|
September 15 - 19, 2003
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
|
Monday, Sept. 15, 2003 |
Many more soldiers are wounded than killed in Iraq
A rocket-propelled grenade attack launched by guerrillas has killed a U.S. soldier in central Baghdad. The military says a soldier from the First Armored Division died early this morning at a field hospital. Much of news about the war on Iraq has focused on the death toll of U.S. soldiers, especially the number of deaths since President Bush declared the end of major combat in early May. The Defense Department says as of Friday, 181 U.S. troops have died from combat wounds since the war with Iraq began. The seriously wounded get less attention, even though they significantly outnumber the dead. Caught up in sniper fire, and targeted by homemade bombs and Rocket Propelled Grenade attacks, troops are losing arms, legs and eyes. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Pressure is on for new Pine County courthouse
Pine County might become the only county in Minnesota where judges don't hold court. The county board is split over where to build a new courthouse. The chief judge in the district says he'll move his judges to another county if the Pine County Board doesn't come up with a plan in 60 days. Chris Julin has this Mainstreet Radio report.
Minnesota apple crop affected by lack of rain
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is expected to formally submit Minnesota's application for federal agricultural disaster relief aid today. A lack of rain this summer damaged crops across the state, and the application is likely to include many of Minnesota's 87 counties. Ralph Yates is the secretary of the Minnesota Apple Growers Association. He runs Fruit Acres, an orchard in La Crescent, Minnesota that's been around since 1910. Mr. Yates joins us now.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
|
|
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003 |
American RadioWorks doc looks at post-war conflict in Iraq
The military victory in Iraq was stunning and swift, but months after the fall of Baghdad, U.S. troops are still fighting. The number of American soldiers killed in Iraq during the occupation has surpassed those killed during the war. A new special report from American RadioWorks, airing today on Midday, recounts the early missed opportunities and cultural misunderstandings that contributed to the ongoing armed insurgency. In this excerpt of "The War After the War," Deborah Amos looks at what's fueling the opposition in the Sunni heartland of central Iraq.
Minnesota's sex offender program faces many challenges
Minnesota has nearly 200 sex offenders committed to secure treatment facilities because they're considered sexually dangerous. It's unclear whether any will ever get out. Their fate is caught in a tangle of law, politics and medicine. Since spring, several psychiatrists have quit the program, patients are threatening a lawsuit and staff at the two centers say morale is at an all-time low. Through it all, top program managers have been considering options for moving some patients out of security hospitals. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
An international food fight
One of the many issues left undecided by the collapse of the World Trade Organization talks in Cancun is the fight over food names. The European Union wants the exclusive rights to terms like Feta and Champagne, Gorgonzola and Chablis. E.U. trade officials argue that these and 37 other identifiers belong to small producers in specific regions of Europe. The issue isn't likely to go away anytime soon. And that worries Midwestern cheese makers. Minnesota Public Radio's Nikki Tundel reports.
Citizen committee will help choose Minneapolis Police Chief
A citizen advisory committee that will help select a new Minneapolis Police Chief will meet for the first time tonight. The 21-member group includes the chair of the city's school board, the head of the city's chapter of the NAACP, and a Hispanic college student, among others. The group's job is to help the mayor choose a replacement for Police Chief Robert Olson, whose contract expires in January. Tom Johnson is on the advisory committee. He's also president of the Council on Crime and Justice, and a former Hennepin County Attorney. He joins us now.
Film looks at how juvenile corrections system treats girls
One of the movies at the Central Standard film festival this week is more than 30 years in the making. That's because it's about two women who first met each other in the 1960s as teenagers in a group home for troubled girls in Duluth. The home was called "Carmel Heights," and for both of them, it was a new beginning. Rosalie Sundin met Mickie Turk for the first time at Carmel Heights. They lost contact over the decades but they bumped into each other again by chance in 2000. After talking about their lives, and the pivotal role Carmel Heights played in helping them recover as runaway teens, they realized that their story could make a good documentary. At the time, Turke was a budding filmmaker. The movie they produced is called "Wayward Girls." It tells their story and takes a hard look at how the juvenile corrections system treats girls today. Joining us in the studio is one of the two women, Mickie Turke, who directed and co-produced the movie.
|
|
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003 |
Public weighs in on Minneapolis school plan
Minneapolis school district officials are hearing lots of complaints about a plan to build a new K-8 school to serve neighborhoods near the Mississippi River. Parents and community activists are particularly concerned about the proposed closing of the area's current middle school. Following a public hearing on the school realignment plan Tuesday night, several school board members said they'll probably need more time to study their options. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Met Council to approve transportation spending plan
The Metropolitan Council is expected to sign off today on a huge Twin Cities transportation spending package. Most of the road and bridge money approved last session by Minnesota lawmakers will go towards relieving bottlenecks. However, there are questions about how some projects that were lower on the priority list ended up being the big-time money winners. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
More railroad cars needed to transport wheat harvest
The wheat harvest in the northern plains is complete. The crop is out of the field. Farmers have started to move the harvest from the farm to the elevator. But the next step will be more difficult. That is, finding enough railroad cars to move crops from elevators to markets around the country. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Process for developing social studies standards causes debate
Over the next five weeks, the public will have a chance to weigh in on what students in Minnesota should learn in social studies class. Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke is touring the state to hear public comment on the new proposed social studies standards. Those standards emphasize names, places, events, and other facts. The final version will replace the more process-oriented Profile of Learning. The standards were developed by committees that included teachers, parents, business leaders, and higher education representatives. Joining us now are two guests. Bill Walsh is communications director for the Minnesota Department of Education, and Marc Doepner-Hove a teacher and the chair of the social studies department at Mound Westonka High School. He was on the social studies standards committee for grades 9-12.
Minnesota sculptor Paul Granlund dies
One of Minnesota's most well-known sculptors has died. Paul Theodore Granlund was internationally recognized for his bronze sculptures, which are found in private collections and public installations throughout the world. They're also scattered across Minnesota, in churches, hospitals, public spaces, and on college campuses. From 1971 to 1996, Granlund worked as a sculptor in residence at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Will Freiert is a classics professor at Gustavus and the author of, "Paul T. Granlund: Spirit of Bronze, Shape of Freedom." Professor Freiert joins us now.
|
|
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003 |
No recession in Sioux Falls... yet
Economists say for South Dakota's largest city there hasn't been an economic recession... yet. But there are signs that Sioux Falls is experiencing the beginning of one now. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
Minnesota Orchestra hoping to learn from its mistakes
The Minnesota Orchestra is celebrating its centennial year with a new music director finally in place. Osmo Vanska is the orchestra's tenth music director and like the others, he will be compared with his predecessors. Some critics say they hope the orchestra doesn't repeat mistakes made when it appointed Eiji Oue as music director. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Curtis reports.
Twins win again, tighten grip on first place
The Twins will be trying to sweep their three-game series with the Chicago White Sox when the teams take the field in the Metrodome tonight. With a 4-2 victory last night, the Twins fattened their Central Division lead over the White Sox. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports
Film about Minnesota polka event is in film festival
The Central Standard Film Festival is underway in a variety of theaters around the Twin Cities. It features independent American films that come not from either coast, but from the middle of the country. Several of the films were shot in Minnesota including "Polka Time" about the annual festival in Gibbon, Minnesota. Twin Cities filmmaker Lisa Blackstone directed and produced "Polka Time." She says since 1971, polka lovers have been gathering in Gibbon every summer for the annual Polka Days festival.
|
|
Friday, Sept. 19, 2003 |
Debate over possible state worker strike spills onto airwaves
The debate over state employee wages and benefits has moved from the bargaining table to the airwaves. State workers are in the midst of voting on contract offers tendered by Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration. Union leaders have urged members to reject the offers, arguing that they shift too many health care costs onto employees. A union-sponsored radio ad has been drawing the public's attention to the dispute. Now, a new spot has hit the air. This one questions the patriotism of state workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Former governor Al Quie turns 80
A crowd of 1000 people last night celebrated former Gov. Al Quie's 80th birthday. Friends and colleagues say Quie's strong commitment to public service, bipartisanship politics and spirituality makes him a unique man and role model. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Vodka a big product for Benson, Minnesota
Six months ago a new kind of Vodka made its national debut. Shakers is made in the small west-central Minnesota town of Benson from wheat grown on area farms. Now it's sold in bars and restaurants in 16 states. In a part of the state better known for corn fields and dairy farms, premium vodka is giving value-added agriculture new meaning. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
Minneapolis and St. Paul compete to become biotech center
The city of Minneapolis is making moves to join St. Paul in a race to become a center of biotechnology innovation. St. Paul is off to a faster start. Mayor Randy Kelly pushed state lawmakers in the last legislative session to help the city create a biotech research park in his city. Minneapolis may be playing catch-up, but it's also taking a slightly different approach. Joining us in the studio is Mark Reilly, who wrote about the competition in this week's edition of The Business Journal.
Twins sweep White Sox, move closer to playoffs
The Minnesota Twins completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 5-3 victory at the Metrodome last night. The win gives the Twins a three-and-a-half game lead over the White Sox in their race for the division title and a spot in the playoffs. All of Minnesota's remaining games are against the bottom two teams in the division, and the Twins say they'll have to keep their focus as they try to clinch a return to the post-season. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.
Word of Mouth
Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs provides the latest news on art and artists around the state.
|
| Morning Edition Archive |
|
|
|
© 2024 | Home : Terms of Use : Your Privacy Rights