Monday, July 30

The Minnesota Department of Human Services will send out letters this week to families who could have some of their welfare benefits cut next summer. The letters will explain possible extensions. The cutoff is part of the federal welfare reform act passed in 1996 which aims to encourage self-sufficiency, and places a five-year limit on cash assistance. This past session the Minnesota Legislature passed some extensions, but not everyone will qualify. Last week, we heard from a woman who is working 25 hours a week and following welfare rules, and will probably qualify for an extension of her benefits. Today, we talk with Dionne Smith. Dionne needs to find a job before next July or she will lose some of her benefits. She is 33-years old and she says things got tough for her early on.

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernard Brommer is retiring this week after 25 years in labor leadership. During Brommer's years of labor activism, union membership has fallen dramatically in Minnesota and throughout the country. But Brommer says he sees a resurgence of interest in unionism, driven largely by economic globalization which he says is enriching corporate executives at the expense of working people. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

While most Minnesota summer school classes focus on correcting educational shortcomings, some programs are designed specifically to keep high achieving students from getting bored during their vacation. For two years, the Blake School has offered economically disadvantaged students from Minneapolis public schools a glimpse of life in an elite private school and a chance to reach their full academic potential. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Lance Armstrong has become the first American to win the Tour de France three straight years. But his ride could have been much more comfortable. That's according to customers of a unique bike shop in Minneapolis that sells only recumbent bicycles. It's the only store of its kind in the state, and the biggest recumbent bike retailer in the country. Minnesota Public Radio's Eugene Cha went to see what the store, and the bikes are all about.

Last evening the Rochester City Council opted to table a proposal to ban smoking in the city's restaurants and bars. The decision, which followed close to two hours of testimony from those opposed to the ban, promises at least at temporary end to a much publicized effort to make Rochester the latest Minnesota city to go smoke free. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this report.

Minneapolis officials are downplaying the decision by the investment firm Moody's to downgrade the city's bond rating. Moody's shaved the Minneapolis rating one notch from Aaa, the best rating possible, to Aa1. Political challengers, however, regard the news as further reason voters should oust incumbent office holders. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

The DFL Minneapolis Central Committee has decided to delay the decision of whether to endorse a new Eighth Ward City Council candidate until after the primary. Former City Council Member Brian Herron held the endorsement until he pleaded guilty to extortion and resigned his seat two weeks ago. At the committee's meeting Monday night, some DFLers pushed for an endorsement convention to be held after the primary. Others say its too late for a convention and want to give the candidates as much time as possible to get their message out to voters. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.

Is the Minneapolis inspections system clean or corrupt? An answer is likely to emerge from separate federal and city investigations. The question arises because of former City Council Member Brian Herron's admission he extorted money from a Minneapolis businessman in exchange for a break on inspections. Herron says he took the money, but the business owner didn't get preferential inspections treatment. That fact and other examples, some say, shows Minneapolis' inspection system is clean. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Two landowners in eastern North Dakota are suing the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad for illegally allowing Sprint and AT&T to bury cable on the landowners property. They claim the railroad does not have the right to sell the rights to lay fiber -optic cables along the tracks crossing their land. Their lawyer says the lawsuit could result in millions of dollars of damages, and affect land owners across the western United States. Mainstreet Radios Bob Reha reports.

Two women in Virginia, Minn. have been charged with misdemeanors two weeks after almost 200 cats were found in their home. This week, St. Paul officials condemned a house on Summit Avenue after finding 76 animals inside. Both incidents are the latest in a series of recent cases of animal hoarding. In both cases, the houses were filthy and many of the animals were sick or dying. Although these kind of cases come up on a fairly regular basis, little is known about this phenomenon. Dr. Gary Patronek of Tufts University is trying to change that. He's part of the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium and he joins us now.

A Minnesota law, which goes into effect today, prohibits an employer from administering genetic tests on its workers. The law was passed in response to news that the Burlington Northern Railroad had tested employees to see if they were genetically predisposed to carpal tunnel syndrome. This new law prohibits any genetic testing; Minnesota has had a law on the books since 1983 which prohibited any non-job-related genetic testing. Mark Rothstein, a professor of bioethics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, has done research on the impact of the 1983 genetic testing law and he joins us now.

The Minnesota Vikings say offensive tackle, Kory Stringer died at training camp after suffering complications from heat stroke. Stringer was taken to a Mankato hospital after practice yesterday. The team says when he arrived, he wasn't responsive and had a temperature of 108 degrees, after practicing in the oppresive heat and humidity. His condition deteroirated throughout the day yesterday. Stringer developed multiple organ failure, and just before 2 a.m. his heart stopped. Our Vikings analyst, Sean Jensen is in Mankato. Sean covers the Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. We just got off the phone with Sean, who was at the hospital until the wee hours of this morning.

Last month, former Minneapolis council member Brian Herron admitted to extorting $10,000 from a local merchant whose business was violating city health codes. Federal prosecutors said the payoff by a prominent Hispanic businessman was aimed at solving problems he was having with city inspectors. The case has some members of Minneapolis immigrant communities asking whether they're getting undue scrutiny from city inspectors. Minnesota Public Radio's Kaomi Goetz has this report.

New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show same-sex households account for nearly one percent of all Minnesota couples. The 2000 census figures provide the agency's most accurate count yet of same-sex couples. Advocates and officials alike say the numbers still don't accurately track the true number of gays and lesbians, but are an important marker nonetheless. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

A Twin Cities technology company is close to pulling off what's become a difficult feat since the bursting of the dot-com bubble: it has lined up a significant chunk of new financing. As Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon reports, the deal could save Eagan-based Wam!Net from the same disaster that has befallen many other Internet-related firms.

The public got a chance Wednesday to hear from and ask questions of the six architectural firms seeking to design a new Central Library in downtown Minneapolis. Last November, Minneapolis residents approved a $140 million public library referendum to pay for a new central library and improvements to neighborhood branches. A planning committee expects to pick one of the six finalists later this month. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Minnesota Vikings officials may have information today on funeral services for Korey Stringer. The 27-year-old Stringer died yesterday after collapsing from heat stroke following a practice at the football team's training camp in Mankato. The Vikings have suspended their practices, while the team digests the loss of the blocker known to his peers as "Big K." Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

Stringer did charitable work with the St. Paul Public Library. For the last two years he participated in the library's Youth Service Awards Recognition Event. Wendy Neurer coordinates that event for the library and she joins us now.

Ground is broken Thursday at 38th Street and Hiawatha Avenue in south Minneapolis for construction of the first of 16 light rail stations. Activity on the 11.5 line from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America is picking up speed as planners aim toward a 2004 completion date. People who live near the 38th Street station, and experts who study how transit affects development are watching with anticipation how the project will change the neighborhoods. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Later this month, thousands of bear hunters will take to the woods of northern Minnesota. This is the second year in a row that bear season is opening a week early. Wildlife managers say the longer season is needed to reduce the bear population, but some critics say the extended bear season endangers summer tourists. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin has more.

The heat stroke death of Minnesota Vikings player Korey Stringer has had a sobering effect on several football fields and training rooms around the Twin Cities. Coaches and players from area colleges and high school teams say the tragedy will lead to a more cautious approach to their own practice plans. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

People in the Twin Cities will have a chance to pay their respects to Korey Stringer at a memorial service tomorrow afternoon. MPR Sports Commentator Jay Weiner has been thinking about Stringer's death. It reminded him of a 100-year-old poem.