Monday, October 29

On Nov. 6, there's only one election for state office. Voters in Morrison and southern Crow Wing counties will replace veteran DFL legislator Steve Wenzel. Wenzel resigned this spring for a job with the U.S. Agriculture Department. Republican Greg Blaine and DFLer Helen McLennan, both of Little Falls, want to represent people in House District 12B. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports from a region rediscovering its political identity.

A legislative committee holds a hearing tomorrow on Attorney General Mike Hatch's audit of Allina Health System. Hatch's year long investigation found the health care company overspent millions on administrative costs and wasted millions more on executive perks. But as lawmakers begin their inquiry into Hatch's findings, employers and workers say they are more concerned with rising health insurance rates. The state health department says premiums increased for five consecutive years in 2000. Last year's increase was 16 percent. Some health care experts say if the upward trend continues employers may look for alternatives to managed care or stop offering health insurance altogether. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has the first installment in our series, Managing Managed Care.

One incumbent and five challengers are running for three open seats on the Minneapolis school board. The challengers are promising a new approach to running the state's largest school district. If elected however, they'll face the same frustrations as their predecessors: low student test scores and a tight budget. The lone incumbent says he'd bring needed stability at a time when the district is making some progress. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

This year, the University of Minnesota has offered its employees a variety of health insurance options in an effort to control costs while maintaining health care access. Health care analysts say the choices made by U of M employees next month could signal a new wave in health care coverage. The analysts are especially interested in the reaction to the plan known as "defined contribution" which places a greater responsibility for health care decisions with employees. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has the final installment in our series, Managing Managed Care.

Money and planning delays have put a massive north Minneapolis housing project behind schedule. The arrival of cold weather means the $200 million Near Northside Redevelopment project being built on the site of the former Sumner Field public housing at Lyndale and Highway 55 faces higher winter construction costs. However, officials say they are close to working out snags that will allow them to avoid additional expenses. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

Halloween isn't just kids stuff anymore. It's grown into a commercial event producing nearly $7 billion a year in sales. And despite the attacks of Sept. 11, the National Retail Federation is predicting modest growth in sales this year. Halloween is not normally seen as a gauge of the all-important Christmas season. But this year, some retailers are looking for hopeful signs among the trick or treaters. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.

The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis is one step closer to becoming history. Tuesday, a City Council committee approved a demolition permit to allow the Walker Art Center to expand on the Guthrie site. The issue attracted a standing-room-only audience at the public hearing. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

Minnesota lawmakers hold a hearing Thursday on the state's ability to prevent and respond to health and safety threats. Officials with the Ventura administration will talk about gaps in the state's terrorism preparedness. Key lawmakers say the state will probably have to spend more money on equipment and training. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.

The case of alleged ex-Symbionese Liberation Army member Sara Jane Olson came to an abrupt end yesterday in Los Angeles. Olson, saying she couldn't get a fair trial in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, agreed to plead guilty to charges she possessed bombs with the intent to murder LAPD officers in 1975. The 54-year-old Olson changed her name from Kathleen Soliah and was a fugitive for more than two decades before being arrested in St. Paul, where she was living the life of a soccer mom with three kids and a physician husband. From sister station KPCC in Los Angeles, Frank Stoltze reports.

Even with growing talk of Major League Baseball folding the Twins, residents in Minneapolis and St. Paul remain strongly opposed to spending tax dollars on a new ballpark. Baseball's commissioner and the team owners are scheduled to meet Nov. 6 to discuss reorganization of the league. A poll conducted by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows people are concerned about losing the team. But that concern hasn't made them more receptive to investing in stadiums. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

Political newcomer R.T. Rybak leads Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton in a poll conducted by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Rybak has a 12 point lead among likely voters in the city. But fourteen percent of those polled say they haven't made up their minds. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.

For more on the poll check our Web site at www.mpr.org.

Sara Jane Olson pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing bombs with intent to murder Los Angeles police officers. The St. Paul resident said despite her guilty plea, she is innocent of the charges. Olson says she wasn't able to get a fair trial in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Local supporters say they're surprised, but supportive of Olson's decision. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

The eight-day, five block relocation of the Armstong-Quinlan House in St. Paul is scheduled to begin Thursday. The 115-year-old Victorian-era building is being moved to its new location across from the Science Museum of Minnesota, where it will be renovated and turned into condiominiums. Amy Spong of the St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission joins us with more about the historic building.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler yesterday Thursday ordered Sara Jane Olson back to court in Los Angeles, to explain why she pleaded guilty to trying to blow up two police cars in the 1970's, then told reporters she was innocent of the charges. Olson is an alleged member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, or SLA. She was a fugitive for more than two decades before being arrested in 1999 in St.Paul, where she lived with her physician husband and three daughters. From our sister station KPCC in Los Angeles, Frank Stoltze reports.

The Mail Recovery Center in St. Paul was tested for anthrax late Thursday night. The facility is one of three in the country that handles what's called dead mail - letters and parcels with no return address. Much of the mail processed in the St. Paul facility is from the East Coast, including New Jersey where postal workers have contracted anthrax. U. S. Postal Service officials say the testing in St. Paul is strictly precautionary. There have been no indications of anthrax at the facility. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

A new poll by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows Randy Kelly with a narrow lead over Jay Benanav in the St. Paul mayor's race. But while Kelly enjoyed a six-point advantage with people polled earlier this week, 16 percent remained undecided. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.

American car manufacturers are reporting impressive sales for October. The two biggest automakers, General Motors and Ford each sold about a third more vehicles than a year ago. Industry analysts say the zero interest financing program first unveiled by GM after the September terrorist attacks fueled the increase in sales. The offer means great deals for consumers, and some car dealers in Minnesota are having a difficult time keeping up with demand. The big three U.S. car makers are finding the financing deals are a costly way to boost sales. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

When Rochester voters hit the next Tuesday they'll be voting on one item -- money for schools. Last year people in Rochester refused, and the school board cut the district's budget by $9 million. This year district officials are asking for less and getting the word out. Even so, educators worry that predictions of an economic recession, world events and property tax reform will distract voters. Mainstreet Radio's Laurel Druley reports.

People in Albert Lea are anxiously awaiting an announcement from Farmland Foods. After a fire destroyed the Farmland pork processing plant there in July, company officials have been analyzing where to build a new facility. The fire put more than 500 people out of work. Several people have found new jobs, many have moved away, but others continue to wait on a decision from Farmland, hoping the company will choose Albert Lea. Mainstreet Radio's Laurel Druley reports.

Ten years ago, the Minnesota Twins won their second World Series in four years. They're still the only championship teams in Minnesota in the four major professional sports since the Minneapolis Lakers won in the 1950s. But the cheering crowds and ticker-tape parades for future Twins teams may soon be a thing of the past for good. Baseball owners are talking behind the scenes about contracting the Twins and the Montreal Expos from major league baseball. The owners will meet next week, and possibly vote on eliminating the two teams. Joining us on the line is Andrew Zimbalist is an economics professor at Smith College and author of several books including Baseball and Billions. He says baseball was on the right track.

Mark Seeley tells us to expect warmer and drier weather than normal for several days - very un-November-like. However, things could be back to normal by next Wednesday.

The anthrax scare has confounded public health authorities in the last few weeks. At first, it seemed to be isolated to media companies in Florida, Washington D.C., and New York. Then, then it spread to Capitol Hill, and now has been found in postal facilities as far away as Kansas City. Joining us on the line is Dr. Gregory Poland, chief of the Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. He says the public health system is dealing with a difficult problem.