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April 21 - 25, 2003
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, April 21, 2003 |
House to debate so-called "concealed carry" legislation
The Minnesota House is expected to debate a bill later this week that would allow almost any Minnesotan over the age of 21 without a criminal background to carry a handgun. Officials at schools around the state say they're concerned the bill would allow more guns at or near schools and colleges. They say if lawmakers pass the bill they should make it clear that even people with handgun permits should keep guns away from schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Lakers too much for Wolves in game one
The Minnesota Timberwolves opened a playoff series on their home court for the first time yesterday. But home court advantage was not enough for the T-Wolves, as they fell to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers 117 to 98. The Wolves say they may need to make some adjustments on defense when they try to bounce back in Game Two of their best of seven series tomorrow night. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the financial markets in light of the latest economic news.
Mother-daughter team from Minnesota out with first book
The authors of the new novel Monkeewrench will be at the "Once Upon a Crime" bookstore in Minneapolis tonight. Monkeewrench is a crime thriller, set in and around the Twin Cities, about a series of murders and the creators of a computer game which appears to be inspiring them. It is written by a mother and daughter team, P.J. and Traci Lambrecht, who use the pen name P.J Traci. P.J. and Traci have come by the studio to talk about their new book.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2003 |
Wild force seventh game
Minnesota's hockey season continues. The Minnesota Wild thrilled an overflow crowd in St. Paul last night, defeating the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime. With their second straight victory, the Wild pushed their Stanley Cup playoff series with favored Colorado into a decisive game seven. That game is tonight in Denver. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
ATV bill gets hearing in Senate committee
A controversial bill regulating off-highway vehicles on state lands gets a hearing in a Minnesota Senate committee today. Many all-terrain vehicle owners oppose the bill. They say it would limit their access to state forests. Environmentalists say ATVs are causing major damage to state lands. They say the Senate bill protects the land. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports.
DNR supports plan to allow bear hunters to use dogs
The Minnesota Legislature is a also considering a proposal from the Department of Natural Resources that would allow hunters to use dogs in their pursuit of black bears. A bill that has been introduced in the House would legalize a hunting practice that was banned 30 years ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin has this report.
Minnesota lawmakers have busy month ahead
Minnesota lawmakers are back at the Capitol today after a break for the Easter-Passover holiday. The state constitution says legislators have to finish their work by May 19th, and there's still a lot of work to do. At the top of the agenda is agreeing on a new state budget, in the face of a projected $4.2 billion shortfall. Joining us this morning are Republican House Speaker Steve Swiggum and DFL Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger.
HCMC to reorganize in face of budget shortfall
The Hennepin County Board is expected to vote today on a plan to reorganize Hennepin County Medical Center in the face of a budget shortfall. Many specifics haven't been released to the public yet, but news reports indicate the plan could change the hospital's role as a safety-net for uninsured Minnesotans. Mike Opat is the chair of the Hennepin County Board. He's on the line now.
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Wednesday, April 23, 2003 |
Senate transportation plan calls for higher gas tax
Senate DFLers today are proposing increasing the state gas tax and license tab fees to funnel additional money into road projects and mass transit. The plan amounts to roughly twice the transportation funding favored by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and House Republicans. It also runs afoul of Pawlenty's pledge not to raise state taxes during his time in office. But supporters say the state's transportation needs demand new revenue, and they say they're hopeful the governor and his GOP allies can be persuaded. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Wisconsin's response to CWD evaluated
A panel of national wildlife experts meets in Wisconsin this week. The scientists will judge how successfully the state has dealt with chronic wasting disease. Just over a year ago, the disease was discovered in Wisconsin's wild deer population. The finding triggered a dramatic and controversial response from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports.
Stanley Cup fever soars as Wild beat Avalanche
The Minnesota Wild will advance to the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs after defeating the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime last night in Denver. It's the first time the young franchise has won a playoff series. The game 7 victory last night completes the Wild's comeback after being down three games to one to the favored Avalanche. Doug Johnson is the Publisher of "Let's Play Hockey," and he's on the line now.
Timberwolves beat Lakers to tie series
The Minnesota Timberwolves bounced back from a 19-point loss in game one by walloping the Los Angeles Lakers 119-91 at Target Center last night. The victory means the best-of-seven series is tied at one game apiece as the teams travel to Los Angeles for games three and four. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.
Former state planning official out with book about nanotechnology
The Minnesota Planning agency officially disappears today. The agency provides policymakers information to help them position Minnesota for the future. Most of its functions will be transferred to the Department of Administration. Jack Uldrich was the director of the agency during the Ventura administration. Uldrich is still thinking about what's next for Minnesota, and he's written a book called The Next Big Thing is Really Small. The book is about nanotechnology, and how it could change our lives and our businesses. Nanotechnology deals with materials that, when reduced to an incredibly small size, turn out to have surprising strength as well as special qualities. Many scientists believe we're close to achieving this revolutionary step in technology. Author Jack Uldrich explains.
Macalester hopes wind turbine will save on electricity bill
Later today, Macalester College will turn on the switch on one of the first officially-sanctioned wind turbines in St. Paul. The school is hoping there's enough wind on its urban campus to save about $1000 a year on its electricity bill. Joining us on the line is Macalester's Tom Welna.
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Thursday, April 24, 2003 |
Gun bill gets to Senate floor through rare move
The Minnesota House has voted in favor of a bill that would change Minnesota's hand gun permitting process. House leadership used a parliamentary maneuver to force the Senate to vote on the bill. Supporters want to make changes to current law because they say local law enforcement has too much discretion over who receives a permit to carry a handgun. Opponents say the bill would allow almost any Minnesotan over the age of 21 to carry a firearm and would make the state more dangerous. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Neighborhood House to build memorial to Wellstone
Six months ago tomorrow, the news hit hard across Minnesota. Senator Paul Wellstone's plane crashed on October 25, 2002. Political campaigns all across the state were suspended. Senator Wellstone, his wife Sheila, his daughter Marcia, three campaign workers and two pilots went down in the crash near Eveleth. They all died. Weeks later, the man appointed to finish Senator Wellstone's term, Dean Barkley, successfully lobbied the federal government to commit 10 million dollars for a memorial to Wellstone's legacy. The money will go to Neighborhood House on the west side of St. Paul to build the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building. Minnesota Public Radio's Eugene Cha went to Neighborhood House to meet its president Dan Hoxworth and a few of the people who bring the place alive with activity. President Hoxworth says Neighborhood House has a long history in St. Paul.
Canada Lynx makes comeback in Minnesota
Northeast Minnesota is again home to an elusive wild cat. Canada lynx disappeared from the north woods about twenty years ago. Now, considered threatened, lynx are turning up in the Superior National Forest for the first time in decades. Biologists are trying to figure out why they've come back, and whether they'll stay. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
West Nile virus still a worry with coming mosquitos
Spring has finally arrived in Minnesota-- and mosquitos are sure to follow. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District has already been out trying to kill the insects. Their job has taken on new importance after the mosquito-borne West Nile virus arrived in Minnesota for the first time last year. So far, one thousand horses and 48 people have tested positive for the virus, and about 300 horses have died. Jim Stark works with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, and he's on the line now.
Declaration of Independence copy visits M.I.A.
One of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence is coming to Minnesota. Philadelphia printer John Dunlap made several hundred copies of the Declaration on July 4th, 1776 so it could be delivered to political and military leaders. Only 25 of the so-called "Dunlap Broadsides" are still around. One of them is owned by television producer Norman Lear who has organized a national tour around his copy. The exhibit opens at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts tomorrow. Norman Lear, who became famous as the creator of All in the Family told MPR's Jim Bickal that his copy was recently discovered inside a picture frame that was purchased for four dollars.
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Friday, April 25, 2003 |
Senate showdown set on gun issue
Opponents of a bill that would change the state's handgun permitting laws have conceded they can't stop permits from becoming easier to get. Supporters of the bill have been lobbying to change current law for seven years because they say local law enforcement has too much authority in denying permits. The Senate will take up the House version of the bill on Monday, after opponents failed yesterday to bring up a version of the measure they could modify. Because of parliamentary maneuvering by the House, the Senate will only be allowed to vote up or down on the bill without making changes. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
A new type of corn
They've been mocked as "franken-food." But far from stumbling, genetically-modified crops dominate the corn and soybean market. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Farmers oppose genetically-modified wheat
Farmers' love affair with genetically-modified crops is growing. The latest debate is over a new genetically-modified wheat variety, which is being developed by Monsanto. Monsanto is one of the largest distributors of high-tech crops. But farmers are urging Monsanto to keep Roundup Ready wheat in the laboratory. Dan Gunderson reports.
Advertising revenue up at commercial Twin Cities radio stations
Revenue for Twin Cities commercial radio stations is up so far this year. That's according to a new report by a Los Angeles group that compiles information submitted monthly by Twin Cities stations. Nicole Garrison is a media reporter for "The Business Journal." She covered the story for this week's edition of the paper. She says local companies are buying more ad time from Twin Cities radio stations than national companies.
Sen. Wellstone's legacy carried on by former staffers
It's been six months since Sen. Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash, and many of his former campaign workers and staffers are carrying on his work. The crash near Eveleth killed Sen. Wellstone, his wife Sheila, his daughter Marcia, three campaign workers and the two pilots. For Wellstone supporters, many of the past six months have been spent mourning all those who died. But a few weeks ago, a group of them started an effort to carry on his legacy called "Wellstone Action." Joining us on the line is Jeff Blodgett, former Wellstone campaign director executive director of "Wellstone Action."
Violinist Gil Shaham performs with St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Violinist Gil Shaham will perform Korngold's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major this weekend with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Shaham is a Grammy award winner and one of the world's most celebrated violin players. He joins us this morning in the studio.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend weather.
Word of Mouth
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts provides the scoop each week on the best of Minnesota's art scene, including theater, gallery shows, music, and spoken-word events.
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