|
July 21 - 25, 2003
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
|
Monday, July 21, 2003 |
Twin Cities civic and business leader dies
A giant of the Twin Cities business community has died. Retailer and philanthropist Kenneth Dayton died on Saturday just short of his 81st birthday. Dayton died of complications from a debilitating blood disease. He was a pacesetting businessman who helped to change corporate and personal philanthropy in the Twin Cities and the nation. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak remembers Kenneth Dayton
Joining us now is Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, to talk about Ken Dayton.
Critics say telecommunications company misled customers
New Access Communications has drawn customer complaints from Minnesotans similar to complaints in other states which led to regulatory fines. Gov. Tim Pawlenty had connections to the Minneapolis-based telephone company while he served in the Legislature. New Access officials say the vast majority of their customers are satisfied despite consumer protection settlements in three states and an ongoing investigation in Minnesota. But critics say New Access misled customers about pricing and, in some cases, took over people's telephone service without their permission, a process called "slamming." Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Changes coming to U of M Extension Service
University of Minnesota Extension Service officials announce some big changes today. The plan closes many of the state's 91 county extension offices. They'll be replaced with 18-20 regional centers. Extension officials say the move will save money during tight budget times. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
|
|
Tuesday, July 22, 2003 |
Pawlenty releases contract
Gov. Pawlenty has filed a new statement of economic interest with the state Campaign Finance board. He's also registered a now-defunct consulting business with the state's legal practices board. The new filings came yesterday and are an attempt to dispel controversies surrounding his use of a one-man consulting business to accept payments from a pay-phone company. But Democrats say the forms aren't enough. They're asking the governor to release his personal income tax statements. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Mediation aims to resolve deadlock over Stillwater bridge
The 30-year-old Stillwater bridge controversy is drawing the attention of Congress and the Bush administration. They want the environmental stalemate solved. Traffic tie-ups at the old, two-lane bridge are growing. One reason is the explosive growth in Wisconsin's St. Croix County. The Sierra Club says the congestion can be remedied in part by funneling more Wisconsin drivers to the nearby I-94 bridge. Supporters of a new Stillwater bridge say the Sierra Club plan doesn't deal with population growth in western Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
Lessons from Iowa's design of the state's quarter dollar
This week, Governor Pawlenty is expected to name a commission to help choose the design on the back of the Minnesota quarter. One by one, the U.S. Mint is releasing quarters with designs from each state, and Minnesota's coin is scheduled to come out in 2005. The governor's commission will gather citizen input and narrow the designs to five finalists. Iowa has just finished the process, releasing its quarter design late last week. Des Moines Register columnist Rob Borsellino says it is based on a Grant Wood painting called "Arbor Day."
Mayo Clinic studies the "yips"
Golfers fear it, and experts say it can add five strokes to a players game. We're talking about the "yips." As Mainstreet Radio's Rob Schmitz reports, Rochester's Mayo Clinic is trying to find the cause.
Memorial concert for Ken Dayton to be held later this week
A memorial concert for family, friends and associates of Ken Dayton is being planned for later this week. It will be performed by members of the Minnesota Orchestra in the sanctuary of Westminster Church in Minneapolis. Dayton, who died at the age of 80 on Saturday, is being remembered as a retailer who believed it was good business to give back to the community. His philanthropic philosophy became a national model. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
|
|
Wednesday, July 23, 2003 |
Census tells more about Hmong population
New information released by the Census today gives a more detailed look at the state's Hmong population. When the Census was taken in 2000, Hmong Minnesotan's held jobs, but a third of them lived below the federal poverty line. The majority of Hmong are foreign-born, but over 30 percent are born in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
U of M solar car to finish race in California
The University of Minnesota's solar car, the Borealis II, has one last chance today to catch the leader in the last leg of the American Solar Challenge. It's a race from Chicago to Claremont, California, and the U of M team is 5 hours behind a team from the University of Missouri at Rolla. The cars in the race must be powered solely by the sun. Joining us on the line as he prepares for the last day of the race is Travis Lee, the Borealis II team leader who's in Barstow, California, 90 miles away from the finish line.
Sheep shearer is one of best in the country
Doug Rathke turned his enthusiasm into a living. Doug Rathke shears sheep for a living and competes in sheering competitions around the country and abroad. In this weeks edition of our series, The Enthusiasts, Minnesota Public Radio's Steve Nelson pays a visit to Doug Rathke's farm near Hutchinson and meets Rathke, his sheep, and his electric clippers in a big white sheering barn.
Flash mob hits Mall of America
The trendy "flash mob" phenomenon has arrived in the Twin Cities. "Flash mobs," a sort of performance art in which a group of people organized over the Internet mysteriously gather in a public place, do something strange and then quickly disperse, have been occuring lately in New York and San Francisco. Last night, a flash mob was created at the Mall of America in Bloomington. The details of a flash mob activity are kept secret until just before the event begins. Luckily Minnesota Public Radio's Nikki Tundel was tipped off to last night's gathering and went out to the Mall of American to check it out.
|
|
Thursday, July 24, 2003 |
Wisconsin soldier laid to rest
A Wisconsin Army reservist was buried Wednesday in Spooner, Wisconsin. Sgt. First Class Dan Gabrielson died in Iraq on July 9, when his truck was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. His nephew -- also a reservist in the same platoon -- accompanied Gabrielson's remains home to Spooner for the funeral. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Paul's big move
The Crow Wing County planning commission will decide the future of two of its most famous residents. Simply put, it's a question of zoning. But the commission's ruling will determine whether Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox can move to a new home. Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter reports.
Only governor to lose recall election was in N. Dakota
The California Secretary of State confirms that county election officials have validated more than enough petition signatures to trigger a recall election for Gov. Gray Davis. Davis would be the first California governor to face a recall election. Only one governor in U.S. history has ever lost such an election. That was North Dakota Gov. Lynn Frazier, who was kicked out of office in 1921, in the middle of a two-year term. Dr. David Danbom is a professor of history at North Dakota State University in Fargo. He's on the line now.
Four-team trade lands Sprewell at Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have completed a four-team trade that brings New York Knicks guard Latrell Sprewell to Minnesota. Sprewell is infamous for attacking his coach in 1997. To get Sprewell, the Wolves are giving up injured guard Terrell Brandon and forward Mark Jackson. The deal is the latest in a series of transactions that have transformed the Timberwolves lineup. Joining us on the line is Brit Robson, who covers the team for the CityPages.
|
|
Friday, July 25, 2003 |
New state report cards will grade every school
State education officials plan to grade public schools based on student test scores in math and reading. Next month, all elementary and secondary schools will receive a grade of one to five stars. The rating is part of a new state report card for schools that will also include information on school finances, student demographics and teacher qualifications. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Remembering Korea: B Company from Duluth
It was the summer of 1950, and the Korean War had just started. The 227 men in B Company made the front page of the Duluth paper. They were Marine Reserves, and they had been called up for active duty. They marched through the middle of downtown Duluth on their way to the train station. One month later, half of them were in combat. Before the war ended, 80 percent of the men in B Company were wounded or injured, and 10 of them were dead. July 27 is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, and the surviving members of B Company are getting ready to unveil a monument on the shore of Lake Superior. They say their war has been forgotten by most Americans. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin reports.
Prescription drug plan could end Minnesota-based program
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill, sponsored by Minnesota congressman Gil Gutknecht, that would allow the importation of prescription drugs from 25 industrialized countries, most of which have lower prices than the U.S. The passage of the bill could end a very successful program run by the Minnesota Senior Federation, and that would be just fine with them. The Minnesota Senior Federation's popular Canadian Prescription Drug Reimportation Program was launched in January. Joining us on the line is Peter Wyckoff, who runs the program for the Federation.
Let the Dumpster Duel begin!
A showdown began last night in Minneapolis. It's Barebones Productions versus Galumph Interactive Theater in a competition called "Dumpster Duels." They are calling it a "puppet free-for-all." Inspired by the TV favorite Junkyard Wars, each company transforms a dumpster full of bike tires, chicken wire, cardboard, used furniture and other materials into puppets, props and a set for a brand new show to be produced on Saturday night. It took a half hour for the judges to read the elaborate rules, and then the winners of the coin toss got to choose which pile of debris they would be transforming into art. Anne Sawyer lost that toss. She's the team leader for Galumph Interactive Theater. She's in the parking lot of the Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center where she and her team are building their puppets, and she joins us from there.
Wisconsin gets GM distribution center, Minnesota loses out
Wisconsin has lured away a General Motors parts distribution center from Minnesota, along with its 140 jobs. The center will move from Edina to Hudson, Wisconsin. Minnesota officials offered GM an incentive package, but Wisconsin also put an attractive offer on the table. The competition between the states for the center and its jobs is the topic of an article in this week's edition of "The Business Journal." Joining us on the line is Mark Reilly, the reporter who wrote the story.
Word of Mouth Roundup
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.
|
| Morning Edition Archive |
|
|
|
© 2024 | Home : Terms of Use : Your Privacy Rights