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June 17 - 21, 2002
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Monday, June 17, 2002 |
Roseau begins cleanup
People in Roseau near the Canadian border are beginning the process of cleaning up after the worst flood in that town's history. Water from the rain-swollen Roseau River receded over the weekend, after nearly a full week of devastation. City officials place early damage estimates at more than $120 million. As Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports, residents are discovering just how much they've lost.
After marathon convention, Republican candidates tour the state
The newly-endorsed slate of Republican candidates begins a three-day statewide bus tour Monday. The candidates flew around the state yesterday, after getting party backing during the state convention which ended early Saturday morning. Gubernatorial candidate Tim Pawlenty says his campaign will focus on the three issues he terms "kids, roads and jobs," Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Genetic engineering turns corn into plastic
Minnesota is not known as a leading center for biotechnology, but a Minnetonka-based company, and a major effort at the University of Minnesota, may give the state a lead in an emerging area of biotech, where the finished products are not medicines, or even crops, but industrial materials like plastic. Minnesota Public Radio's Eugene Cha reports.
Monday market update
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell joins us with a look at the markets this Monday morning.
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Tuesday, June 18, 2002 |
James to head U of M golf team
The man who led the University of Minnesota men's golf team to a national championship has been hired as the new head coach.
Brad James, who served as interim coach during the past season, says he's optimistic about the future of a program that was targeted for elimination earlier this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Flight attendants move to form own union
A group of Northwest Airlines flight attendants has started a campaign to form an independent union of their own, ending their long relationship with the Teamsters. To be successful, the group needs to convince over half of the 11,000 Northwest flight attendants to make the move. Their new union would be called the Professional Flight Attendants Association. Joining us on the line is Peter Rachleff, associate professor at Macelester college.
South Dakota faces drought
South Dakota is experiencing early signs of a drought. Many are comparing soil moisture levels to the drought years of 1976 and 1988. Statistics show that this year many parts of South Dakota have less moisture than previous droughts. Twenty-two counties have already requested some sort of federal assistance. Ranchers are also selling livestock earlier than normal because there's no place to graze the animals. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
Siren one year later
One year ago today, a tornado ripped through Siren, Wisc., killing three people and injuring 14 others. The tornado was so intense, it was on the ground for more than an hour, and cut a half-mile wide path of destruction through western Wisconsin. Winds approached 200 miles per hour. Since the storm, Siren has welcomed about 14,000 visitors who cane to help the town recover. Joining us on the line is Gil Hoel, with Project Recovery, a crisis counseling group affiliated with the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
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Wednesday, June 19, 2002 |
The governor's race changes
It didn't exactly shock the world, but Gov. Jesse Ventura's announcement that he will not run for a second term did fundamentally change the dynamics of the governor's race.
Ventura made his decision public yesterday in an interview on Minnesota Public Radio. He says his heart is no longer in the job and he wants to protect his family's privacy. Ventura says he would like to see former DFL Rep. Tim Penny run as the Independence Party candidate. Penny says he may run and will decide by the end of the week.
Joining us now are two editorial page writers who have watched the governor during his term. Lori Sturdevant writes for the Star Tribune, and Steve Dornfeld for the Pioneer Press.
Ventura's tripartisan legacy
Joining us now is Chris Gilbert, political science professor at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter with analysis of Ventura's governing style and its impact on the future of third-party politics in Minnesota.
The furture of the Independence Party
State Planning Director Dean Barkley is one of the Ventura's closest advisors. He's the man who convinced Ventura to run for governor and helped get him elected. He joins us now with a look at the future of the Independence Party.
The administration looks ahead
Governor Jesse Ventura's staff has just seven
months left in the administration, now that Ventura has
announced that he will not
run for a second term. Ventura has consistently
praised his staff for carrying out his plans and ideas
for the state. The commissioners who head the various
departments have a diverse background - some are even
from the GOP and DFL parties. Joining us on the line
is Alan Garber, commissioner of the Department of
Natural Resources.
Ventura and the media
Once again, Governor Jesse Ventura is big news. His announcement that he will not run for a second term was reported by news outlets around the country. Since his surprise election in 1998, Ventura has provided journalists with a steady diet of great stories to cover. But Ventura has also been strongly critical of the media. Jim Ragsdale covers politics for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He says covering Ventura was a lot of fun.
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Thursday, June 20, 2002 |
Sen. Johnson considers next step in mansion controversy
Gov. Jesse Ventura's announcement that he won't run for another term has wiped questions about the governor's mansion off the front page. Before Ventura went public with his decision, attention was focused on claims by former mansion staffers that Ventura's son Tyrel held parties in the mansion and damaged the furniture. Ventura expressed frustration with the media for criticizing his family and said he's not running again in part because he wants to protect his family's privacy. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli talked with Sen.Dean Johnson, D-Willmar, who chairs a committee that oversees security at the mansion.
Minneapolis housing and retail complex losing momentum
City of Minneapolis officials are considering whether to let a development agreement to reopen Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street expire at the end of the week. For the past six months Sherman Associates had exclusive rights to build a housing and retail complex on the spot where a Kmart store has blocked the street since 1979. But Sherman hasn't been able to bring the deal together in time. Neighbors now worry, after years of hope and planning, their best attempt yet at redeveloping the area is dashed. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Listeners weigh in on Ventura's decision not to run
Governor Jesse Ventura's announcement that he won't run for re-election prompted many of you to write to us on our web site, or call us on the Morning Edition comment line.
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Friday, June 21, 2002 |
Hackers hijack Best Buy e-mail program
Best Buy is suing unidentified defendants who are accused of breaking into the computer system of a Best Buy affiliate. The computer hackers allegedly hijacked an email program, and sent spam to people on some of Best Buy's email lists. The spam appeared to come from Best Buy, and allegedly contained offensive messages and links to pornography web sites. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court against John and Jane Doe, and is seeking fines and a court order to prevent the defendants from further use of the Best Buy name. The company's suit is the topic of an article in today's The Business Journal. Andy Tellijohn is the reporter who wrote the story. He tells MPR's Perry Finelli that there are good reasons to sue against unnamed perpetrators.
Global warming may threaten birds
Today in Bloomington, the federal EPA holds a workshop on global climate change. Among the topics under discussion is the fate of the region's birds in an artificially warmed world. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
Forest tent caterpillars invade Grandma's course
Thousands of visitors will line the course of Grandma's Marathon between Duluth and Two Harbors tomorrow. Millions of others are already there. Parts of the Northland have been hit by an infestation of forest tent caterpillars. They are fuzzy green and yellow things, often called army worms. The caterpillars are famous for eating every leaf in sight. They are infamous for creating a moving mess as they scale homes and creep across highways. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Elk River residents advised to visit doctor
Residents in a neighborhood in the central Minnesota town of Elk River are worried about their health. A nearby waste disposal company was recently shut down after city and state officials discovered it was illegally burning hazardous waste. People who live in an adjacent neighborhood fear the burning waste has put their health in danger. They blame city officials for not dealing with the problem quickly. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
NOW convention opens in St. Paul
The National Organization for Women is opening its national conference in St. Paul later today. The organization, known as NOW, is holding its conference in the Midwest for the first time in its 36 year history. Joining us on the line is the vice president of Minnesota NOW, Chris Mitchell.
Loss to Germany ends U.S. soccer team World Cup bid
The U.S. team has just ended its surprise run at the World Cup soccer tournament, losing to Germany one to 1-0. The U.S. caught most of the world off guard when it advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1930, beating out several strong teams. Alan Merrick is a former Minnesota Kicks player and former coach of the Minnesota Strikers. He was up early this morning watching the game, and he's on the line now.
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