Monday, September 24

Thousands of people are being laid off, the stock market is in a spin and many Americans are questioning what's most important to them. A symposium this week at Concordia College in Moorhead will use some of those issues to examine the question of morality and commerce. The event was planned months ago, but organizers say the recent terrorist attacks add relevance to discussions about our country's character and values. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.

It might become more difficult for international students to attend college in Minnesota. The FBI says some suspects and material witnesses in the September 11 terrorist attacks appeared to have entered the country on student visas. Some Minnesota schools say that could prompt changes in how the government issues those visas. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano has more.

Throughout American history, when the nation has come under attack the government has tried to limit individual liberties in the name of security. Last week, the U.S. attorney general called for easing government restrictions on wiretapping and increasing government surveillance on Internet use. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, some legal scholars worry that Americans will rush to relinquish their privacy rights too hastily.

The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Bears 17-10 yesterday at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Vikings are now off to an 0-2 start for the first time since 1984. Minnesota's highly regarded offense struggled once again and the defense suffered a big blow when strong safety Robert Griffith broke his leg on the first play of the game. Joining us now is Sean Jensen who covers the Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

A controversial management plan for Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota is expected to be released this week, despite efforts by some county and state officials to put the plan on hold. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports that supporters hope the plan will lead to less controversy about the only National Park in the state.

Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell.

Northwest Airlines' union leaders are pushing for tighter airline security and for some help from the federal government for laid-off employees. The unions have told Minnesota's two U.S. senators that federal assistance for the airlines alone is not enough. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano has more.

In the last ten years, many airports have become full-fledged shopping malls. Businesses have flocked to airports, as airport retailing has proved a prosperous business. But after the terror attacks on the east coast, retail sales at airports have plunged and airport retailing has become a somewhat less attractive business proposition. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Over 80 senior citizens from Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin are returning home Wednesday after an eight-day tour to New York City. After the recent terror attacks, Rochester-based Glenn's Motorcoach Tours was unable to immediately refund the $1200 cost of the all-inclusive bus tour which was booked months in advance. So the majority of would-be travelers decided to brave the trip, some because of the investment, but others because of a kind of patriotism. Ronald Kruse is on his way home from New York, and joins us on the line.

A North Dakota State University veterinarian is going to Russia to learn about anthrax. Dr. Charlie Stoltenow leaves Fargo on Saturday as part of seven-member research team funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. The team will spend two weeks visiting Russian laboatories. Dr. Stoltenow says there are two main goals for the trip.

Last summer's special session of the Legislature changed the way Minnesotans pay for public schools. The state will now pay almost 80 percent of the basic public schools costs. The money will come from a new statewide property tax on businesses and cabins, as well as from income and sales taxes. The reform was designed to ease the local property tax burden. But many rural school officials say they still aren't getting enough money from the state, and they plan to ask voters to approve additional property taxes to bridge the gap. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.

Choral director Dale Warland is the newest recipient of the McKnight Distinguished Artist Award. The Minnesota-based conductor, arranger and composer is founder of the Dale Warland Singers. He traces his musical roots to his Iowa childhood and a charismatic church choir director. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Longtime journalist Bob White, who still writes occasional columns for the Star Tribune newspaper, is one of six Minnesotans who will receive the 2001 Twin Cities International Citizen Award tonight in Minneapolis. The awards honor people whose work has significantly contributed to international understanding. The 73-year-old White, who has specialized in foreign policy reporting, says he finds the work very rewarding.

Hour One: The newly created Office of Homeland Security. Guest: Randall Larsen, director of the ANSER Institute for Homeland Security, a non-profit research institute.

Hour Two: Coping with lingering fears and anxiety resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks. Guest: Dr. Robert Butterworth, trauma psychologist and director of International Trauma Associates, a research and consulting firm.

Since the terrorist attacks in New York, political campaigns for the top offices in the Twin Cities have taken on a more somber and less combative tone. Candidates have to walk a fine line to promote their political agendas while also appearing sensitive to the tragedies. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

Minneapolis school district officials have backed away from a plan to close six schools next year. School board members approved a watered down proposal Tuesday night that closes just three schools and saves the financially troubled district less money than expected. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

Every ten years, the Legislature has to redraw political districts based on population changes reported in the U.S. census. By next November, all the legislative, congressional and municipal districts will be different. Lawmakers are already working on plans they hope Governor Ventura will approve, but as DFL'ers, Republicans and, for the first time, an Independence Party governor argue over plans that will maximize their partisan political power, there's already talk a court will end up drawing the final districts. It's sometimes hard for the public to follow the complicated process of redistricting, but it poses important questions for communities around Minnesota. In few places are the issues as clear as they are in St. Cloud. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich has this Mainstreet report.

A group of cab drivers who carry passengers to and from the Twin Cities International Airport is asking the Metropolitan Airports Commission not to charge them a $2,400 airport-use fee. They say their business has dropped significantly since the terrorist attacks on September 11. Mahammed Ali says he now averages just $2 an hour, and works 18-20-hour days. Ali says the recent downturn in business is affecting a lot of people.

Talks resume Thursday to try to avert a state employee strike scheduled to begin Monday, Oct. 1. Nearly 30,000 workers are ready to walk off the job over wages and health insurance, unless their two unions and state negotiators can reach an agreement in the next four days. The fallout from the terrorist attacks this month may put extra pressure on both sides to reach a deal. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

Nearly 700 people became United States citizens Wednesday night. At a naturalization hearing held at Bethel College in Arden Hills, people from 76 countries were sworn in. The country with the most people represented was Laos with 278 people. About two dozen countries were represented by just one person each. Coming just two weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, the evening held an extra sense of importance for those conducting the ceremony as well as those sitting in the audience holding American flags and singing the National Anthem with their hands on their hearts. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms attended the ceremony and has this compilation of sounds and voices from the event.

Northwest Airlines said Wednesday it will give thousands of recently laid off workers a relief package that includes severance pay. The move came on a day when the state Legislature was considering aid for the state's embattled airline industry. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

A Minneapolis financial services provider's trading was shut down by the SEC this week because of minimum capital violations. Stockwalk Group, which owns online trading site stockwalk.com, and brokerage firm Miller Johnson Kinnard, says it is in negotiations with SEC regulators. Joining us on the line today is Carl Cambrone, a securities attorney at Chestnut and Cambrone.

At sundown last night, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, began. It continues until sundown tonight. Traditionally Jews fast, don't drive cars and refrain from using other modern conveniences for the day. Los Angeles Dodger baseball player Shawn Green followed in in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax by not playing last night, despite his team being in the National League West pennant race. Minnesota Public Radio sports commentator Jay Weiner has some thoughts.

The terrorists attacks have disrupted the congressional schedule, but at some point this fall the U.S. House plans to take up the question of farm subsidies as it debates a new farm bill. Minnesota farmers have collected about $4.5 billion in federal assistance over the last five years, something many credit with saving thousands of farms. But farmers and others complain the federal money too often goes to undeserving recipients, raising the question why farm payments aren't limited to those who really need it. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.

Climatologist Mark Seeley.

Visitors to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will soon see Minnesota National Guard troops helping with any number of security jobs. President Bush has called on the nation's governors to deploy national guard troops at airports throughout the country. Governor Jesse Ventura thinks it's a good idea that will improve security and help put nervous travelers at ease. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

It's looking like the Minnesota National Guard could be pretty busy for a while now. In addition to providing security at the Twin Cities International Airport, about 1,000 guard members could end up filling in for state workers if they go on strike next week. National guard spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Denny Shields joins us on the line.

A federal district court in Minneapolis has appointed a trustee to represent the clients of financially struggling Stockwalk Group. The action comes as the third largest twin cities brokerage has had to freeze 190,000 customer accounts and is looking for a partner or buyer. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

A national court research organization has found that opening child protection hearings and records to the public has had virtually no major effects in Minnesota--negative or positive. Child protection hearings and records have traditionally been kept private in order to protect the confidentiality of parents and children. But in the past few years, 16 states including Minnesota, have lifted that cloak in hopes that the public would better understand the often heart-wrenching decisions faced in juvenile court and lead to greater accountability of child protection workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.