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July 15 - 19, 2002
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Monday, July 15, 2002 |
Aggressive driving a growing problem
Funeral services are planned for a young New Richmond, Wisconsin woman who died after what police are calling a road rage incident last week in Eagan. Heather Potvin died from her injuries Friday, the same day funeral services were held for another young woman in the same car, Jennifer Mulhollam, also of New Richmond. A third person is in critical condition. The car was involved in an incident with a pickup truck in Eagan last week on Interstate Highway 35E. Observers say the crash happened after both vehicles were flashing their headlights at one another and occupants allegedly exchanged obscene gestures. Colonel Ann Beers heads the State Patrol. She says road rage is an extreme form of aggressive driving. (Listen)
Celebrating the local black arts community
The Twin Cities black arts community has grown significantly over the past thirty years. African-Americans are hugely influential in local theater, music, dance and the visual arts. Tonight, Alchemy Theater in Minneapolis is hosting the first ever "Black Arts Ball" to celebrate the history and vitality of the local black arts community. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts spoke to Alchemy Artistic Director Dawn Renee Jones, who says the ball is also an opportunity for black artists to connect.
High flying competition underway
Twenty-five small airplanes leave Fargo this morning on the first leg of a three-day race. The Marion Jayne U.S. Air Race attracts pilots from as far away as Hawaii and London. There are also some hometown favorites. Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
Commentator looks at the dangers of poverty
A new study done at six U.S. medical centers suggests changes made to the welfare system may be harming children's health. Researchers compared three-year-olds and younger during emergency room visits. They found a decrease in welfare benefits was associated with significantly higher hospitalization rates and nutrition problems. The findings will probably not surprise commentator Dan Cabot. He is a resident physician at the Hennepin County Medical Center. He says a childhood experience showed him how dangerous poverty can be. (Listen)
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses recent fluctuations in the market.
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Tuesday, July 16, 2002 |
Wellstone raises more cash than Coleman
Minnesota's Democratic and Republican U.S. Senate candidates raised several million dollars during the second quarter of the year. Incumbent Sen. Paul Wellstone raised nearly $2 million, and Republican challenger Norm Coleman took in $1.7 million. Both campaigns say they're pleased with the pace of their fundraising. Coleman says he needs all the money he can get to keep up with Wellstone. Wellstone says his fund raising is more appropriate than Coleman's because he says most of his money is coming from relatively small contributions. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Volatile stock markets have some investors worried
Volatility in the stock markets has some Minnesotans watching their investments carefully. In a stomach-churning ride on Wall Street yesterday, the Dow Jones slid over 400 points before climbing back and finishing the day with a loss of just 45. The Nasdaq was down more than 58 points before finishing up about 9. Despite mounting evidence of an economic recovery, stocks have been sliding for about two months. Tom Endersbe is a Senior Financial Advisor at American Express Financial Advisors and has been taking calls from concerned investors. He's on the line now.
Yudof bids farewell
University of Minnesota President Mark Yudof will say good-bye to the school later today at a University-sponsored barbecue. Yudof has accepted a job with the University of Texas system, where he will become chancellor. He leaves the U of M after more than five years on the job. Joining us on the line is Tom Reagan, who was the chairman of the board of regents when Yudof was hired.
Somali immigrants struggle to establish and maintain credit
Like all immigrants to the United States, Somali refugees face a lot of challenges as they seek to become new citizens in their adopted homeland. According to officials at a local financial counseling agency, one of the biggest challenges for many Somali refugees is establishing and maintaining credit. They say that's especially difficult when many Somali refugees come here already in debt and then begin using credit cards without understanding how they work. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Izaak Walton League holds national convention
The Izaak Walton League's national convention ends today in Rochester. For 80 years the conservation group has pushed an agenda focused on clean water and land preservation. With greater awareness of how water gets polluted, the challenges have changed. Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally reports.
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Wednesday, July 17, 2002 |
Sexual harassment case on the Iron Range is topic of new book
A new book brings renewed attention to an historic civil rights case on the Minnesota Iron Range. In 1988, Lois Jenson sued Eveleth Mines for the sexual harassment she endured at work. Her case eventually altered the very nature of sexual harassment suits. Journalist Clara Bingham and attorney Laura Leedy-Gansler are the authors of "Class Action: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case the Changed Sexual Harassment Law." Both women came by the studio to discuss the case. Bingham says there is a macho culture on the Iron Range that contributed to the harassment in the mines.
Bench vacancy to be filled by voters, not governor
The Minnesota Supreme Court is expected to explain sometime this summer why it ordered the secretary of state to put a controversial Scott County judgeship on the November ballot. The court put Judge Eugene Atkins' seat up for election rather than allow the governor to appoint a successor. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Minneapolis likely to change process for public art
The Minneapolis Arts Commission is set to vote today to revamp the way the city deals with public art. Supporters say the new framework will make it easier for artwork to be incorporated into public projects like bridges and parking ramps. Many feel the volunteer board has never lived up to its intended role of guiding arts development in the city. Now the Arts Commission may have more teeth, but less money. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
State Fair increasing security measures
The State Fair is more than a month away, but the employment office at the fair is already conducting background checks on potential employees. More than 4,000 people work at the fair during the twelve days leading up to Labor Day. Because of the September 11th terrorist attacks, officials will be doing more background checks this year and are increasing other security measures as well. Joining us on the line is Danyl Zamber, spokesperson with the State Fair.
Twins lead division but attendance lags behind last year's pace
The Minnesota Twins begin an eight game road trip tonight with three of their American League Central Division rivals. Tonight they bring their nine-game lead in the division to Cleveland. At this time last year, the Twins led Cleveland and the rest of the division, only to see that lead disappear as they collapsed in the second half of the season. Joining us on the line is Ray Crump, former Twins equipment manager, and owner of a memorabilia shop called Dome Souvenirs Plus.
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Thursday, July 18, 2002 |
Can we prevent floods in the Red River Valley?
Flooding in northwest Minnesota has become a regular event. Twice this year heavy rains have wiped out crops, swept away roads, and destroyed bridges. For people who live there, it's a frustrating situation. Some say money spent on cleanup and relief might be better invested in flood prevention efforts. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
New training program battles nursing shortage in rural Minnesota
Starting this fall, a few communities in southwestern Minnesota will offer distance-learning classes for people who want to become registered nurses. The project is funded by a grant from the Department of Labor and is designed to ease the chronic nursing shortage in rural Minnesota. At several sites, students will be able to take classes from distant colleges using computers, cameras, and televisions. They can then do their clinicals at local hospitals. Randy Fisher is the Administrator of the Stevens County Ambulance and EMS Training. He's heading up plans for the new RN training program in his area, and he joins us now.
Candidate tries to thwart John Kline's chances in Second District
State Republican Party officials are calling for a candidate in Minnesota's Second Congressional District to withdraw from the race because, they say, he's deliberately trying to mislead voters. Sam Garst is running for Congress as a member of the "No New Taxes Party" but says he really doesn't want to win the race. He says he's running to take votes away from republican candidate John Kline and hopes DFL Congressman Bill Luther is elected. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Northwest Airlines gets new planes
Northwest Airlines will release second-quarter earnings this morning, and analysts expect the company will show a loss. Despite tough times, Northwest Airlines is updating its fleet with 16 new Boeing 757-300s. The new planes will replace aging DC-10s, and further expand the airline's fleet of planes made by Boeing. Dirk McMahon is Senior Vice President for Customer Service at Northwest. He says there are many reasons why the 757-300s are an improvement.
National League of Cities meets in Minnetonka
Leaders of the National League of Cities will meet today in Minnetonka to hear from a high-ranking FBI official on homeland security. The league's board of directors will hear from Louis Quijas, the head of the FBI's new Office of Law Enforcement Coordination. They'll discuss the role of cities in homeland security. Joining us on the line is Karen Anderson, president of the National League of Cities, and mayor of Minnetonka.
Wisconsin DNR narrows possible sources of chronic wasting disease
Wisconsin state officials have narrowed down the list of ways chronic wasting disease may have gotten into the state. After almost six months of investigation, the state's Department of Natural Resources has named three possible sources. Officials say the fatal brain disease probably came from an escaped or released captive animal, an infected carcass, or deer feed containing diseased animal parts. Chronic wasting disease is related to Mad Cow Disease and affects elk, mule, and white-tailed deer. So far there is no evidence that it can affect humans. Thomas Solin is leading the investigation for the Wisconsin DNR. He's on the line now.
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Friday, July 19, 2002 |
U of M President Mark Yudof marks his last day
This is Mark Yudof's last day on the job as president of the University of Minnesota. He's leaving tomorrow to represent the university at a conference of Chinese research institutions. In early August, Yudof starts his new job as chancellor of the University of Texas system. Yudof supporters say in his five years at the university he made some major changes to the look and reputation of the school, and healed some rocky relationships. However, Yudof's tenure has also been marked by the ongoing problems in the athletics department, rising tuition and a drop in state financial support. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Northwest Airlines reports second-quarter loss
Eagan-based Northwest Airlines says it had a modest profit in June, and expects to repeat that in July and August. The nation's fourth-largest airline also said its loss for the second quarter as a whole grew nearly 70 percent to $93 million. However, that was much lower than Wall Street analysts expected. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
New poll on religion and ethics among business executives
The House and Senate are moving quickly to reach a compromise on legislation aimed at restoring confidence in business and the stock markets. A wave of accounting scandals has rocked public trust in business leaders, and President Bush wants Congress to send him a bill before lawmakers adjourn for their August recess. A poll released today by a group of Twin Cities religious organizations examines the role of religion and ethics among today's business executives. It finds that 70 percent of business executives feel their colleagues try to obey the laws, and 25 percent think they try to skirt the law. Gary Lawrence is the president of Lawrence Research, a Los Angeles-based research company that conducted the poll. He's on the line now.
Some Twin Cities accounting firms pick up Arthur Anderson's business
Several accounting firms in the Twin Cities are picking up extra work in the wake of Arthur Anderson's collapse. Anderson's Minneapolis office closed in the aftermath of corporate scandals involving Enron and other companies. Most of the partners and employees in Minneapolis went to Deloitte and Touche, and about one-third of their former clients followed. The fallout from Anderson's demise is the topic of an article in today's "The Business Journal." Reporter John Hoogesteger wrote the story, and he says it was surprising that Deloitte didn't get more of Anderson's old clients.
Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses the weather
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history, and looks ahead to the weekend weather.
Word of Mouth roundup
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts takes a look at artists and arts events around the state this week.
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