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March 10 - 14, 2003
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Monday, March 10, 2003 |
The positives and negatives of "No Child Left Behind"
The federal government has expanded its role in public schools by making unprecedented demands for raising student achievement. More than a year ago, President Bush signed into law sweeping changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The so-called "No Child Left Behind" law requires all states and local school districts to follow strict rules on student testing, teacher training, and accountability. All this week on Morning Edition, we will look at various aspects of the "No Child Left Behind" act. Supporters say the law ensures much needed school reform. But critics claim it is a threat to local decision making. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire has the first of our reports.
One in five Minnesotans have no health insurance
A recent report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimates that one in five Minnesotans had no health insurance for at least a portion of 2001 and 2002. The organization released the figures as part of Cover the Uninsured Week. The foundation, along with business, labor, and political leaders are joining together in hopes of finding a way to lower health care costs. Minnesota has one of the highest insurance rates in the country, but some argue that higher costs, increasing demand and state budget cutbacks will lower those rates. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Sviggum and Rest on the week ahead at the Capitol
The budget, education standards, and abortion. Those are the issues likely to dominate discussion at the Minnesota Legislature this week. Lawmakers are scrutinizing Governor Pawlenty's budget proposal to fix Minnesota's projected $4.2 billion shortfall in the next biennium. Joining us to talk about the session so far, and what to expect this week are House Speaker Steven Sviggum, a Republican from Kenyon, and Ann Rest, Assistant Majority Leader of the Senate and a DFLer from New Hope.
Chris Farrell previews the week on Wall Street
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the economy, and the upcoming meeting of the Federal Reserve.
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Tuesday, March 11, 2003 |
Commerce commissioner tells his side of insurance settlement
A former commerce commissioner now says officials in Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration knew of a political contribution from a Florida insurance company prior to their settlement of a claim against the insurer. And he says the donation led to a smaller fine. But Pawlenty officials maintain they had no knowledge of the contribution until press reports last week and negotiated the agreement in good faith. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Pawlenty tours state to promote budget plan
Gov. Tim Pawlenty hit the road Monday to promote his plan to solve the state's $4.2 billion budget deficit. At a public forum in Bemidji, the governor focused on economic development. Pawlenty presented his plan to create tax-free zones to attract businesses and create jobs. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports.
Lawmakers get first look at new academic standards
Minnesota lawmakers will get their first look at proposed new academic standards today. Education Commissioner Cheri Yecke will present a draft of the reading and math standards to both the House and Senate. The drafts could replace the Profile of Learning, which the Minnesota House has already voted to repeal. Mike Ricci was on the citizen committee which developed the new reading standards. He's also executive director of the New Spirit Charter School in St. Paul. He's on the line with us now.
No Child Left Behind law mandates qualified teachers
A major aim of the federal "No Child Left Behind" act requires that by 2005 every public school classroom is run by a highly qualified teacher. Supporters say too many U. S. public school students have teachers with marginal qualifications. The highly qualified teacher requirement, experts say, is the leading edge of a much deeper debate over what should be taught in American classrooms. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has the latest in our week-long series on the impact of the "No Child Left Behind" act.
Department of Homeland Security leader in town
One of the leaders of the new Department of Homeland Security is in the Twin Cities today. Michael Brown, the department's acting under secretary for emergency preparedness and response, will participate in a roundtable discussion this morning in St. Paul on citizen preparedness in the Twin Cities area. He says Americans need to be prepared for all kinds of disasters.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2003 |
Number of required tests for Minnesota students going up
The number of required tests for students in Minnesota public schools will nearly double in the next few years. New federal education rules in the No Child Left Behind act will require every state to have annual tests for third through eighth graders and high school students, as part of a tough new accountability system for identifying failing schools. Education officials say the added testing will help show where students need extra help. Critics claim the testing burden will grow too large and offer little valuable information. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire has the latest in a weeklong series of reports on the impact of No Child Left Behind.
Court of Appeals overturns immigrant license rules
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has struck down rules regarding immigrant driver licenses that were intended to tighten security in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The rules were enacted last year by former Department of Public Safety Commissioner Charlie Weaver. A coalition of groups including Jewish Community Action and the Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee argued the requirements discriminated against foreigners. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Xcel's suffers setback in effort to move nuclear fuel
Xcel Energy's efforts to move spent nuclear fuel away from Minnesota have suffered a setback. Federal regulators have denied Xcel's application to build a private nuclear waste storage facility in Utah. The denial comes as Xcel seeks to store more waste at its Prairie Island nuclear plant. A nuclear waste storage bill was introduced Monday at the state Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
Minneapolis may close four branch libraries
A Minneapolis public library board committee may approve a plan to close four branch libraries later today. The move will help the board move closer towards a goal of shaving $2 million from the library budget this year. Joining us on the line is Kit Hadley, executive director of the Minneapolis Public Libraries.
St. Paul considers cutting part-time recreation centers
Most of the attention on city budget cuts in Minneapolis and St. Paul has focused on their potential effects on public safety. But the Twin Cities face a number of other cuts that do not involve life or death, but do affect quality of life. This week, the St. Paul city council considers proposed spending cuts that include eliminating funding for part-time recreation centers. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports on what services might be affected.
Survey finds many ER patients are uninsured
A new national survey of emergency room doctors finds that one-third of the patients coming into the emergency room have no health insurance. The doctors also said that that percentage has increased noticeably in the last two years. Those are just some of the findings in the survey, which was sponsored by a diverse group of foundations, labor groups, and business groups which are conducting a week of activities under the name "Covering the Uninsured." Joining us to talk about the survey is Dr. Barbara LeTorneau, head of emergency medicine at Region's Hospital in St. Paul.
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Thursday, March 13, 2003 |
Federal education law includes tough accountability
New federal education rules could soon brand hundreds of Minnesota public schools as failures. The tough accountability provisions in the No Child left Behind act will place schools that fall below minimum test scores on a "needs improvement" list. The label is nothing new for most high-poverty, inner city schools. But now the state's top-performing schools are in danger of being tagged as they struggle to meet increasingly demanding performance measures. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Minneapolis prepares for cuts, neighborhoods worry
Minneapolis officials will meet today to set a budget reduction framework, clearing the way for department heads to start cutting staff. The reductions are in response to anticipated cuts in state aid that could trim the city's coffers by more than $40 million over the next two years. The budget situation has neighborhood groups worried about cuts to public safety programs, like community policing. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes has the first of our two reports.
Humanitarian organizations preparing to aid Iraqi refugees
If the United States goes to war with Iraq, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flee the country. Both public and private humanitarian organizations are making plans to aid those refugees. Hugh Parmer is the President of the American Refugee Committee, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that is planning to set up services in the Middle East. He's on the line now.
Coleman still opposes drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
A showdown is coming up in the U.S. Senate over whether to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Senate Republicans say they need just one more vote to pass a provision that would allow drilling in the Alaska refuge. That puts the pressure on lawmakers like Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. Coleman says he came to the debate opposing drilling.
Puckett the subject of Sports Illustrated article
Former Twins star Kirby Puckett is on the cover of the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. Puckett is the subject of an article about his baseball career and his personal life. It covers the golden days, when he helped the Twins win the World Series in 1987 and 1991. It also delves into his more recent troubles, including the breakup of his marriage and allegations of sexual misconduct. Puckett retired from baseball in 1996 after being diagnosed with glaucoma. Frank DeFord wrote the Sports Illustrated article, which is called, "The Rise and Fall of Kirby Puckett." DeFord joins on the line now.
U of M professor honored for immigration research
A University of Minnesota assistant professor is being honored this week for her research on Asian immigration history. Erika Lee has received a McKnight Land-Grant professorship for her work. The professorship will provide additional resources to continue her research. Lee says the U.S. government has changed its attitude toward immigrants since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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Friday, March 14, 2003 |
Winona hosts first public meeting on new academic standards
Minnesota's education commissioner hosted the first in a series of public meetings on proposed changes to K-12 academic standards last night in Winona. If state lawmakers approve the new standards this session, they'll replace the current standards known as the "Profile of Learning." Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke says its time for a change. But in Winona, her proposal got mixed reviews. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports.
Fewer Minneapolis police and firefighter layoffs than first feared
Layoffs for Minneapolis police and firefighters could begin as soon as today according to city officials, but the number of layoffs could be lower than first feared. The pink slips are a result of a city council vote yesterday to cut $20 million from the budget. The layoffs are in anticipation of a proposed cut in state aid to cities. Other departments will bring layoff strategies to the council in the next few weeks. A total of more than 400 employees could lose their jobs. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
No Child Left Behind act: The parent's view
The federal No Child Left Behind act promises parents they can send their child to a successful school if their home school is failing. The provision is a major selling point of the law. However, some parents ask what will happen to the children who stay behind in schools labeled as failures. And who will pay the cost of improving their schools? Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has the last of our week-long series of reports on the No Child Left Behind act.
Kids who curl
Dozens of college curling teams will be in the Twin Cities this weekend. They'll be playing for the national college curling championship. Curling clubs say they've had more young people try the sport since last year's Olympics. But curling doesn't have the same natural youth-appeal as football, basketball or snowboarding. So curling clubs make a point of bringing the game to kids. Chris Julin has this Mainstreet Radio report.
Former Afghan diplomat knows reality of war
War can bring big changes. Ghafar Lakanwal speaks five languages and holds a PhD. He's the former head of Afghanistan's U.N. delegation. Now he lives in the Twin Cities, running two restaurants. As Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports, Lakanwal says the story of his life contains a lesson for Americans.
More layoffs may come soon at Best Buy
More layoffs at Best Buy may be coming as soon as next week. Today's edition of The Business Journal reports that at least a couple hundred employees will be laid off by the electronics retailer, although the exact date of the layoffs is not known. The layoffs are largely expected to hit employees in finance and marketing. This would be Best Buy's third set of layoffs since October. Andrew Tellijohn covered the story for the The Business Journal. He says there are several reasons for the layoffs.
Warmer weather arrives
University of Minnesota meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend warmup.
Word of Mouth Roundup
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts looks at art and artists around the state this week.
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