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April 22 - 26, 2002
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, April 22, 2002 |
Canadian softwood upsets U.S. markets
A new tariff on Canadian softwood imports is expected to provide some profit for struggling U.S. sawmills and loggers. The timber is a staple of the construction industry. But a loophole has opened that will drop the current lower tariff for at least the next four weeks. U.S. timber producers worry that improving markets for U.S. wood will fall as fast as the Canadian wood can flood across the border. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Lawn fertilizers contain unsafe levels of heavy metals
For home gardeners, spring planting is just a few weeks away. But if you're planning to add fertilizer to the soil, reading the product label won't always tell you whether it's safe.
In most states, including Minnesota, manufacturers can sell fertilizer containing arsenic, lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals without disclosing those ingredients. In Minnesota, that means a product called Ironite is still on the market, despite high levels of contamination. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
Session continues
Almost a month after they had hoped to finish, Minnesota lawmakers are still trying to work out an agreement on several key issues. House and Senate budget negotiators have spent hours in meetings, but made little progress toward closing a $439 million gap in the current two-year budget. The two sides are still trying to strike a deal on transportation, bonding and anti-terrorism bills. Joining us now is Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio's capitol bureau chief.
Biological pest control
It's Earth Day today, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will celebrate by releasing ladybug larvae at the Como Park Conservatory. The ladybugs eat several kinds of pests, which would otherwise damage the plants in the conservatory. Today's release is part of an effort by the agriculture department to draw attention to biological control of pests. Roberta Sladky is the director of the conservatory, and she's on the line now.
Interest rates stay put
MPR's Chief Economics Correspondent and Sound Money host Chris Farrell joins us with today's Market Report. Chris says the Federal Reserve is indicating that interest rates are going to stay right where they are for the time being.
The nature of humankind is good
The nature of humankind is good. That's the conclusion of the winner of the 2002 Kids Philosophy Slam held in Lanesboro, Minn. Vineetha Joseph of Nutley, N.J. won with her thoughts on this year's question "Is the nature of humankind good or evil?" More than 2000 kids from around the world participated.
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Tuesday, April 23, 2002 |
Patrons battle to save the Loring
The fate of one Minneapolis restaurant is generating more attention than usual for an industry where openings and closings happen with regularity.
Many patrons of The Loring Cafe and Bar call it a cultural icon. But the restaurant's landlord wants the business to move out, and recently refused to renew its lease. The Loring's owner is asking for - and getting - support from the community to help him stay.
Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Hmong marriage culture slow to change
Polygamy is illegal in Minnesota. Yet activists in some immigrant groups in the Twin Cities say while the practice is kept under wraps, it is relatively common. Younger members of the Hmong community are now trying to get the issue out into the open. Kaomi Goetz reports.
Minneapolis schools may change hours
The Minneapolis School Board will vote tonight on a change in busing policy designed to save the district over $3 million. Many start times will change and students will be assigned to schools closer their homes so that buses can be deployed more efficiently. Dave Jennings was hired last year as the chief operating officer for the Minneapolis Public Schools. His job is to solve a $30 million budget deficit.
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Wednesday, April 24, 2002 |
Civil rights commission to examine Twin Cities media
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is holding a fact-finding meeting in Minneapolis today and tomorrow. The purpose of the meeting is to gather information on how the local news media covers minorities in the Twin Cities area. The group will examine whether the media has made any progress in this area since 1993, when the Commission last issued a report on the topic. Alan Weinblatt is the chairperson of the Minnesota Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He says the 1993 report found three things.
Outstate budget perspective
It looks like there might be some progress toward a budget deal up at the Capitol. For the first time in weeks, legislative leaders say they're significantly closer to agreement. In a preliminary deal, Senate Democrats would give up their call for raising the cigarette tax, while House Republicans would accept a hike in the gasoline tax. The House and Senate still have plenty of other work to do-- namely, a deal on a bonding bill, a transportation funding package, and an anti-terrorism bill.
Joining us now are two newspaper editors who have been watching these developments: Bill Hanna from the Mesabi Daily News in Virginia and Deb Flemming, from The Free Press in Mankato.
Voters approve money for schools
Voters in the Lakeville School District have approved nearly $75 million to build a new high school, expand an elementary school, and make other improvements. The vote is a victory for the metro-area school district, which first brought the bonding question before voters in November and was turned down. At that time, school officials asked voters to approve four different projects in one question. This time they allowed voters to say yes or no to each project. Gary Amoroso is the superintendent of the Lakeville School District. He says school officials held two public forums to figure out what went wrong when the referendum failed last November, .
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Thursday, April 25, 2002 |
Bush campaigns for S. Dakota senate hopeful John Thune
Wednesday's visit by President Bush to South Dakota had a clear and definite purpose: to raise money for Congressman John Thune. Thune is challenging incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson for the U. S. Senate. President Bush held a a private round-table discussion with farmers. He also addressed a public rally for 7,000 people during his seven-hour visit to Sioux Falls. Many saw the visit for what it was, a Republican president campaigning for a Republican senate hopeful. Still others saw the president's visit as a missed opportunity to talk about issues. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
Bush gives boost to ethanol
The president touched on several agricultural issues during his half day in South Dakota. He traveled about 35 northwest of Sioux Falls to the small town of Wentworth to visit an ethanol fuel plant. Dakota Ethanol
turns about 14 million bushels of corn into some 40 million gallons of fuel annually. Most of that ethanol will be blended with gasoline. Ethanol producers receive a federal tax break and critics say ethanol is a waste of taxpayer dollars. But farmers love the corn based fuel. By increasing the use of corn, ethanol production boosts the price of the grain. Farmers in the crowd at Wentworth were happy to hear the president renew his support for ethanol. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Minneapolis review police policy on use of force
Minneapolis officials have begun a review of the police department's use of force following a series of high-profile confrontations. Some citizens and even council members told a joint council committee Wednesday that they are deeply concerned by images and stories of excessive force. Police say they're committed to removing bad cops, but only when the evidence supports it. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes.
McKnight grant promotes affordable housing
The McKnight Foundation Thursday announced its largest grant ever. The Minneapolis-based foundation is giving $28 million to build and preserve affordable housing in Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
Governor's residence set to close
Governor Jesse Ventura made a surprise visit to the public safety conference committee on Wednesday. Ventura told legislators responsible for deciding the fate of the Governor's mansion in St. Paul that the decision to close the residence due to budget cuts was difficult for him to make. The residence is set to close next Tuesday. Ventura told the committee he would like to keep it open if they can find the money. The lawmakers are looking for ways to keep the mansion open, but haven't made final decisions yet. Joining us on the line is Daniel Creed, residence manager at the Governor's mansion.
Local media coverage of minoirites flawed, committee told
The Minnesota Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is taking a second day of testimony Thursday on minority representation in the media.
Wednesday, witnesses told the committee that minority communities are rarely covered, and when they are, it's usually in a negative light.
Critics also say while there are more minority journalists, decisions about coverage remains in the hands of white men who do not understand the communities they're covering.
Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Raising daughters
Today is the tenth and final Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Starting next year, organizers are planning to encourage parents to bring both girls and boys to the workplace and to think in new ways about gender inequities at work. The Ms. Foundation for Women started the original program in 1993. It caught on nationwide as a way to introduce young girls to the workplace and to improve their self-esteem. Another person concerned with the self-esteem of girls is Joe Kelly, Duluth resident and author of a new book called Dads and Daughters: How to Inspire, Support and Understand Your Daughter When She's Growing Up So Fast. Kelly says raising a daughter presents different challenges for men than raising a son.
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Friday, April 26, 2002 |
Chief Olson: "I'm staying"
Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson says he's not going anywhere. In his first public comments since it was revealed Mayor R.T. Rybak wanted him out, Olson says he looks forward to continuing his law enforcement programs in Minneapolis. Olson and Rybak meet face to face Friday to clear the air and chart their course for working together following the controversy. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Changes on the horizon for Minnesota ATV riders
A bill is heading to Governor Ventura that restricts all-terrain vehicle use in some state forests. Yesterday, legislators approved a ban on cross country ATV travel on some state land. That means ATV riders can't go off established trails and roadways.
But there are other changes ahead for Minnesotans who ride all-terrain vehicles. Officials with the Department of Natural Resources say they'll no longer sanction so-called "challenge areas" in state forests. It could put an end to courses designed for hill climbing or mud running. Some environmentalists say more restrictions are needed. But lawmakers may wait until next year to decide how best to further regulate ATVs. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson has the story.
Banneker Community School fights to stay alive
Supporters of Benjamin Banneker Community School in Minneapolis are fighting a district plan to close and reorganize the struggling school.
Parents, students and teachers spoke out against the proposed "fresh start" at a school board hearing Thursday night. They asked for additional time to try to turn around the school's performance. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Archaeology Week begins
Tomorrow is the beginning of Minnesota Archaeology Week and state officials have scheduled a series of activities designed to promote interest in Minnesota archaeology. Those activities include demonstrations on how to make stone tools, lessons in early ceramic techniques, and a talk on shipwrecks. Barto Arnold, from the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University, is coming to the Twin Cities to discuss underwater investigations of three shipwrecks, and their links to Minnesota history. One of the shipwrecks he explored is La Belle, a 17th century-French ship discovered on the Gulf Coast near present-day Corpus Christi, Texas. The ship was captained by the explorer La Salle, who also travelled down the Mississippi in a canoe.
The role of gays and lesbians in the church
It's been a year since a Lutheran church in St. Paul broke the rules of its governing body. Last April, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran church ordained Anita Hill. Hill is a lesbian woman in a committed relationship-- and that puts the church out of line with the ELCA, the body that oversees about 10,000 Lutheran churches across the country. Reverend Hill has continued ministering to her congregation despite the debate around her ordination. She's come by the studio this morning.
It was a dark and muggish night
How do you describe a dark and cloudy night when the air feels close,
moist, and warm? Climatologist Mark Seeley with the weather word of the week and more.
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