|
December 2 - 6, 2002
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
|
Monday, Dec. 2, 2002 |
The effect of celebrity on court cases
Attorneys in the Kirby Puckett trial expect a judge to be assigned to the case this week. Puckett faces a February trial on charges that he dragged a woman into a restaurant bathroom and groped her there. The trial will draw public scrutiny mostly because of Puckett's celebrity status as a Hall of Fame baseball player. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports on how a trial can be affected by the fame of the defendant.
Rochester pro volleyball team in jeopardy
The United States Professional Volleyball League expects to know its fate this week. The women's volleyball league is made up of four teams including the Rochester-based Minnesota Chill. The other teams are in Illinois, Missouri and Michigan. The league's major investor says he needs the support of local investors if the league is to survive. If the league folds it won't be the first time Rochester has lost a sports franchise. The city has lost four since 1989. Minnesota Public Radio's Laurel Druley has this report.
New web site for Minnesota artists
The holiday season is prime time for arts organizations who want to lure big audiences to plays, concerts, and galleries. But despite the season, the financial future of the arts in Minnesota is expected to get worse, according to a recent report from the Minnesota Council on Foundations. The report said that arts philanthropy is expected to go down this year. The uncertain future for struggling artists prompted the McKnight Foundation to jump-start an online community for artists to connect with the public. Neal Cuthbert, arts program director at the McKnight Foundation, says they have recently upgraded the site at www.mnartists.org.
|
|
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002 |
St. Paul school board not requiring Pledge
The St. Paul school district will not mandate the Pledge of Allegiance in its classrooms. School board members voted down a proposal Monday requiring a daily opportunity for all elementary school students to recite the pledge. Instead, they'll let individual schools decide if they want to include the pledge and how often. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Health Department can collect health data
An administrative law judge has ruled that the Minnesota Health Department can move forward with plans to collect medical information on nearly every Minnesotan. The department has proposed collecting information, including names, birth dates and diagnoses, to help in treating illnesses around the state. Several groups testified against the proposal because they believed it violated patient privacy. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Minnesota Innocence Project's first case in court
The Minnesota chapter of the Innocence Project is in court trying to get a new trial for Darby Opsahl who was convicted of murder in 1992. Following a model used around the country, students at Hamline Law School have been reviewing court records in search of cases in which a defendant may have been wrongly convicted. This is the first Minnesota case to go to trial. After reexamining evidence and gathering new testimony, lawyers for the Innocence Project asked a judge to set aside Opsahl's conviction, and either grant a new trial, or let him go free. But yesterday, prosecutors opposed the move. Joining us on the line is Ed Magarian, an attorney for the Innocence Project.
Weather observers needed
When we hear that Embarrass Minnesota had the nation's low temperature on a frosty winter morning, or that Redwood Falls set a record high temperature in the heat of summer, the individuals calling in those readings are part of a special community. They are volunteer observers for the National Weather Service, and some of them have been taking temperature, rainfall and snowfall readings for more than 50 years.
That's the problem. Some of those hardy folks are getting out of the business, and the Weather Service is looking for a new generation of weather watchers. On the phone this morning, Jim Kline, the head of the Weather Service's Cooperative Weather Observer program.
|
|
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002 |
Previewing the state budget forecast
State finance officials release the latest revenue forecast today, and the news won't be good. The forecast is expected to show a budget deficit of at least $3 billion. A relatively small portion of that comes from the last two-year budget cycle, but the main challenge is balancing the budget for the next biennium. Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty says he won't raise taxes to balance the budget, and he may be eying the state's tobacco endowments as part of his budget solution. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
St. Cloud State settles allegations of anti-semitism
St. Cloud State University and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system have reached an agreement with faculty members who alleged they were victims of anti-semitism. The University has agreed to pay about one million dollars over the next five years. The settlement also calls for building a center for Jewish studies, and for the University to make changes to its affirmative action and personnel policies. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Vikings on stadium in suburbs or on U of M Campus
The Minnesota Vikings and state lawmakers are expected to meet later today for informal talks on reviving a possible stadium deal on the University of Minnesota campus. Last month, the Vikings and Gophers failed to agree on an on-campus site, and haggled over who would operate the facility. Soon after talks broke off, the Vikings said a site in the suburbs would be an option the team would like to explore. Yesterday, Columbus Township in Anoka County said they have an 800 acre site that would work for the team. Joining us on the line is Minnesota Vikings executive vice president Mike Kelly.
More Minnesotans heating homes with natural gas
A growing number of Minnesotans are heating their homes with natural gas. Consumers are likely to pay higher natural gas bill's for this month compared with the same period last year. But state energy experts say natural gas is still the cheapest way to heat your home. As Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports, more homeowners are moving toward high efficiency natural gas furnaces. They're even converting wood-burning fireplaces to gas.
Roger the Rigger moving Egyptian Art
Some very large and fragile pieces of ancient Egyptian art have arrived in Minnesota. They are part of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts new exhibit, "Eternal Egypt" which opens later this month. The exhibit's 144 treasures include massive and irreplaceable granite sculptures. Moving them requires the deft touch of a rigger and a mighty big elevator. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
|
|
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002 |
State budget shortfall is $4.5 billion
Minnesota's state budget deficit is now predicted to be much larger than previously expected. State finance officials yesterday forecast the shortfall will swell to more than $4.5 billion over the next two-and-a-half years: roughly 50 percent larger than most previous estimates. The gap is officially due to sagging tax receipts and higher-than-anticipated spending. But politicians and interest groups have their own ideas about how to assign blame. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty exceprt on the deficit
The state budget deficit is forecast to be $4.5 billion over the next two-and-a-half years. The size of the projected shortfall was bigger than expected, and state economist Tom Stinson says the forecast doesn't take into account possible war with Iraq, or another terrorist attack. The deficit announcement is bad news for governor elect Tim Pawlenty, who will be sworn into office in early January. Pawlenty, a Republican who campaigned on a no new taxes pledge, reacted to the announcement at a news conference yesterday. Here's some of what he had to say.
Cities worried about big state budget deficit
The announcement of a big budget deficit for the state of Minnesota is expected to have a ripple effect for cities and local governments all cross the state. Budget forecasters say the deficit is about $4.5 billion over the next two-and-a-half years. Joining us on the line is Gary Carlson, a lobbyist at the state capitol for the Minnesota League of Cities.
New law may spur more organ donation
The organ donation group LifeSource hopes that a new law that took effect in Minnesota this week will increase the number of organs available for transplanting. The law makes a person's wish to become an organ donor legally binding after their death. The desire to donate organs is usually recorded on a person's drivers license. The law also includes funding for public education about organ donation. Joining us in the studio is LifeSource spokeswoman Susan Mau Larson.
|
|
Friday, Dec. 6, 2002 |
Ideas emerging on fixing projected $4.5 billion deficit
State policy-makers are warning they are still months away from plugging the projected $4.5 billion deficit announced Wednesday. Still, bits and pieces of budget-balancing ideas are beginning to emerge at the state Capitol. The legislative session does not begin for another month, but lawmakers nevertheless held meetings yesterday to begin talking about how to tackle the problem. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Former finance commissioner says change budget process
The announcement that the state's budget shortfall would be $4.5 billion over the next two-and-a-half years has caused many of you to say what you think on our web site at Minnesota Public Radio dot org. One of those commentaries came from Tom Triplett, who was revenue commissioner, and then later, finance commissioner under Democratic governor Rudy Perpich in the 1980's. Joining us in the studio this morning is Tom Triplett.
2002 Senate race was most expensive in state history
The latest campaign spending reports confirm that Minnesota's U.S. Senate race was by far the most expensive in the state's history. The race, considered one of the most competitive in the nation, ended with Republican Norm Coleman defeating former Vice President Walter Mondale. Mondale entered the race after DFL Senator Paul Wellstone died 11 days before election day. In total, Mondale, Wellstone and Coleman raised nearly 25 million dollars. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Special education "time out" rooms debated
Parents of children with behavioral disorders say the use of locked "time-out" rooms in Minnesota schools is an inhumane punishment and should be prohibited. State education officials are proposing a ban of such rooms, along with other changes in special education discipline rules. But several school administrators and special education teachers testified in a public hearing in Roseville Thursday that locked isolation is sometimes necessary to keep their classrooms safe. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
More Minnesotans opening franchises
The Minnesota Department of Commerce has noticed an uptick in the number of people opening franchises. The rising interest in franchising is the topic of an article in this week's edition of "The Business Journal." Joining us in the studio is Andrew Tellijohn, the reporter who wrote the article. He says Minnesota is one of a few states where franchisees have to register with the state.
New public art in St. Paul hopes to inspire more
Work crews in St. Paul braved the cold Thursday to erect two giant steel oak leaves that tower over a set of colorful public benches. Sponsors of the sculpture say it is the first artist-designed bus shelter in the city, and they hope it will be inspiration for more public art on a notoriously bland commercial strip. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Lutefisk tradition strong in Minneapolis
This afternoon at 3:00 a couple thousand people will gather at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis for the annual lutefisk supper. It is traditionally one of the biggest events on the Minnesota lutefisk calendar.
Believe it or not, there are roving bands of lutefisk lovers who make the rounds of church suppers, in search of the perfectly prepared Scandinavian dish. Ellie and Wendell Holmgren of Edina usually make it to about six lutefisk suppers a year, though their record is twelve. I stopped their home to ask the obvious question, why?
St. John's coach goes for milestone this weekend
St. John's football coach John Gagliardi goes for win number 400 this Saturday when the Johnnies travel to Oregon to play Linfield in the third round of the Division III playoffs. Joining us now is MPR Sports Commentator Jay Weiner.
|
| Morning Edition Archive |
|
|
|
© 2024 | Home : Terms of Use : Your Privacy Rights