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September 2 - 6, 2002
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Monday, Sept. 2, 2002 |
Anniversary of first open heart surgery
Fifty years ago today, the world's first successful open heart surgery was performed at the University of Minnesota. A team led by Doctor F. John Lewis operated on a five-year-old girl who was born with a hole in her heart. The girl survived and grew up to have two kids of her own. Since then, advances in medicine and medical technology have revolutionized the treatment available to people with heart trouble. Dr. Chip Bolman is the C. Walton and Richard C. Lillehei professor and chief of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He's on the line now.
Honeywell says it's back on track
It's been a little more than a year since European regulators blocked Honeywell International's proposed merger with General Electric. The buyout's blowup led to CEO Michael Bonsignore's departure and culminated a difficult period following the company's merger with Allied Signal about three years ago. Now Honeywell officials say they've righted the ship, but the company is still shedding jobs.
Good tourism season for Duluth
As the summer comes to an end and the kids head back to school, the tourist season is winding down. This hasn't been a great tourism season for many places across the U.S. However, Duluth is an exception. Tourist have been flocking there all summer. Minnesota Public Radio's Kate Beeman reports.
Diving for rail cars
They're dropping old mining equipment into a lake near Gilbert, Minnesota - hoping scuba divers will come for a look.
Business market their message at State Fair
Today is the last day of the Minnesota State Fair. As you walk through the fair, munching your food of choice, you probably don't think about the thousands of messages that bombard you. Businesses pay a few thousand dollars in licenses and fees to be at the fair and get their products, messages and images in front of up to one and a half million fairgoers each year. I had the chance to tour a little of the fair with marketing expert Diane Kearns of KC-Associates. We walked around and looked at which businesses are at the fair and how they were trying to market themselves. Diane says there are certain criteria companies should consider when deciding whether it is worthwhile for them to be at the fair.
Twins look ahead after players and owners srike deal
The Minnesota Twins open a two-game series in Seattle tonight, after losing three in a row to the Oakland Athletics. The Twins still lead the American League Central by 13 games. Twins players may be able to concentrate on playing baseball these days rather than on the team's possible demise, after a Friday agreement between the players' union and the team owners averted a strike. Over the weekend, legislators and sports fans alike were mulling over what that agreement means for the Twins. Joining us now to talk about that is MPR sports commentator and Star Tribune writer Jay Weiner.
Artist exhibits unique work at State Fair
You may have had your share of Pronto Pups, cheese curds, and farm machinery at the Minnesota State Fair, but have you run into any aliens yet? That's probably because they're hiding in the trailer park depicted in one artist's entry in this year's State Fair Art Exhibit. Minnesota Public Radio's Marlis Schmidt has this profile of Faye Passow.
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Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002 |
Tornado rips through Ladysmith, WI
Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum has declared the town of Ladysmith a disaster area after a tornado tore through the business district of that town yesterday afternoon. Governor McCallum will visit Ladysmith today to assess the damage.
No one was killed, but over 40 people were injured. Many buildings were damaged and others were completely destroyed, including a Baptist Church. Dean Meyer is the Rusk County Sheriff. He says emergency personnel are currently surveying the damage.
Twin Cities man drives through Ladysmith tornado
No one appears to have been killed by a tornado that tore through a small northwestern Wisconsin town. The tornado hit the town of Ladysmith late yesterday afternoon and destroyed buildings on the town's main street. Over 40 people were injured, and at least 60 buildings were damaged. Mike Kissin, a resident of the Twin Cities, was driving through Ladysmith when the tornado hit.
Understanding America after 9/11
For several years, Americans of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage have struggled to separate themselves from the stereotype of the Arab terrorist. That stereotype has become particularly troubling since Sept. 11, as Arab-Americans find themselves the targets of discrimination, harassment and abuse. In this report, Michigan Radio's Matt Shafer Powell takes a look at how one U.S group. -- the Chaldeans of suburban Detroit -- have sought refuge in those things that distinguish them from the terrorists of 9/11.
Effects of Minnesota's drunk driving felony sinking in
It has been one month since Minnesota joined most other states to make drunk driving a felony offense. Since Aug. 1, a fourth drunk driving arrest in a 10-year period is a felony. The charge carries up to seven years in prison. Before that, even the most notorious repeat offenders could not receive more than a gross misdemeanor and a year in county jail. The effects of the new law are just beginning to sink in, but many hope it is already starting to change attitudes and save lives. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich has the first in our two-part series.
Volunteers gear up to fight buckthorn
Hundreds of volunteers are gearing up for the annual battle against the invasive hedge plant buckthorn. Members of neighborhood groups, church organizations, and other clubs hunt the troublesome shrub in the fall because it stays green longer than many other plants. Efforts to fight buckthorn in the Twin Cities were given a boost this year by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
School districts launch cyber charters
Two Minnesota school districts are launching unique online learning programs this week. Hopkins and Chisago Lakes have broken new ground by creating cyber charter schools within their districts to deliver instruction to some students over the Internet instead of in traditional classrooms. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
North Dakota researchers working on e-coli vaccine
Researchers at North Dakota State University say they might have found the key to an effective vaccine for e-coli bacteria. Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest business news.
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Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 |
Hatch calls for Xcel probe
Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch is urging state utility regulators to extend an inquiry into Xcel Energy. Hatch says he's concerned the company won't protect Minnesota ratepayers from the financial difficulties of Xcel's troubled NRG Energy subsidiary. He has urged Xcel board members to fire CEO Wayne Brunetti. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
Memorial service planned for U of M football player
Hennepin County prosecutors are expected to file charges later today in the shooting death of a University of Minnesota football player. Brandon Hall, a 19-year-old defensive lineman, was shot to death over the weekend in the Warehouse District of Minneapolis. At a news conference yesterday, school officials announced a memorial service will be held at Williams Arena tomorrow evening. Head coach Glen Mason said the death of one of his players is a situation that he has never faced as a coach.
Ladysmith begins cleanup after Labor Day tornado
Ladysmith, Wisconsin residents spent yesterday cleaning up after a Labor Day tornado ripped through their town. There was plenty of work to do, from raking glass shards off of living room carpet to sawing up the fallen trees in yards and on roofs. Officials estimate the damage to be around $21 million. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms has more.
Siren offers Ladysmith some help and advice
Just over a year ago, another small Wisconsin town was hit by a big tornado. Residents of Siren watched last June as a storm ripped through their area, killing three people and damaging many homes and buildings. 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. Larry Blahauvietz is the Village President of Siren. He's on the line now.
Is smaller better?
Most high school students in Minneapolis and St. Paul are starting the school year this week under a new structure that stresses small-group experiences and personalized instruction. Supporters of the approach known as Small Learning Communities say students will see the relevance of their education by exploring various careers. Critics claim the schools are abandoning the liberal arts to become job training centers. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
First West Nile death in upper midwest
Doctors say an elderly Fargo man has died after contracting the West Nile virus. The man died late last week after developing encephalitis. The Centers for Disease Control says it's the first West Nile death in the upper midwest. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
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Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002 |
Budget cuts meet reality as schools reopen
Students are back in school this week, and those enrolled in financially-troubled school districts are feeling the consequences of recent budget cuts. Many schools reopened with fewer teachers, larger class sizes and higher activity fees. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Civil rights lawyers defend prisions in Guantanamo, Cuba
While Osama Bin Laden has never been captured, there are some 600 prisoners at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo, Cuba. The military says they're enemy combatants, allied with Bin Laden or the Taliban. However, they have never been charged with a formal crime, they are held in solitary cells, and the few who have lawyers aren't allowed to talk with them. Now a small band of civil rights lawyers has taken up their cause, and they say how the U.S. treats the prisoners in Cuba says more about America than it does about them. Mary Stucky reports.
Twins close in on playoffs
The Minnesota Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 last night, lowering their magic number for winning the American League Central to 11. Minnesota begins a big three-game series tomorrow night against the red-hot Oakland A's at the Metrodome, and officials expect attendance to be high. The A's are riding an AL record 20-game winning streak to town. If the season ended today, the A's would be the team the Twins would play in the first round of the playoffs. Joining us on the line is Dave St. Peter, vice president of business affairs with the Minnesota Twins.
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Friday, Sept. 6, 2002 |
U of M remembers slain football player
The University of Minnesota held a memorial last night for slain Gopher football player Brandon Hall. Hall was shot early Sunday morning during an altercation in downtown Minneapolis. The entire Gopher team and hundreds of spectators came to Williams Arena to remember Hall and support his family. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
State initial unemployment claims down from a year ago
The number of Minnesotans filing claims for jobless benefits fell by four percent in August compared to the same period last year. That's the fourth consecutive decline, but all have been small - less than 10 percent. 17, 810 people filed claims in August. Jay Mousa is the Director of Research at the Minnesota Department of Economic Security. He's on the line now.
Race for 6th District Senate seat heats up
A race for Minnesota's 6th District Senate seat may be coming down to a regional spat between two DFL candidates. The 6th District covers much of Minnesota's Arrowhead. Party-endorsed candidate Bruce Lotti is a political newcomer from Duluth. His challenger, Tom Bakk, is an Iron Range state representative. In this DFL-dominated district, Tuesday's primary vote might select the region's next state senator. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Documentary looks at reactions to Sept. 11, Pearl Harbor
In living memory, there have been just two devastating attacks against America. The Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Both times, the Library of Congress sent people out with audio recorders to capture the thoughts of ordinary Americans. Some of those recordings are being broadcast for the first time in a new documentary from American RadioWorks and the Center for Documentary Studies. That program, Days of Infamy: December Seven and Nine Eleven airs at noon today on Midday. This excerpt looks at how Americans talked about the "enemy" after Pearl Harbor... and after Sept. 11.
Nuclear power plants debate security after Sept. 11
Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, there has been a lot of speculation about other potential targets. One of the scenarios that has been talked about is the possibility of a jet crashing into a nuclear power plant. Since Sept. 11, the nuclear power industry and regulators have been trying to determine what other kinds of threats the plants might face. Progress has been slow. No one seems sure how much security is enough. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Lester Graham reports.
State business leaders consider impact of Sept. 11
The September 11th terrorist attacks took an immediate toll on Minnesota businesses. Now, a year later, business leaders and analysts are looking back to determine how much long-term damage the attacks really did, and which sectors of the Minnesota economy were hit hardest on September 11th. Mark Reilly covers those issues in this week's edition of The Business Journal. He says the attacks hit hard initially, but the lasting damage may not be as bad as originally thought.
Meteorologist discusses recent Minnesota weather
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses recent weather events, and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.
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