|
April 29 - May 3, 2002
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
|
Monday, April 29, 2002 |
Scott County leads the region in growth
New census numbers released today Monday show four Minnesota counties are among the fastest growing in the nation. Scott, Sherburne, Chisago, and Wright counties all ranked in the top 100 fastest growing counties. Scott ranked highest of the Minnesota counties, as the 12th fastest growing county in the nation, and the fastest growing in the northern half of the U.S. The new data measures growth between the last census in April of 2000 and population estimates in July of 2001. During that period, Scott county grew by 9.6 percent. Dave Unmacht is the Scott County Administrator, and he's on the line now.
Session drags on with little progress
Although they hoped to finish a month ago, Minnesota lawmakers are back at the Capitol today, still trying to reach agreement on several key issues. Legislative leaders did make slight progress on a budget deal last week, but they still have no final agreement on how to close a $439 million deficit for the current biennium. Lawmakers have yet to agree on a bonding bill, a transportation package, and an anti-terrorism bill. Joining us now is Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol bureau chief.
U of M search for athletic director begins
The search committee charged with finding a new athletic director for the University of Minnesota is meeting for the first time Monday. The group is looking for someone to lead a merged men's and women's departments. University administrators decided earlier this month to combine the departments in an attempt to save money. The 10-person search committee includes men's hockey coach Don Lucia, alumni, athletes, university officials and people from the private sector. Mary Jo Kane, a university professor and director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, will lead the search.
Economic rebound
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent with an update on the improving economy.
Mosquito-borne virus spreads
As the weather gets warmer, state health officials are watching for signs of mosquito-transmitted viruses. Mosquitos carry both West Nile Virus and Western and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. These viruses often strike horses, and they can also infect humans. West Nile Virus is expected to reach Minnesota for the first time this spring, after spreading west from New York City, where it was discovered in 1999. Eastern Equine Encephalitis was documented in Minnesota for the first time last year. Joining us now is Jeff Bender, a professor and public health specialist at the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Timberwolves lose
Monday is the first day of the off-season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sunday's 13 point loss to Dallas gave the Mavericks a three-game sweep in their first-round playoff series. The Timberwolves finished the regular season with their best record ever, but for the sixth straight year they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
|
|
Tuesday, April 30, 2002 |
Campaign 2002 Profile: Judi Dutcher
The state DFL party holds its convention this weekend, and the main business of the 1,300 delegates will be to choose a candidate for governor.
Three candidates are seeking the endorsement: State Auditor Judi Dutcher and state Senators Roger Moe and Becky Lourey. They all say they'll abide by the delegates' decision. This week we'll take a look at each of the three candidates starting with State Auditor Judi Dutcher, who says she represents the future of the Minnesota DFL.
Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Pawlenty, Sullivan debate environmental issues
Republican gubernatorial candidates Brian Sullivan and Tim Pawlenty both say they would protect Minnesota's legacy of caring and maintaining the environment.
The candidates spoke Monday night at an environmental issues forum in Minneapolis. It was billed as a debate, but there was little disagreement between the candidates.
The Minnesota League of Conservation Voters hosted the event.
Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Legislative overhaul
The Minnesota House and Senate could look quite a bit different next year. Over 20 lawmakers have already announced they won't run again, and more are likely to announce retirements after the end of the session. On the line now are two legislators who have already said they won't run in the fall: DFL Representative Andy Dawkins, and Republican Senator Roy Terwilliger.
Big cats
Photographs taken recently near Savage show a cougar feeding on a deer carcass. The pictures were captured by a camera placed in a tree and equipped with an infared motion detector. They appear to confirm eyewitness reports and other evidence indicating the presence of cougars in the state. Bill Berg has just retired from his position as a wildlife biologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He says it's difficult to determine how many cougars there are in Minnesota.
|
|
Wednesday, May 1, 2002 |
The mansion
The Governor's Mansion in St. Paul is closed this morning. That's despite a last-minute opinion by Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, who said yesterday that Gov. Ventura doesn't have the legal authority to close the mansion. Hatch says state law requires the mansion to be kept open for ceremonial purposes. But his opinion isn't legally binding, and Ventura says there won't be any public events unless lawmakers come up with the money. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
NWA pilots extend contract
Northwest Airlines' pilots' union has taken a step towards ratifying a one-year contract extension with the airline, postponing negotiations on certain issues in the hope that air travel will rebound. The airline is also rehiring hundreds of workers and has defused a dispute over employee background checks. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg has more.
End of an era at the U
An annual event to honor women athletes at the University of Minnesota has special significance this year. Last month, university officials announced they will merge the men's and women's athletics departments. The 28th Berg Celebration, held on the Minneapolis campus last night, was the final such event under a separate women's department. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Anoka-Hennepin teachers authorize strike
Teachers in the Anoka Hennepin School District say they're ready to walk off the job this fall if necessary to get a satisfactory contract offer.
Thousands of union members gathered Tuesday night in Blaine and voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if contract negotiations reach an impasse. Union leaders and school district officials say they remain optimistic about reaching a settlement. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Profile: Becky Lourey
DFL delegates from across the state will gather this weekend to endorse a gubernatorial candidate for the fall elections. Three major candidates have emerged - State Auditor Judi Dutcher, Senator Becky Lourey, and Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe. This year's convention is attracting increased attention because all three candidate have agreed to abide by the decision of delegates. Today, Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo takes a look at the Lourey campaign.
How boys and girls compete
A new study about how boys and girls compete will be published in the summer jounal of the St. Paul-based Melpomene Institute. Researchers at the Institute surveyed nearly 900 athletes between the ages of 12 and 17. They found boys and girls do differ in their attitudes and behaviors around winning. Mary Healy Jonas is the Research Director at Melpomene Institute, and she's on the line now.
Were gas prices manipulated?
The oil industry is denying allegations it was responsible for spikes in Midwest gasoline prices over the last few years. Oil company executives testified yesterday before the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The subcommitte issued a nearly 400-page report on Monday saying that suppliers may have manipulated the market in order to increase prices, especially in the midwest. In the spring of 2000, gas prices rose to almost $2 a gallon in Minnesota. Joining us on the line is Sen. Mark Dayton, who's on the investigations subcommittee.
|
|
Thursday, May 2, 2002 |
House approves bill on outside income reporting
House lawmakers have passed a bill that would require income disclosure for the governor and the state's other top elected officials. Gov. Jesse Ventura has characterized the measure as a personal attack aimed at his outside earnings, but supporters of the bill say it's a simple matter of preventing conflicts of interest. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Campaign 2002 Profile: Roger Moe
When DFL activists meet this weekend in Minneapolis for their state party convention, one of their biggest decisions will be who to endorse for governor. Early delegate counts show Roger Moe with a slim lead over his major rivals, State Auditor Judi Dutcher and state Sen. Becky Lourey. Moe, the longtime Senate Majority Leader, says he's optimistic he'll get the endorsement. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
DFLers in final debate
The three leading DFL candidates for governor made their final public appearance together last night on the eve of the endorsing convention which starts today in Minneapolis.
The candidates were mostly polite to one another during the debate held at Macalester College in St. Paul.
Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Profile of Learning study
Whoever is elected governor could be faced with a decision about the future of the controversial graduation standards known as the Profile of Learning. A bill that would have killed the Profile passed in the Minnesota House this session, but did not make it through the Senate. A new survey of high school English and social studies teachers finds that the success of the Profile of Learning is tied to the amount of training teachers receive in implementing it. Professor Patricia Avery of the University of Minnesota was the lead researcher on the study. She says 650 teachers were surveyed and 140 of them were interviewed.
Dialogue on Freedom
A group of students at South High School in Minneapolis will get a special lesson on American civic values with Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz. Later today, Blatz will meet with a group of students as part of the "Dialogue on Freedom" initiative started by the American Bar Association. The dialogues are intended to help students to engage in discussions on American values in a diverse world. Joining us on the line is Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz.
|
|
Friday, May 3, 2002 |
Wellstone unopposed for party endorsement
This afternoon delegates to the state DFL convention will enthusiastically endorse Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone's bid for a third term.
Wellstone is expected to deliver a trademark passionate speech outlining his sharp ideological contrast to the Republican agenda.
Wellstone will not formally kick off his campaign until later this month even though the contest with Republican challenger Norm Coleman is well underway.
Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik prepared this report on Wellstone's Senate career and why the Senator is pursuing a third term he repeatedly pledged not to seek.
Landmark Center at 100
A variety of musical, dramatic, and artistic events will highlight this weekend's birthday celebration for one of St. Paul's most historic buildings. The centennial of Landmark Center has admirers of the castle-like structure expressing gratitude that the building lasted one hundred years. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
Luxury housing market explored
Out-of-state developers are betting that there is a market in the Twin Cities for extremely high-end apartments and condominiums. Two proposed developments would feature condominiums priced at $1.5 million and apartments with rents in excess of $4,000 a month. Some local developers doubt the Twin Cities market can support such high prices. The rising luxury housing market is the topic of an article in today's City Business. Scott Smith wrote the story. He says the two proposed developments are a new condo in downtown Minneapolis called "The Reserve," and an apartment building in Bloomington called "Le Chateau Grand."
Mexican history makes way for ethnic celebration
Mexican history meets American marketing this weekend with the annual celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Seventy-five thousand people are expected at the festival in St. Paul's West Side starting Friday. Thousands of others will attend events in Minneapolis over the weekend. As Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports, what began as a Mexican national holiday to commemorate an important battle is now a way to share ethnic pride with Minnesota's exploding population of Latinos from many different countries.
Will new stadium equal big crowds?
Among the unfinished business at the Minnesota Legislature is what to do about a stadium for the Twins. The threat is still hanging over the team that it will be dropped from the league if there is no deal for a new ballpark. As legislators consider whether to support a publicly-financed stadium, they will likely study what has happened in Milwaukee. Last year, the Brewers drew big crowds at their brand-new $400 million stadium, but attendance is down 28 percent this year. Don Walker covers the business of sports for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. He says there are a number of reasons for the decline.
Highs and lows
Typical temperature variations in the month of May are not as quite extreme as in April, but nevertheless can fluctuate greatly. The all-time high
is 112 degrees at Maple Plain on May 31, 1934 and the all-time
low is 4 degrees at Pine River Dam on May 1, 1909. Mark Seeley says he doubts that either of these records will be broken this month.
|
| Morning Edition Archive |
|
|
|
© 2024 | Home : Terms of Use : Your Privacy Rights