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April 1 - 5, 2002
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Monday, April 1, 2002 |
Former judge Amundson due to appear in court
Former Court of Appeals Judge Roland Amundson is scheduled to make his first appearance in Hennepin County court this Monday. The county attorney's office filed charges against Amundson a month ago for stealing more than $300,000 dollars from a vulnerable adult's trust fund. He was supposed to appear in court two weeks ago, but was hospitalized for depression at a Kansas clinic. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Best Buy to announce record-breaking profit
This week Minnesota-based Best Buy Company, the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer, is expected to report record breaking profit for its past fiscal year which ended last month. Despite the difficult economic conditions, Best Buy's stock has surged over the past year. Wall Street analysts are predicting even better times ahead for the Minnesota company, thanks in no small part to recent acquisitions that are opening new markets. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Commemorating the floods of 1997
It doesn't seem possible, but five years ago this month nearly 50,000 people had to flee their homes as the red river overflowed it's banks, burst through dikes and did billions of dollars in damage. Residents have worked hard to rebuild their communities. Mike Jacobs, editor of the Grand Forks Herald, says there are still questions as to how to commemorate such an event as the floods of 1997.
Coach Brenda Oldfield could be leaving
There is media reports this morning that University of Minnesota women's basketball coach Brenda Oldfield could be on her way out. The Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press say she's probably going to take the head coaching job at Maryland. The newspapers base their statements on comments by a girls' basketball program director who knows Oldfield. Chris Voeltz is the women's athletic director at the University of Minnesota. She says as far as she knows, Oldfield is staying.
Twins season opens today
The Minnesota Twins take on the Kansas City Royals before a sold-out crowd later today in their season opener. The Twins have so far survived major league baseball's plans for contraction, but last week Commissioner Bud Selig said those plans are "still on the table." Last year, the team surprised fans with a second place finish in the American League Central Division. Joining us on the line is LaVelle Neal, who's in Kansas City.
Audience to statium bills
The state Legislature is expected to pick conferees this week to work out differences between the House and Senate stadium bills. Both bodies passed stadium financing plans last week. We asked you to tell us what you think about the new stadium proposals. We received many calls, and although we did hear from a few stadium supporters, the great majority of callers felt otherwise.
Chris Farrell: Where is the economy headed?
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correpondent Chris Farrell talks with Cathy Wurzer about several economic indicators, and what they say about where our economy is going.
MPR to create third network
This is Morning Edition for Monday, April 1. I'm Cathy Wurzer. Minnesota Public Radio has announced plans to expand its programming by creating a third statewide network to compliment its existing news and music channels. Art Hughes reports.
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Tuesday, April 2, 2002 |
Wisconsin may impose mercury limits
Wisconsin could become the first state in the country to force electric utilities to reduce the amount of mercury they put into the air. Coal-burning power plants are the largest single source of airborne mercury pollution. Mercury can cause brain damage and reproductive problems in fish, animals, and people. Mercury that lands in the water can build up in the food chain. People take in mercury when they eat fish. Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other Great Lakes states have fish advisories. They warn people not to eat too much fish caught in the region's lakes and rivers. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
Minnesota manufacturing economy stabilizing
A newly released state survey suggests Minnesota manufacturing is stabilizing, and may even be slowly experiencing an economic rebound. Minnesota has lagged the rest of the country in climbing out of the recession. One major reason was the predominance of manufacturing in the state's economy. Manufacturers took the brunt of the economic downturn. But now there are signs of improvement. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
Rybak to deliver first state of the city address
Later this morning, Minneapolis Mayor, R.T. Rybak delivers his first state of the city address. It's been three months since Rybak took office, after campaigning on issues like affordable housing, and restoring trust in City Hall. But, Rybak has had to handle a series of high profile events, in addition to focusing on his stated agenda. Steve Minn is a former Minneapolis City Council member who says Rybak has done a good job in a tough situation.
Legislators return capitol, continue to to seek agreement
Minnesota lawmakers are back at the Capitol after the Easter-Passover break, trying to bridge big differences on several remaining issues. Legislators have yet to agree on a plan to balance the budget, a bonding bill, a transportation financing package, and a Twins stadium bill. Laura McCallum is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief.
Weather update
Joining us now is Tony Zaleski from the National Weather Service for an update on the weather.
Bad weather delays commuters
Minnesotans are digging out from an April snow storm that dumped 3 to 6 inches of snow across central Minnesota, and it's snowing again this morning. The storm has wreaked havoc on Minnesota's highways. Yesterday, in the Twin Cities alone, more than 45 people were injured and there were more than 200 reported accidents. Mike Mauren from the Traffic Management Center says conditions are poor again this morning.
16 Minnesota companies on Fortune 500 list
Minnesota has 16 companies this year on Fortune 500 list of the nation's biggest businesses. For some well-known corporations like Target and 3M, making the list is a routine annual event. But for C.H. Robinson Worldwide, making the Fortune 500 for the first time is a milestone. The Eden Prairie based company had revenue of $3.1 billion last year, and made the list at number 495. John Wiehoff is the president of C.H. Robinson Worldwide - he says the company is pretty excited about the news.
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Wednesday, April 3, 2002 |
Players plan to continue without Oldfield
University of Minnesota Women's Athletics Director Chris Voelz says a head coaching change won't end the success the women's basketball team experienced this past season. Brenda Oldfield announced Tuesday she's leaving the team she helped turn around after one season to become the new coach at the University of Maryland. Voelz and several Gopher players say they're disappointed but will carry on without Oldfield. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Nellie Stone Johnson, civil rights and labor leader, dies
One of the state's most influential leaders in civil rights and labor movements has died. Nellie Stone Johnson was 96 years old. Johnson, who was born in Lakeville, was the first black person elected to citywide office in Minneapolis. She was also the first woman in the nation to negotiate labor union contracts for equal pay for women. Johnson worked on jobs and housing issues in Minneapolis in the 1930s and in 1944 she joined with Hubert H. Humphrey in forming the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Hy Berman is a history professor at the University of Minnesota, and he's on the line now.
Becker County tries to keep people out of jail through church "adoptions"
One Minnesota county is trying a new way of keeping people out of jail. Becker County officials hope having churches adopt jail inmates, will reduce recidivism. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
Group criticizes Star Tribune's choice of words in Israeli-Palestinian coverage
A group calling itself Minnesotans Against Terrorism is criticizing the Minneapolis Star Tribune's policy on using the word "terrorist" when reporting on the Isreali/Palestinian conflict in the Middle East. The group of business, political and religious leaders took out a full-page ad in the paper Tuesday, saying the Star Tribune should use the word "terrorist" when referring to Palestinian suicide bombers. Mark Rotenberg, general counsel for the University of Minnesota and organizer of Minnesotans Against Terrorism joins us now.
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Thursday, April 4, 2002 |
Kelly announces housing plan for St. Paul
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly has issued a road map for how to add 5,000 new homes to the city's housing stock over the next four years. City officials say the long-range plan, together with $20 million of additional city money, will encourage private investors and foundations to help fund the ambitious housing plan. Minnesota Pubilc Radio's William Wilcoxen reports that 20 percent will be priced for low-income residents.
New Twins' demands complicate stadium effort
Just as a joint House-Senate conference committee is opening hearings on Twins stadium bill, the team has issued a series of concerns it has with a financing proposal widely considered to be the most likely to win legislative support. Team officials are calling for more flexibility in how construction debt should be repaid -- and by whom. But some lawmakers, including those who support the stadium plan, say the Twins' request could stall a final deal. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Changes in Medicare benefit payments revitalize rural hospitals
One of the most surprising turnarounds in health care is the rebound of small-town hospitals. Hundreds closed across the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s. But five years ago the federal government changed how Medicare benefits are paid. The new system sends more dollars to rural health facilities. At Minnesota's smallest hospital, in the southwest part of the state, the change has been dramatic. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Frozen Four begins tonight
College Hockey's version to the NCAA basketball's Final Four will get underway today at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. What's known as the "Frozen Four" will begin this afternoon with a national semifinal game between the New Hampshire Wildcats and the Maine Blackbears. Tonight at 6:30, the Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the Michigan Wolverines in the other semi. Joining us on the line to talk about the Frozen Four is Doug Johnson, publisher of Let's Play Hockey.
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Friday, April 5, 2002 |
Albright discusses Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says the Bush administration has made a wise decision to shift its policy toward the Middle East and get involved in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Albright made her comments at a press conference in St. Paul last night before a speech at the College of St. Catherine. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
2,400 lose jobs at Fingerhut
Today, 2,400 Fingerhut workers in Minnesota are officially out of a job. Most of the lay-offs will occur in St. Cloud. Many workers are still holding on to the hope Fingerhut will be sold, and their jobs will be saved. Even so, there are preparations in St. Cloud for the city's biggest job loss ever. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
Gophers advance to NCAA hockey title game
The University of Minnesota men's hockey team hopes to capture its first national championship since 1979, when it meets the University of Maine in tomorrow night's Frozen Four title game. The Gophers earned a spot in the championship by beating Michigan 3-2 last night in front of a capacity crowd in St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
Toro automatic lawnmower's sales fall short
The weather forecast for the weekend has tempuratures warming up, which means lawns in many parts of the state will soon need mowing. About a year ago, Bloomington-based Toro company caused a stir with ads for a product called the I-Mow. It's a self-propelled, self-guided mower that automatically does the job. But sales of the product fell far short of projections, and a key supplier for Toro may go bankrupt. The story of the I-Mow is the topic of an article in today's issue of City Business. Sam Black wrote the story and he describes how the I-Mow works.
University announces external review of press
The University of Minnesota has announced that the U of M Press will be the subject of an external review to make sure that its publishing criteria and processes meet industry standards. The announcement comes in the wake of controversy over a book that the press intends to publish next month called Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex. The book, which was written by New York journalist Judith Levine, concludes not all sexual interaction between adults and minors is bad. Christine Maziar, vice president for research and dean of the graduate school will oversee the review. She says the review will evaluate the Press's procedures against two standards.
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