Monday, October 15

Patriotism is running high in the United States. Frank Valentini says that's good. He hasn't seen such national spirit since the 1940's, in the days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Valentini is from the Iron Range town of Chisholm, and he's one of eight Valentini brothers who served in the military during World War II. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin paid a visit to Frank Valentini in Chisholm, and he has this report.

Nearly 23,000 state employees return to work Monday, ending the largest state workers strike in Minnesota history. Union leaders from the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 6, advised their rank and file to close down the picket lines and prepare to vote on a new two-year contract. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell.

Rep. Rich Stanek, R-Maple Grove, chairman of the Minnesota House Judiciary Finance committee joins us to discuss the security issues facing Minnesota in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Fran Dolesji, lab director for the Minnesota Bureau of criminal Apprehension has an update on moving that agency forward after the biggest state worker strike in Minnesota history.

MPR Sports analyst Sean Jensen on the Vikings win over Detroit.

New faces on the St. Paul school board could bring new challenges to Superintendent Pat Harvey and her wide-ranging school reform efforts. Six candidates are running for the three school board seats on the Nov. 6 ballot, and only one incumbent is seeking reelection. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

A long-delayed rental housing development which includes so-called "affordable" or "work force" units may be approved Tuesday night by Eagan city officials. Developers say there's a market for the entry-level priced housing and for the adjacent subsidized units being built in partnership with Dakota County. The Metropolitan Council encourages cities to build such housing by linking it to the Council's support of local transportation projects. Eagan officials resent the strategy. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

A new poll shows most Minnesotans have doubts or are unsure about the state's ability to respond to a potential terrorist attack. The survey, conducted for Minnesota Public Radio, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and KARE-11 TV, shows just over a third are confident the state is well-prepared to deal with an attack in Minnesota. The poll results come just as federal, state, and local law enforcement officials are seeking to reassure lawmakers -- and the public -- that the state is primed for action if necessary. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Leaders in the Minnesota Muslim and Somali community are denouncing a recent Minneapolis Star Tribune article that says local Somalis contributed money to an organization that allegedly has links to terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Representatives from the Muslim Council of Minnesota call the article "reckless" and "irresponsible." They say it has led to violent attacks against several Twin Cities Somalis. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

It looks like Sara Jane Olson may finally be put on trial. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler Monday rejected Olson's latest request for a delay and ordered preliminary jury selection to begin. The alleged former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, who is accused of conspiring to blow up two police cars in 1975, argued she could not get a fair trial in the wake of Sept. 11. From Los Angeles, Frank Stoltze of KPCC reports.

State offices are getting back to normal today, the second day of full staffing after the end of the strike by AFSCME and MAPE. There is tension in many workplaces as strikers return to their jobs alongside people who crossed the picket line. Debbie Starr writes special permits for the Department of Transportation. She was one of three union employees in her office who crossed the picket line. Starr says as a single mom she couldn't afford to go on strike.

Kevin Kampa works in the same office as Debbie Starr. He and and his wife both work for the state and they both chose not to cross the picket line during the strike. Kampa says he is very disappointed in the people who did cross.

As the investigation into the use of anthrax as a weapon of bioterrorism continues, the FBI may look to Russia for help. Russia is one of few countries to do advanced research on anthrax and other bioterrorism agents. Dr. Charlie Stoltenow is a North Dakota State University veterinarian and he recently visited labs in Obolensk, Russia, where the former Soviet Union developed anthrax as a biological weapon. Dr. Stoltenow says he learned quite a bit during his trip.

A new poll shows President Bush's approval ratings have soared since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. The survey -- conducted for Minnesota Public Radio, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and KARE-11 TV -- shows 84 percent of Minnesota voters give Bush favorable marks. But while the public is united in its support of the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan, divisions emerge over how to combat terrorism on the home front. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.

Tonight, members of a small township board near Rochester will consider plans to build a mosque in their neighborhood. Rochester's Islamic Center was granted a permit to build on Haverhill township property more than a month ago. But some people who live in the township are delaying the project demanding information on the potential for environmental damage.The proposal to build a mosque in this township is at the center of a small-town debate on its future development, environment, and identity. Rob Schmitz has this Mainstreet Radio report.

This morning, three professors and a student will file a lawsuit in federal court against St. Cloud State University and the entire MnSCU system, alleging that the school has done too little to deal with anti-Semitism on campus. St. Cloud State has been studying the problem for more than a year, but those suing the school say the time for studying is over. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.

A new poll shows Minnesotans remain generally upbeat about economic prospects, despite signs of a downturn and the uncertainties following last month's terrorist attacks. The survey was conducted for Minnesota Public Radio, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and KARE-11 TV. It indicates 80 percent of Minnesotans expect to be at least as well off a year from now as they are today. That's nearly identical to poll results from midsummer. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

Officials planned to spend last night testing several areas of the State Capitol, the governor's residence on Summit Avenue and Ventura's Maple Grove ranch for anthrax. The tests follow news that anthrax spores were discovered in New York Governor George Pataki's office. Ventura, members of his staff and several Minnesota reporters visited the office two weeks ago. Meanwhile, some Minnesota lawmakers and staffers in the nation's Capitol say they're undergoing tests for exposure to the bacteria. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

As the nation continues to try making sense of the Sept. 11 attacks and of new biological warfare threats, many are turning to religion for guidance and support. Pastor Steve Cornils of Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis joins us on the line.

Testing substances for anthrax and other biological material is a delicate process. The tests are done in what's called a level-3 lab in St. Paul. Joining us on the line is Dr. Norman Crouch, director of the state public health laboratory.

The anthrax scare in the nation's capitol has hit Senator Paul Wellstone's Washington staff directly. Wellstone's office is in the Hart Senate Office building, the same building as Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's office. On Monday, it was discovered that a letter there was opened and had anthrax spores in it. More than 30 workers in the building, some of them outside Daschle's office have been exposed. Exposure doesn't mean they have the bacteria yet, and they are being treated with antibiotics. Joining us on the line is Allison Dobson, Senator Paul Wellstone's press secretary.

On Wednesday of this week, Embarrass, Minn. reported a morning low of just 12 degrees, the coldest temperature reported from the contiguous 48 states that day. A harbinger of things to come? Yes, according to the new climate outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center which reinforce the prediction that the early portion of winter is favored to be colder than normal across the upper midwest including Minnesota. Climatologist Mark Seeley joins us with more.

Governor Jesse Ventura's approval rating remains stable at just over 50 percent, despite a two-week state workers strike and signs of a slowing economy. A poll conducted for Minnesota Public Radio, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and KARE-11 TV shows a slight majority of respondents rate Ventura's performance as "good" or "excellent." And more than a third say they're inclined to vote for him if he seeks reelection next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

University of Minnesota President Mark Yudof says the school is doing "better than ever." In his annual State of the University address Thursday, Yudof told a group of about 100 people, including students, staff, faculty, and regents, about the school's successes and future challenges.

South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow takes to the airwaves tonight Friday to educate viewers about the Muslim faith. Five commercial stations and the South Dakota public television network will air the program, Faces of Islam. Janklow says the program is intended to increase the public's understanding of Islam and get out the word that religion doesn't drive terrorism. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.

As authorities work to shore up security at airports and other perceived targets, like nuclear power plants and locks and dams, some experts are now worried about terrorists potentially disrupting U.S. agriculture. A group of experts met yesterday in Des Moines, Iowa to discuss terrorism and agriculture. Dr. Will Houston is the director of the center of animal health and food safety at the University of Minnesota; he agrees agriculture is vulnerable.

Peregrine Falcons are back in Minnesota, and a teacher in Stillwater is taking advantage of their presence to teach students about the environment. Andy Weaver is a science teacher at Stillwater high school, and he's started a unique program where students get to help raise Falcons at the school. He's built a special facility for the birds on school grounds, and has two female falcons there already, with two males on the way. Weaver says there are many reasons why falcons represent a good way to teach kids about the environment.