council Member Brian Herron admitted to extorting money from a business owner having problems with the city's inspection department. The city review will proceed even as federal authorities investigate the matter. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.

A state law is supposed to curb college tuition. But the law seems to have fallen short of its goal. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

The storms across the state this week have been fueled by high dew points, indicating high levels of water vapor in the atmosphere. During each of the last three days, observers around the state have reported dew points in the low to mid 70s , creating conditions similar to those preceeding the infamous flash flood of 1987. Over a six-hour period, 10 inches of rain fell on the Twin Cities, turning highways and interstates into rivers, and flooding more basements than any storm before or since. Mark Seeley has more.

Friday is the deadline set by Minnesota's largest public employees' union for negotiators to reach agreement on a new, two-year contract. But union representatives say the two sides remain far apart on wage increases and health insurance benefits. Both sides say they hope to resolve the discussions quickly, but strike preparations are already underway. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Columbia Heights resident David Byrne has been charged with attempting to murder one police officer and assaulting six others with deadly force. Bryne is accused of starting a running gun battle with police earlier this week. In the wake of those shootings, many were surprised to learn that Byrne had served only six and a half years in prison after being convicted of murdering two people 35 years ago. Jan Smaby heads the Hennepin County Department of Corrections and was the first chair of Minnesota's Sentencing Guidelines Commission. She says that when Byrne was convicted in 1966, Minnesota had a different sentencing system.

About 100 people from across the country are traveling to North Dakota this week in search of prehistoric sea creatures. The tourists pay for the privilege of getting sweaty and dirty digging for fossils. State officials say the project benefits science and the local economy. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

Automobile enthusiasts from around the nation have brought their show cars to Red Wing this weekend for the Pontiac Owners' Club National Convention. This year is special because the brand is celebrating its 75th anniversary. As Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, to call these car owners enthusiasts is an understatement.

The number of Japanese beetles is on the rise in the metro area. The small bugs cause problems by eating over 300 different species of plants and trees. They were first found in the United States in 1916, and in Minnesota in 1991. Ann Selniss is with the Shade Tree and Invasive Species unit at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She's on the line now.

To get a copy of the Japanese beetle fact sheet, contact the Department of Agriculture or go to University of Minnesota Extension Service.