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April 8 - 12, 2002
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Monday, April 8, 2002 |
Gophers win hockey championship
St. Paul and the University of Minnesota are basking in the aftermath of one of the most successful Frozen Four tournaments the college hockey championships have known. The U of M men's team earned its first national title since 1979 by beating the University of Maine 4-3 over the weekend. The Gophers' victory capped a tournament that broke Frozen Four attendance records at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
Minnesota plays role in developing computer disposal plan
If your computer is gathering dust in a closet, you're not alone. According to one estimate, Americans will discard about 500 million PCs in the next five years. Computer parts contain lead and other heavy metals. They shouldn't be sent to the landfill or burned in incinerators. Now the industry has taken the first step in setting up a national system to deal with used electronics gear. They plan to impose a disposal charge on sales of new equipment. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports the state of Minnesota has had a leading role in developing the system.
Legislative update
Nearly two weeks after they hoped to finish up the session, Minnesota lawmakers are back at the Capitol today, hoping to bridge some large differences on key issues. Legislators have yet to agree on several fronts, including how they are going to balance the budget. Laura McCallum is Minnesota Public Radio's Capital Bureau Chief, and she's on the line now.
"Are We There Yet?": Transportation challenges for Minnesota
If you're an average Twin Cites resident, you'll spend about 37 hours this year sitting in an automobile idling in a traffic jam. During the 1990s only one city -- Atlanta -- saw traffic congestion grow faster. What's more, projections show the Twin Cities' population will keep growing over the next 30 years, putting more pressure on an aging road system that's already getting crowded to capacity. With transit options limited, getting around the Twin Cites is becoming a bigger and more expensive problem for those who live, do business in, or visit the area. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is taking a closer look at transportation issues in a special series of reports called Are We There Yet? William Wilcoxen opens our series with a look at some of the transportation challenges facing the region.
Transportation: listener perspectives
As part of our transportation series, we asked you for your comments. Many of you called our comment line, or wrote to us on the Soapbox, to say the state's transportation system would work more smoothly, if people would simply drive better. Eric, who lives in Excelsior, says one solution is simple.
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Tuesday, April 9, 2002 |
Twin Cities emergency rooms becoming overcrowded
Emergency rooms are getting crowded, and more than half the nation's hospitals are "diverting" ambulances to other hospitals. That's the conclusion of a recent study from the American Hospital Association. The overcrowding of ERs is especially bad on the East and West Coasts, but the problem is getting worse here in the Twin Cities too. Joining us on the line is Dr. Brent Asplin, a member of the national task force on emergency department crowding, and is an ER doctor at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
"Are We There Yet?": The funding system
Almost everyone agrees the state's traffic congestion is worsening. Some people think we should add new lanes to freeways, others say widened roads will soon be clogged with traffic, and mass transit needs to be a major part of the solution. But regardless of who's right, Minnesota's system for funding transportation is heavily weighted in favor of more highways. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
Listener comments about transportation
As part of our transportation series, we asked you for your comments. A number of you called our comment line, and wrote to us through the Soapbox, about what the state should do with High Occupancy Vehicle, or HOV lanes. One of our listeners, Fred, called to say he wants the lanes, also known as Sane Lanes, opened up to all cars.
No Aquatennial parade this summer
This summer's Minneapolis Aquatennial Festival will not include a Grande Day Parade. The Aquatennial, which has been in financial trouble for a number of years, has been purchased by the Minneapolis Downtown Council. Lisa Donniff of the Downtown Council says her group is planning a smaller celebration this year.
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Wednesday, April 10, 2002 |
Multi-ethnic families increasing
The 2000 Census was the first opportunity for Minnesotans to report their multi-racial heritage. And without past years of data to compare the numbers to, demographers don't know if the state's mixed race population is larger than 10 years ago. But they do know that the multicultural population is very young, and they say that says a lot about the changing face of Minnesota. MPR's Brandt Williams reports.
Neighborhood battles wethouse in Fargo
Angry residents of a northside Fargo neighborhood are opposing plans to convert an old warehouse into an apartment complex for homeless alcoholics The neighborhood already has a homeless shelter, a detox center and a halfway house for released criminals. Those facilities don't allow residents to have alcohol. The new complex would be what opponents call a "wethouse," allowing drinking. Mainstreet Radios Bob Reha reports supporters of the new facility say it could lead to more people getting effective treatment.
Suits in society focus of Fargo art installation
A new art installation on the side of a Fargo parking ramp examines the role of suits in society. Not as in lawsuits, but as in clothing, and the people underneath.
The well dressed 32-foot-tall man peering down from the parking ramp's windows is the work of Swedish artist Maria Friberg.
Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson explains.
Corridor of congestion
By one estimate, congestion in the Twin Cities is rising faster than in any other city except Atlanta. Nowhere is rising congestion a bigger problem than along I-494, part of the beltway that runs around the Twin Cities. The portion of 494 that runs from Bloomington to Eden Prairie has proven an immensely attractive location for businesses. But 494's allure is also a problem. The continuing influx of new workers may soon bring traffic there to a halt. .
Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
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Thursday, April 11, 2002 |
American Craft Council show begins in St. Paul
The 16th annual American Craft Council show gets underway in St. Paul tomorrow. More than 250 artists will display their work, including glass artists Jim and Renee Engebretson. They work as a team: Jim blows the glass and Renee etches a variety of patterns and designs into the glass. I visited the couple at their home studio in Hudson, Wisc. Jim Engebretson says he started working with glass back in 1968.
No progress at Capitol
Budget talks at the state Capitol still show no sign of progress - and could detoriate even further. Wednesday House and Senate leaders staged dueling press conferences to point blame at each other. GOP leaders say if resolution isn't in hand by the end of the week, there's likely to be no compromise until next month. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
U of M to announce merger and cuts in athletics departments
The University of Minnesota will announce a plan this morning to cut expenses in its athletics departments. The plan is expected to call for the merger of the men's and women's athletics programs plus the elimination of men's golf, women's golf and men's gymnastics. Joining us on the line with his perspective is Mark Dienhart, who was the men's athletic director at the U of M from 1995 to 1999. He's now a senior vice president at St. Thomas University.
Are We There Yet?: Metro Transit
Metro Transit, run by the Metropolitan Council, provides the bulk of bus rides in the Twin Cities - about a quarter of a million rides on an average weekday. That may sound like a lot, but transit supporters say the bus system needs to grow. To do that, they say it needs more money and more political support. Perhaps equally important is the need to make buses more convenient and palatable for the thousands of people who commute in the Twin Cities every day by car. As part of Minnesota Public Radio's transportation series called Are We There Yet?, Marisa Helms takes a look at buses as a viable response to increasing traffic congestion.
Personal Rapid Transit may offer another solution
Buses, along with rail networks and subways have dominated mass transit for decades. But a professor at the University of Minnesota came up with another alternative 30 years ago and is still working to make it happen. Dr. Edward Anderson calls his idea Personal Rapid Transit or PRT. It looks like a slender version of an elevated train, with cars moving around town 16 feet above the ground. But unlike conventional trains, PRT uses small, electrically powered cars holding just one to three passengers. Dr. Anderson formed a company called Taxi 2000, to find investors and build a prototype. To get a sense for the potential of this technology we spoke with Nacho Diaz, director of Metropolitan Transportation Services at the Met Council, and Joe Lampe, senior vice president of Taxi 2000. Lampe says an analogy can help us understand how PRT works.
Saturday is the "Geek Prom" in Duluth
It's Prom Night in Duluth on Saturday, and used clothing stores are advertising cheesy sport coats and out-of-date dresses. This is the Geek Prom. It's a chance for adults who don't fit on to have a night out with their own kind. Chris Julin has this Mainstreet Radio report.
E-commerce conference to be held today
Business leaders and academics will gather at the University of Minnesota today for the 2002 E-commerce Conference. Participants will discuss how companies can make their e-commerce profitable, and take a look at businesses that have set up successful models. Less Wanninger is the conference chair, and a professor at the Carlson School. He's on the line now.
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Friday, April 12, 2002 |
Minneapolis redistricting plan under fire
Dozens of mostly African American residents of Minneapolis blasted a redistricting plan drafted by an appointed panel. At a public hearing Thursday night, most of the more than 75 people who spoke disagreed with the Redistricting Commission's proposal to concentrate black voters in one ward, while taking away what they say is the economic leverage of downtown. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Spring thaw
According to University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley, many places around the state report rapidly thawing soil and earthworms forced out of the ground by recent rains, which means the growing season
is not far off.
U announces athletics cuts
University of Minnesota regents Friday morning are expected to discuss recommendations for trimming athletic department expenses. After months of speculation, U of M officials announced Thursday they will merge the men's and women's Intercollegiate Athletics departments.
They also announced they will recommend eliminating three non-revenue generating sports programs, though a final decision isn't expected until June.
University President Mark Yudof says the search for a new athletic director will begin immediately. Meanwhile, head coaches from vulnerable sports programs say they're hoping to save their teams.
Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Joining us now for more on the situation at the U of M is Chris Voelz, outgoing women's athletic director.
Run out on a rail
The area between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud is gaining population so fast it's one of the fastest growing places in the country. While the growth brings new economic viability to many communities, it also means frustration for commuters.
Transportation officials are looking for ways to alleviate the congestion. One solution they've suggested is an 80-mile train line linking the St. Cloud area with Minneapolis. Backers of the Northstar commuter rail line say the project is a bargain compared to building roads. But opponents say its nearly $300 million price tag is too expensive for the number of people who would actually use the train. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post looks into the debate over Northstar as the Minnesota Public Radio series Are We There Yet? continues.
Home opener
The Minnesota Twins open their 42nd home season against the Detroit Tigers Friday night at the Metrodome. Just months ago, it seemed like this day might never arrive -- Major League Baseball was moving to eliminate two teams and the Twins were a leading target. A lawsuit and objections from the players' union have put contraction plans on hold -- but the future of the team is anything but secure as stadium legislation meant to keep the team in Minnesota long-term bogs down at the Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Dome opener
Twins fans are hoping for a new stadium and looking forward to a baseball season in which their team looks like a playoff contender.
Twenty years ago it was quite the opposite. The 1982 Twins were a terrible team, but they were about to play their first season in the brand new Metrodome. On the eve of the home opener that year, Minnesota Public Radio's Gary Eichten described a scene that must have thrilled Metrodome supporters.
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