Monday, July 23

Some Minnesota families could see their welfare benefits cut off next summer. The cutoff is part of a federal welfare reform act passed in 1996 that set a time limit for benefits. The clock will run out for the first Minnesotans next July. The State Legislature stepped in earlier this year, passing a bill that allows some recipients to get an extension. But not everyone will qualify. Over the next few weeks, we'll talk to some Minnesotans on welfare. Some of them will likely qualify for the extension; others won't. Today we'll hear from Shirley Hawkins.

As St. Paul School District officials struggle to close a widening achievement gap between black and white students, some parents say they've found help for their children in a free summer educational program. Freedom School offers reading and cultural enrichment to African American youth in St. Paul, Minneapolis and cities throughout the country. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

For families struggling to make ends meet, summertime can be a real strain on the food budget. Free lunches and breakfasts offered at many schools can provide more than half of the daily nutrition needs of children, and many children lose access to those meals during the summer. In Duluth's Central Hillside neighborhood, several social service agencies are teaming up to offer children not just meals, but activities and education about food. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.

Here's Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell with a market update.

DFLers in Minnesota's congressional delegation are criticizing President Bush's Social Security commission which they claim is pushing to privatize Social Security. The bipartisan commission is today expected to approve its own preliminary report recommending the creation of individual retirement accounts as a way to keep the Social Security system solvent. Minnesota Congressional Democrats agree Social Security is facing future problems, but say privatizing Social Security is too radical and too risky. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams, reports.

When Meteorologist Mark Seeley comes by our studio each Friday with details of just how comfortable or uncomfortable the weather has been that week, he brings the neutral perspective of a scientist. But this week Mark has a very personal stake in how nice the weather is. That's because he's spending the week on his bicycle as a participant in the Ride Across Minnesota, a fund raising event for the Minnesota chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Mark joins us now by phone.

If you live in a city and think you're hearing more cawing outside your window, you're probably right. Minnesota naturalists say there's an increasing number of crows in urban areas of the state. Crows seem to be moving to the city in other areas of the country as well. Dr. Kevin McGowan is a research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in New York, and he studies crows.

John Banvard was the most famous living painter in the world and the first millionaire artist. He was acclaimed by the likes of Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens. Today he is barely a footnote to history. You probably won't recognize any of the names in author Paul Collins's new book Banvard's Folly: Thirteen Tales of Renowned Obscurity, Famous Anonymity, and Rotten Luck. These are the stories of people who rose to great heights and quickly sank into obscurity. Collins told MPR's Stephanie Curtis that he considers some of his subjects unlucky geniuses and others inspired hucksters.

There is a little bit of ancient Chilean culture being preserved in the work of a Minneapolis painter, and a little of the contemporary Chilean society too. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports.

Last week's announcement that Allina Health System will split its health plan, Medica, from its hospitals and clinics has some state officials calling for a closer look at the state's health care system. In the early 90s, the government began encouraging consolidation of health care services. Some observers say it's time to revive that policy discussion. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

Governor Jesse Ventura will be among the speakers later today at a rural summit in Duluth. More than 1,000 delegates are at the summit to discuss ways to strengthen and build rural communities. For the past two days, they've been conferring on topics like diversity in rural Minnesota and rural poverty. This afternoon, the topic will be rural development policy. Colleen Landkamer will speak at that session. Landkamer is a Blue Earth County Commissioner, and a representative to the National Association of Counties.

The decision by the Legislature to have the state take over school funding seems like good news for anyone who's ever grumbled over their property tax form. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports that Minnesota farmers may be the most pleased of all, even if it's not clear yet just how pleased they should be.

One year ago today, a powerful tornado swept through Granite Falls, killing one person and destroying homes and businesses in that western Minnesota town. The tornado, classified as an F4 because of it's fierce winds, caused more than $20 million. Since then, residents have been working to rebuild their community. Dave Smiglewski is the mayor of Granite Falls. He's on the line now.

A new government report says personal incomes in Minnesota have grown faster than those of residents of any other state except Colorado. The report says incomes rose an average of more than 8 percent from the first quarter of 2000 to this year's first quarter. Jay Mousa is the director of research at the Minnesota Department of Economic Security. He's on the line now.

There are lots of bears in Minnesota. The Department of Natural Resources says the number of black bears in the state has quadrupled during the past two decades, and they say that might be too many bears. So beginning with next month's hunting season, the DNR is allowing hunters to take two bears with each license for the first time ever. Some animals rights groups, and some hunters say the state's estimate of the bear population is inflated. They disagree with the two-bear limit. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin reports from Duluth.

With the end of the state budget battle last month, the front line of fiscal policy has shifted to local units of government. This week, Ramsey County officials proposed an 8.2 percent increase in the county's share of local property taxes. Some critics say such an increase could erode the double-digit property tax relief promised by lawmakers. But city and county representatives say higher levies will be necessary to make up for the lack of new spending in the state budget. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Minnesota Viking wide receiver Randy Moss signed a contract extension making him one of the highest-paid players in football. The deal comes just days before training camp begins in Mankato. Joining us on the line is Sean Jensen, who covers the Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Vikings owner Red McCombs signed Moss to an eight-year, $75 million deal that also includes an $18 million signing bonus. It's been three years since McCombs bought the Vikings, and, despite the Randy Moss signing, MPR sports commentator Jay Weiner says McCombs still hasn't taken the time to understand Minnesota sensibilities.

A Minnesota man will testify later today before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee about his experience with predatory lending. Paul Satriano says he refinanced his credit card debt with a company called Beneficial, but the company didn't do what it promised, and instead charged hidden fees and added unnecessary costs. Satriano is a member of ACORN, an advocacy group that targets predatory lending. He joins us now from Washington, D.C.

The people of White Earth in northwestern Minnesota are trying to bring back the lake sturgeon. The mammoth fish, a holdover from prehistoric times, was once plentiful in the lakes and tributaries of the Red River watershed. But unregulated commercial fishing in the late 1800s all but wiped out the population. Officials on the White Earth Indian Reservation say when the sturgeon disappeared, so did an important part of their culture. As Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports, the tribe is now working to restore the fish and reclaim its heritage.

A new study from the U.S. Census Bureau ranks Minnesota fourth in the nation in per capita state tax burdens. The report is based on figures from fiscal year 2000 and doesn't include the most recent rounds of tax cuts. Republican lawmakers say the findings justify previous cuts and could pave the way for further reductions next year. But Senate DFLers says Minnesota's schools and social services shouldn't be sacrificed for more tax relief. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

A year ago, state education officials announced that a private company's mistakes resulted in 47,000 inaccurate scores on one of the required Basic Standards Tests. Thousands of Minnesota students were told they failed, when they actually passed, and some seniors were wrongly denied diplomas. The state education commissioner says steps have been taken this year to prevent another test snafu, but warns it could happen again. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.