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September 16 - 20, 2002
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Monday, Sept. 16, 2002 |
Growth grates at Lake Elmo sensibilities
The small eastern Twin Cities suburb of Lake Elmo is in a dispute with the Metropolitan Council over how quickly it should grow. Last week, the Met Council told Lake Elmo it needs to accommodate more growth than the city is willing to accept. Lake Elmo residents say they want to preserve their city's rural feel and open space.
Tough times ahead for Northwest
Northwest Airlines has yet to emerge from the perilous downturn in the travel industry, although the airline is performing better than most of its peers. Flights are filling up, but Northwest is flying fewer planes and making less money off their once all-important business travelers. Now the Eagan-based airline is asking its employees to help it avoid sinking any further. But the airline's unions say they don't trust Northwest's management, and they will resist giving back what they call hard-won wages and benefits. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
Profile: Roger Moe
For the last 22 years, DFL Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe has run Minnesota's Senate. He has held that position longer, by far, than any lawmaker in state history. But this year, he'll step down. Or step up, if he has his way, into the governor's office. His supporters say his experience and years at the Capitol are evident in his ideas and his style. His detractors say the same. In the latest in our series of candidate profiles, Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo examines Roger Moe.
Minnesota farmers could see good harvest, high prices
Many Minnesota farmers are expecting a big harvest and good prices this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has raised its yield forecasts for the state's corn and soybean crops, while national forecasts show crops in other parts of the country have been damaged by severe weather. Michael Hunst is the State Agricultural Statistician. He's on the line now.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news and numbers.
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Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002 |
Dead heat
The governor's race is locked in a virtual three-way tie between DFLer Roger Moe, Republican Tim Pawlenty, and Independence Party candidate Tim Penny. A new poll from Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows the three clumped tightly together as the campaigns head into the final two months before the election. Green Party candidate Ken Pentel trailed a distant fourth and is in danger of losing major party status for the Greens. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
New census data shows state's Asian residents doing well
New data from the U.S. Census shows the state's Asian population is economically well-off compared to other minority populations in the state. While the 1990's were a prosperous time for Minnesota as a whole, the numbers show many minority groups did not prosper as much as their white neighbors. The new round of figures also pinpoints the number of Somalis in the state for the first time. The figure mirrors other official estimates but is much lower than what some Somali leaders say. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Profile: Pentel
Green Party gubernatorial candidate Ken Pentel says Governor Ventura's surprise victory four years ago shows Pentel has a chance to win this year. Pentel is making his second gubernatorial bid, after getting less than 1 percent of the vote in 1998. This time, he's included in the debates and will get nearly $240,000 in public financing. In the last in our series of gubernatorial candidate profiles, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the major party candidate with the least name recognition.
Ad Watch; With time running out, gloves are off
A new television ad promoting Republican Norm Coleman's U.S. Senate campaign is drawing criticism from the re-election campaign of DFL Senator Paul Wellstone. The ad, put together by the Republican Party of Minnesota, attacks Wellstone for votes against military spending, tax cuts and welfare reform. There's agreement across the board that this ad makes the already hotly-contested Senate race even more contentious. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Milken Institute ranks Minnesota 10th in technology
Minnesota ranks 10th in the nation for investments in science and technology according to a new study from the Milken Institute. Massachusetts is the top state in the nation, with Colorado and California right behind. Minnesota's top-ten ranking makes it the leading state in the midwest. Joining us on the line is Ross DeVol, director of regional studies for the California-based Milken Institute and lead author of the State Technology and Science Index.
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Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002 |
Voters making up their minds; it's close
A new Minnesota Public Radio and St. Paul Pioneer Press poll indicates the U.S. Senate race remains very tight. Despite millions of dollars in campaign spending, DFL Senator Paul Wellstone and Republican challenger Norm Coleman are locked in a statistical dead heat. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
F. Scott Fitzgerald conference gets underway in St. Paul
F. Scott Fitzgerald scholars and fans from around the world are gathering in St. Paul this week for the Sixth International F. Scott Fitzgerald Society conference that begins today. Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul and became a literary sensation in the 1920's. The conference is in St. Paul for the first time and runs for the rest of the week. Joining us on the line is Dr. Eleanor Heginbotham, professor at Concordia University and co-chair of the conference.
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Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002 |
Special session on flood aid, other issues, begins
Lawmakers will return to the state Capitol today to deal with three items, most notably a flood relief plan for northern Minnesota. Governor Ventura has called the special session to provide financial assistance to farmers, homeowners, and business owners harmed by the floods in June. Lawmakers are also expected to deal with two tax-related items. Legislative leaders say they expect the session to be short and are urging legislators to refrain from attaching other legislation to any of the bills. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Lawmakers hope to fix tax issue on charitable giving
In addition to flood relief, lawmakers are expected to vote on a change in the tax code which will allow some wealthy taxpayers to continue deducting charitable contributions. About 70,000 of the state's two million taxpayers pay something called the Alternative Minimum Tax. The State Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that those taxpayers cannot deduct charitable contributions from their state taxes. That ruling has some charities and non-profit groups worried. Joining us on the line is Craig Wruck, Vice President of Philanthropic and Charitable Services at U.S. Trust.
A new plan to mitigate flooding
Residents of the Red River Valley are all too familiar with flooding. It's a common routine. Flood waters threaten towns. Roads and bridges wash away. Homes and crops are destroyed. But there's a plan that some people say will help. It is coming from researchers at the Energy and Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
MPR Poll results on budget and taxes
A new poll finds the state budget and taxes are foremost on many voters' minds when it comes to this year's governor's race. The MPR-St. Paul Pioneer Press poll found respondents prefer balancing the budget with spending cuts instead of raising taxes. Yet more than half of poll respondents also support a gas tax increase, and three out of five would back a cigarette tax hike. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Solheim Cup preparations in full swing
The best women golfers in the world wrap up practice rounds for the Solheim Cup today at Interlachen Country Club in Edina. The team competition, which begins tomorrow, pits the top players from the U.S. against the top players from Europe every two years. The European team currently holds the cup after a victory in Scotland in 2000, but U.S. players and coaches say the home course advantage this year should help the Americans. Joining us on the line is Jock Olson, Interlachen's Director of Golf.
Landscapes at the Minneapolis Istitute of Arts
Rocky Mountain peaks, roaring waterfalls, and New England sun sets will fill the walls of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts starting Sunday. The M.I.A. is opening a new exhibit called American Sublime: Epic Landscapes of Our Nation: 1820-1880. The exhibit features some of America's most influential landscape artists of the 19th century - artists such as Frederic Church, Thomas Cole, and Albert Bierstadt. Patrick Noon is the curator of paintings at the M.I.A. He says these paintings come from a time when America was finding its identity.
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Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 |
Flood relief, minor tax changes, passes legislature
The Minnesota House and Senate have unanimously passed a flood relief plan yesterday to help the residents of northwestern Minnesota. The 31.8 million dollar package will provide economic assistance to businesses, homeowners and farmers in the 19 county area. Lawmakers also unanimously passed two tax-related items. All three bills now head to Governor Jesse Ventura, who's expected to sign them. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
MPR poll on corporate scandal
A Minnesota Public Radio and St. Paul Pioneer Press poll conducted last week found that only about half of Minnesotans believe business leaders generally act in an ethical manner. The poll also found about half, 54 percent, say their opinion regarding the ethics of business leaders has gotten worse in the past year. The poll was taken last week as fraud charges were brought against former Tyco executives. In July, amid a wave of accounting scandals, Congress passed a slate of new laws designed to prevent corporate misbehavior. Experts disagree on whether the new regulations will be effective. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
Wind power may be spreading across Minnesota
Along with red barns and weathervanes, the rickety wooden windmill is a staple of the Midwest landscape. Many of these old farm windmills are still working hard today, but lately they're being overshadowed by a new breed -- taller, sleeker, and much stronger. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Minnesota AIDS research to lead $3 million study
The Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation has won a 3 million contract with the Centers for Disease Control to study some of the consequences of successful treatments for AIDS. The development of effective therapies and drugs to fight AIDS has kept people alive much longer than if the disease were allowed to run its course. This change in the natural evolution of AIDS, and the consequences of that change, is the focus of the study. Dr. Keith Henry is Director of H.I.V. Clinical Research at Hennepin County Medical Center, and is leading the study.
Senior co-ops hot trend in Twin Cities housing
A new trend in housing, senior co-ops, is getting a major boost in the Twin Cities. New co-ops are planned for cities like Maple Grove, Roseville and Woodbury. The developer is United Properties which wants to capitalize on trends that make senior co-ops a growing area in the housing market. The move to build these properties is the topic of an article in today's edition of The Business Journal. Reporter Scott Smith wrote the article. He says co-ops are arranged so a corporation owns the building, and instead of buying a unit, residents buy a share of the corporation. He says co-ops also have advantages for seniors over renting.
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