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November 18 - 22, 2002
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Monday, Nov. 18, 2002 |
Northwest Airlines awaits ruling on ticketing alliance
Northwest Airlines is awaiting a ruling from the federal government on its proposed ticketing alliance with Delta and Continental Airlines. If the federal government approves the alliance, the three airlines will coordinate flights and frequent flyer programs, but will not merge any parts of their businesses. The three airlines also plan to link up with the worldwide Skyteam alliance, which includes Air France and Alitalia. Northwest says its proposed alliance with Delta and Continental will help it endure difficult times. But smaller airlines and consumer advocates say the alliance could mean less competition and higher air fares. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
Metropolitan Council awaits Pawlenty stamp
One of the most far-reaching results of the Minnesota election is the power of appointment. Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty's victory allows him to name dozens of people to powerful positions. Among them are the 17 members of the Metropolitan Council. During his campaign, Pawlenty said the agency's mission needs to be redefined. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
Hunting for Answers
The deer hunting tradition in Minnesota has been built over generations. Nearly half a million people participate each year. Though this year's hunt has been overshadowed by the threat of chronic wasting disease, it hasn't kept hunters out of the woods. For many, the annual gathering is as important as Christmas, and as much a family reunion as an opportunity to kill a deer. In the first story of our series "Hunting for Answers," Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson spends time at a family hunting shack in Aitkin County.
Monday Markets
Well, normally at this time we hear from Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell. Chris is out of town today so we're checking in with Art Rolnik, senior vice president and director of research at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve. Rolnick says the economy has performed better than expected since the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Ann Reed out with a new CD
Singer-songwriter Ann Reed has released a new CD called "Gift of Age." Over the last decade, Reed has won several times at the Minnesota Music awards, taking home prizes for Artist of the Year and Folk Singer of the Year. She says she got the inspiration for the name "Gift of Age" as she was turning 40.
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Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002 |
Hatch gives money for Pawlenty transition
Attorney General Mike Hatch has given $250,000 from his budget to help Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty with transition costs. The move is unusual because Hatch is a Democrat and Pawlenty is a Republican. But Pawlenty's ability to set up his office was hurt because of legislative budget cuts, which the new governor helped engineer. Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty joins us now.
U of M scientists study brain and decision-making
Economists have traditionally based their work on a simple premise: people make logical decisions in their own best interests. But over the past few decades researchers have proved that's often not true, that people frequently make decisions irrationally. Researchers at the University of Minnesota are taking a new look at how people make decisions by studying the brain. Their inquiries are part of a growing field called neuro-economics. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
Hunting for answers to the CWD mystery
State wildlife officials have embarked on a different kind of hunt this deer season. They're not wearing blaze orange. Instead they're wearing lab coats and protective eyewear. It's all part of an intricate plan to determine whether or not chronic wasting disease has invaded Minnesota's deer population. Over the next few months thousands of deer brains from across the state will be analyzed for traces of the fatal disease. As part of our series "Hunting for Answers," Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally reports on the search for CWD.
New documentary takes a look at Ben Franklin
Americans are about to be re-introduced to Benjamin Franklin, thanks to a new documentary produced by Twin Cities Public Television. Franklin is best known for flying his kite during a thunderstorm to learn about electricity and for his role as a founding father of this country. But those are just snapshots of his life and career. Carol Berkin is a professor of history at the City University of New York. She says Franklin was a complex man.
Leonid meteor shower provides a good show
Amateur astronomers and skywatchers are taking a final look at the last Leonid meteor shower to be seen in this part of the world for almost a century. The eastern sky has been full of thousands of meteors this morning, which are now obscured by the dawn of the rising sun. The Minneapolis Planetarium is wrapping up a public viewing event at Afton State Park, and planetarium director Bob Bonadurer joins us on the line now.
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Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2002 |
Coleman speaks on agriculture policy
Last night, U.S. Sen.-elect Norm Coleman gave his first policy speech since the election. The topic was agriculture. Coleman offered few specifics but received a standing ovation from members of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
Qwest avoids harsh penalties
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has rejected proposals to break up the Minnesota operations of Qwest Communications or to impose fines of $200 million or more. Instead, the PUC has ordered Qwest to file at least two separate plans for furthering local telephone competition in Minnesota. The commission's action concluded a day-long hearing yesterday scheduled to discuss penalties for Qwest's secret deals with competitors. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
Deer season brings in big bucks
For many businesses in rural Minnesota, the firearms deer season and the weeks proceeding it are among their busiest times of the year. In the latest story in our series "Hunting for Answers," Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports that deer hunting continues to pump millions into the state's economy despite concerns about chronic wasting disease.
Sen. Dean Barkley votes for Homeland Security bill
The U.S. Senate has passed legislation to create a Department of Homeland Security to guard against terrorist attacks on US soil. Minnesota's Interim Sen. Dean Barkley voted for the bill. Earlier in the day, he voted against a Democratic amendment that would have stripped the bill of a number of special interest provisions included by Republicans. Sen. Dean Barkley joins us now.
CWD found in wild elk in South Dakota
A wild elk from South Dakota has tested positive for chronic wasting disease. The elk was part of a herd on national park land in southwestern South Dakota. Workers at Wind Cave National Park noticed the elk showing symptoms of the fatal brain disease. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
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Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002 |
Minneapolis parks looking for places to cut
Longer grass, fewer ice skating rinks and a two-week shutdown of all city parks are some of the proposals for trimming $1.8 million from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board budget next year. The plan offered by parks Superintendent Mary Merril Anderson last night would cut up to eight positions. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Four college-age adults still missing
In the two weeks after Halloween, three college men disappeared from Minneapolis, Collegeville, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Around the same time, a 21-year-old woman in Brainerd failed to show up for work and has not been seen since. Despite constant media exposure and massive search efforts, all four are still missing. Authorities are still waiting for the one tip or stoke of luck that might yield some answers. If the cases are linked, a break in one might solve them all. At this point, however, it seems just as likely that the four are only connected by a tragic coincidence. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Processing without rules
Minnesota and Wisconsin hunters will shoot thousands of deer this season. All of the deer carcasses will then be butchered. With the specter of chronic wasting disease in the deer herd, sanitary processing and procedures are more important than ever. State and federal officials regulate the nation's domesticated meat industry, with standards, licensing and regular inspections. But no one directly regulates deer processing. Some say that's a big hole in the nation's food safety net that needs closing. In the latest story in our series "Hunting for Answers" Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
American Cancer Society urges people to quit smoking
The American Cancer Society is urging people to quit smoking today. The organization its holding its annual Great American Smokeout, a day set aside to encourage tobacco users to break the habit. Dr. Anne Joseph is an internist at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center and a tobacco researcher. She's also on the board of the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco. She joins us now.
U of M women's basketball has new coach, lots of experience
The University of Minnesota women's basketball team returns to action this weekend after one of their most successful seasons ever. The team was 22-8 last year and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. But their coach, Brenda Oldfield, left for a job at the University of Maryland and was replaced by Pam Borton, who was the associate head coach at Boston College. Borton now leads an experienced team with five returning starters, including Big Ten Player of the Year Lindsay Whalen. Borton says her first goal was getting the players to trust her.
MNdot testing new winter technology
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will test some new technology this winter for keeping roads safe during snow and ice. MNdot officials say they'll try automatic safety gates for closing off highways during dangerous driving conditions -- and some new bridge de-icing techniques. The bridge de-icers will be tested on I-90 in southwestern Minnesota. Jim Kranig is the director of the Intelligent Transportation System at MNdot. He says each bridge will have automated equipment that will monitor weather conditions.
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Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 |
Minneapolis councilman convicted of five fraud charges
A federal jury has convicted Minneapolis City Council member Joe Biernat of five felony charges related to allegations he received free plumbing work in exchange for a vote. The jury acquitted Biernat of the most serious corruption charges he faced -- extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion. But each felony he was convicted of carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a quarter of a million dollars fine. Federal prosecutors say it's likely Biernat will face jail time. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports on yesterday's verdict.
Minneapolis leaders say Biernat should resign or be removed
Joe Biernat's guilty verdict has set in motion a process to replace him. Minneapolis leaders say it's clear Biernat should resign or be removed from office. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports, if Biernat doesn't step down voluntarily, it's not clear whether he's required to.
Taxidermists unsure of the future
Many hunters dream of having that trophy deer head above their fireplace mantle. Ask anyone with a mount on their wall, and they can tell you every detail of the day they bagged it. Many say this is a pivotal deer season. Fears of chronic wasting disease may keep hunters home. Yet, many taxidermists believe this year their business will boom. They say hunters may be less interested in the meat but are hunting for that mountable trophy. As our series "Hunting for Answers" continues, Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland takes a look at the taxidermy business.
New nature sanctuary will be named for Vento
The late Congressman Bruce Vento will soon have a nature sanctuary named after him. The city of St. Paul, the Minnesota DNR, and several other groups are announcing later today the acquisition of a 27-acre piece of land along the Mississippi River. The land will be turned into a park and nature sanctuary, and it will be named after Vento, who died two years ago after a battle with lung cancer. Vento was known for his tireless work on the environment. Ann Ketz is an historical and archaeological consultant with the 106 Group. She's been studying the area that will become the sanctuary, and she joins us now.
Vikings exhibit opens at Science Museum
A new exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota displays the history and significance of something that happened about 1000 years ago. It was then that the Vikings of northern Europe landed their ships on North American soil. The exhibit has been touring the country for more than two years and opens to the public at the Science Museum tomorrow. Morning Edition's Eugene Cha got an early peak at the exhibit, and met with Doctor Bill Fitzhugh, director of the Arctic Study Center at the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History. Doctor Fitzhugh says the exhibit traces the Vikings' travels across the North Atlantic seas to the New World, which they called Vineland.
Housing in Twin Cities affordable compared to other cities
The Twin Cities is an affordable place to rent or own a home compared to other large metropolitan areas around the country. That's according to figures from the 2000 Census and an analysis done by "The Business Journal," which published their findings in this week's edition of the paper. Joining us in the studio is Scott Smith, who wrote the article.
Meteorologist Mark Seeley
Mark Seeley, a meteorologist and climatologist from the University of Minnesota, discusses Minnesota weather patterns.
Word of Mouth
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts looks at art and artists around the state.
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