Monday, October 8

As the state workers strike enters its second week, developmentally disabled patients in state-run treatment homes have national guard troops as replacements for their normal care providers. As Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz reports, many striking employees of these homes feel they've been placed in a difficult position.

While much of the Minnesota Congressional delegation is supportive of the military strike against Afghanistan, there are those in the state who oppose military retaliation. At the forefront of many politicians' minds is the safety of Americans during what is likely to be a protracted military campaign against terrorism. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell joins us with an update on the markets.

The downtown Minneapolis Target store opens to the public this week after years of legal and political conflict over the cost and appropriateness of the project. For some, the store is a long-sought-after discount retailer for people living and working downtown. For others it's a $60 million boondoggle and ammunition to oust public officials who support it. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

Those who grew up in Afghanistan and now live in Minnesota have a unique perspective given the current state of affairs. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki recently talked with some Afghanis living in the Twin Cities about the military conflict and how the United States can fight terrorism.

The state and two of its unions will return to the bargaining table on Thursday. A mediator scheduled new talks yesterday in an effort to break the deadlock in the week-long walkout that is the largest state workers' strike in Minnesota history. While neither side has offered any new proposals publicly, negotiators say they're hopeful of a breakthrough. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.

Nearly 3.5 million refugees have left Afghanistan for neighboing countries in the last few weeks. Most have fled to Pakistan to the East, and Iran to the West. Another half a million refugees are expected to move into Iran because of the latest U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan. A Twin Cities-based aid group called The American Refugee Committee is currently waiting for visas from the Iranian government to go in and assist the new Afghan refugees. Joining us on the line is the outgoing president of the American Refugee Committee, Tony Kozlowski.

Last spring, the Winona Area Public School District threatened to shut down Ridgeway Elementary, the smallest and most remote school in the district, because of low enrollment. In response, the community of Ridgeway and local educators worked together to revive the school by applying for, and then receiving, charter status. Mainstreet Reporter Rob Schmitz reports on how making the transition to charter kept a small school alive.

People in Duluth have been talking for years about how to keep young people in town. Every year the city's high schools and colleges send thousands of graduates into the world - and for most of them, that means almost anywhere but Duluth. In years gone by, the lure of the big city explained part of the exodus. But these days, many young people say they'd like to live in Duluth, but they can't find good jobs. Now, a group of young Duluthians is working to make the city more attractive to young people. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.

A new survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis runs counter to the economic pain many analysts are predicting from the terror attacks last month. A majority of the survey respondents indicate the attacks will have little or no effect on their firms' prospects, which were already eroding in a slowing economy. But other economic experts say the results indicate people are still assessing the effect of the attacks. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

The U.S. Congress is working on a number of pieces of legislation designed to help prevent further terrorism in this country. Minnesota Second District Republican Mark Kennedy says the so-called Patriot bill that Congress will debate this week would expand the authority of law enforcement officers.

As far as bioterrorism is concerned, Kennedy says the most progress is being made at the federal level.

Minnesota Sixth District Democrat Bill Luther says a top priority for him is improving airport security.

FBI agents wearing white moon suits and gas masks scoured the newspaper offices of two men whose exposure to anthrax has prompted heightened fear of bioterrorism across the country. The search turned up no further sign of anthrax in Robert Stevens' Florida office since traces were discovered on his computer keyboard. Stevens, a photo editor with the Sun tabloid newspaper, died last week of inhaled anthrax, a rare, particularly lethal form of the disease. Anthrax cases are rare in humans. The disease is much more commonly found in animals. Today, the University of Minnesota's Center for Animal Health and Food Safety is sponsoring a teach-in on bio and agro-terrorism. Dr. Will Hueston is the director of the Center. He says his veterinary students could play a key role in the fight against terrorism.

State officials and leaders of the two largest public employees' unions return to the bargaining table Thursday to resume contract negotiations. More than 20,000 state workers have been on strike since the first of the month, seeking larger pay and benefits hikes than the state has so far offered. Today's negotiations are the first since talks broke down last month -- but the two sides' public statements show little willingness to compromise. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

As talks resume today to try to end the state workers' strike, the impact of the walkout is evident. For instance, crime evidence doesn't get analyzed, and health officials can't fully investigate an e-coli outbreak. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing a big increase in the number of permits issued to motor boat users on some lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Officials say the increase will give resorts and property owners a chance to use the lakes, much as they could before a recent court ruling. Environmental groups are filing the expected protests, but aren't planning an all-out effort to block the increase. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.

The fate of the current home of the Guthrie Theater will be determined next month when the Minneapolis City Council votes whether to approve plans by the Walker Art Center to destroy the building to make way for parking space. The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission voted this week to recommend against the proposed demolition, and the issue now goes before the city's Zoning and Planning Committee. City Council member Lisa McDonald chairs this committee and joins us on the line.

Sponsors of a new reward fund hope to reenergize investigations of some of Minnesota's unsolved murders. Spotlight on crime is a $1.5 million fund established by Minnesota businesses and individual contributors. The first three rewards were announced around the region Thursday. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports.

The Science Museum of Minnesota will be closed again Friday while St. Paul authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding a briefcase left in one of the museum galleries. Police found no explosives in the case, but are investigating a possible connection between the man who left the briefcase and an unidentified substance found in the museum's kitchen. Health Department officials are analyzing the material to determine if it is toxic. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.

State negotiators and representatives from Minnesota's two largest public employees unions will return to the bargaining table Friday. Talks officially resumed yesterday, but so far there's been no immediate sign of progress. Union leaders say any real breakthrough will require several days of intense negotiations. In public, however, Governor Jesse Ventura and the unions are standing firm. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

The University of Minnesota is stepping up its security precautions to deal with the threat of terrorist attacks. The increased concern has touched animal research, sporting events, and energy facilities on university campuses. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

Mark Seeley joins us with a fall weather update.