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September 22 - 26, 2003
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Monday, Sept. 22, 2003 |
Families of National Guard members want soldiers home
Family members of Minnesota National Guard troops deployed to Iraq say they're angry that their relatives won't be coming home soon. Earlier this month, Army officials announced that reserve troops in Iraq could be there as long as a year. That means members of Camp Ripley's 142nd Engineering Division may not come home until next spring or summer. Minnesota National Guard officials met with relatives of soldiers yesterday at Camp Ripley. They understand why the families are upset, but say there's not much they can do. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
Biggest county faces huge budget ax
This week, Hennepin County Administrator Sandy Vargas presents her preliminary budget for next year. The budget is expected to reflect reductions of close to a $100 million, prompting layoffs and dramatic changes in the way social programs, probation, and other county-funded services work. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Minneapolis Planning Commission to hear stadium proposal
The Minneapolis Planning Commission will hear a proposal today for a downtown development project adjacent to the Target Center. It would include 2000 housing units as well as retail establishments, all built around a 40,000-seat outdoor baseball stadium. The housing would be privately financed. It is unclear where the money would come from for the ballpark. This is the latest in a flurry of stadium news that has been reported in recent weeks. MPR Sports Commentator Jay Weiner is the author of "Stadium Games: Fifty Years of Big League Greed and Bush League Boondoggles." He joins me this morning in the studio.
Explorer Ann Bancroft will try to cross Arctic Ocean
This morning Minnesota explorer Ann Bancroft is announcing her next expedition. Bancroft and her Norwegian partner Liv Arneson are well-known for their polar journey in which they became the first women to ski and sail across Antarctica's landmass. Today, as they release information about their next trip, they're also launching a book about their experience in Antarctica called, "No Horizon Is Too Far." Ann Bancroft has come by the studio this morning.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003 |
Janklow speaks about accident that killed motorcyclist
South Dakota Congressman Bill Janklow will be formally charged Friday for his involvement in a car crash that killed a Minnesota man. Janklow spoke to reporters yesterday in Sioux Falls. It was his first news conference since the accident. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
Social studies standards get thumbs down at hearing
The new science and social studies requirements proposed for Minnesota public schools are facing sharp criticism from many teachers and parents. State education officials held their third of 14 scheduled public hearings on the draft standards last night at St. Paul Central High School. Most of the complaints centered on the content-heavy approach to social studies. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
State wants kids to read in first grade
Minnesota will receive a nearly $60 million federal education grant over the next six years for reading programs. Gov. Pawlenty says the money will go toward a new reading initiative designed to ensure all Minnesota children can read by the end of first grade. One DFL lawmaker says that's a laudable goal, but tough to achieve when school districts are cutting teachers as a result of budget cuts. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Minneapolis to inspect student housing
The Star Tribune reports that arson has been ruled out as the cause of a fire this weekend that killed three University of Minnesota students. Investigators are still trying to figure out what did cause the the fire. But, in response to the tragedy, Minneapolis officials announced yesterday that they will conduct an inspection sweep of university area rental properties over the next several weeks. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
University of Minnesota hires stem cell research leader
The University of Minnesota has hired a new professor that they hope will make the school a leader in the expected convergence of medical technology and biotechnology. Dr. Doris Taylor will fill an endowed professorship called the Medtronic Bakken Chair in Cardiovascular Repair. University officials say she'll direct research that leverages the school's strengths in medical technology with work done at the U's Stem Cell Institute and the Biomedical Engineering Institute. Dr. Taylor is coming to Minnesota from North Carolina, where she's an associate professor of cardiology at Duke University. Joining us on the line is Doctor Doris Taylor.
Three Minnesota organizations get faith-based grants
Three Minnesota organizations are among those getting federal money to help faith-based and community groups provide social services to those in need. Yesterday Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the federal government will give out 60 new grants totaling over $8 million. Breaking Free and the Lao Family Community of Minnesota, both based in St. Paul, will get small grants. And the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches will received over $500,000. Gary Reierson is the executive director of the council. He's on the line now.
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Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 |
Hennepin County gets grim budget picture
Hennepin County officials expect to lay off up to 350 employees as it deals with budget cuts next year. County Administrator Sandy Vargas presented her preliminary budget yesterday. She proposed raising the property tax the county collects by just over two percent. The overall budget shrinks by more than $63 million. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Minnesota banks on biotechnology
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty leads a trade delegation to Montreal this weekend. The trade mission is focused on biotechnology, as the governor tries to promote Minnesota as a place for biotech companies. Pawlenty and other biotech boosters say Minnesota is well poised to compete in the rush for biotech business. Skeptics say the state doesn't have the resources to become a major biotech player. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Minneapolis school board taps Jennings as new superintendent
Former Republican legislative leader and corporate executive David Jennings will become the next superintendent of schools in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis School Board picked Jennings Tuesday to replace Carol Johnson, who resigned to become superintendent in Memphis, Tennessee. Board members say they didn't need to look further, because Jennings has the leadership skills and political knowhow they need. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Twins clinch, are headed for playoffs
The Minnesota Twins clinched the Central Division title last night, and made the playoffs for the second straight year. The Twins 4-1 victory over Cleveland last night at the Dome, coupled with losses by Kansas City and the Chicago White Sox, clinched the division title. After the Twins game ended, fans watched the end of the other games on the Metrodome scoreboard and then celebrated the title. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with La Velle E. Neal III, who covers the Twins for the Star Tribune.
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Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 |
Two boys shot at central Minnesota high school, one dies
Churches in the central Minnesota town of Cold Spring held special services last night to mark the end of a tragic day. A 15-year-old boy shot two of his classmates at Rocori High School around noon. One of the students died, another is in critical condition. Students and teachers in Cold Spring now begin the work of trying to recover. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
School leaders react to Cold Spring shooting
Charlie Kyte is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. He joins us now to talk about school safety.
Incubating biotech and hoping it's the next golden egg
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration and others watching the Minnesota economy see biotechnology as one bright light on the horizon. No single place better captures Minnesota's biotech dreams than a sprawling, abandoned building on the west edge of St. Paul. The city bought the building this month to serve as a non-profit "incubator." Officials hope the empty space will nurture fledgling biotech entrepreneurs into tomorrow's powerhouse corporations. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Duplex fire not caused by defects in the property
Minneapolis fire officials have ruled out electrical problems and the hot water heater as the cause of a fire that killed three University of Minnesota students early Saturday morning. Careless smoking and arson are possible, but officials say the exact cause may never be known. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
St. Paul to announce plan to improve city's rental housing
St. Paul officials are expected to announce later today new initiatives that are intended to improve rental housing across the city. The announcement comes just a few days after three students at the University of Minnesota died in an apartment fire in Minneapolis. Minneapolis fire officials have ruled out electrical problems and the hot water heater as the cause the fire; careless smoking and arson are possible, but officials say the exact cause may never be known. Speculation over the cause was putting pressure on the landlord of the apartment building, which has been the subject of many tenant complaints over the years. Joining us on the line is Andy Dawkins, St. Paul's director of property improvement.
Minnesota may look north for cheaper prescription drugs
Minnesota state government may soon join a growing line of seniors and others crossing into Canada for cheaper prescription drugs. Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he'll examine ways to reduce state health care expenses by taking advantage lower-priced medications available in other countries. The move puts him at odds with the Bush administration, which has steadfastly opposed the importation of drugs, arguing it could expose consumer to unsafe products. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Xcel settles with two state agencies
Xcel Energy would refund a total of $1 million to certain customers under a settlement agreement with two state agencies. The settlement comes about a year after the first accusations that Xcel employees falsified outage reporting to meet state reliability standards. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
Dakota conflict historic site restored
An ordinary-looking farm field in southwest Minnesota is being restored to what it looked like in 1862. In August of that year, the field was part of a seminal event in Minnesota history. On Wednesday, a monument to the events of that day was unveiled. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Prosecutors meet in Minneapolis to discuss "community prosecution"
Prosecutors from across the country are in Minneapolis this week for a meeting about "community prosecution." Community prosecution is a new approach to crime-fighting in which prosecutors work with police, schools, and local residents in a specific geographic area. It aims to build stronger connections between what happens in the courtroom and what is happening in local communities. The Hennepin County Attorney's office, which started using this approach in 1999, is hosting this week's meeting. Susan Crumb is an assistant Hennepin county attorney and the community prosecutor for Brooklyn Park. She's on the line now.
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Friday, Sept. 26, 2003 |
New details emerge on school shooting
Investigators have shed more light on what happened during a shooting at Rocori High School on Wednesday. The story they've uncovered is chilling. Meanwhile parents and students have begun the process of dealing with the grief left behind after the shooting. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
Cold Spring community coming together
Cold Spring is a community where people know each other's business. They are involved in the schools. And even the elderly are connected with teenagers. But feelings have changed since the tragedy on Wednesday. When a teen acts out so violently, it raises questions of how well adults know their kids. Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter reports.
Bullying may have played a role in shootings
Students at Rocori High School in Cold Spring will return to school today, after a fatal shooting earlier this week. One student was killed and another is in critical condition after a third student opened fire. Freshman John Jason McLaughlin, the son of a Stearns County sheriff's deputy, is suspected in the attack. Some students who know McLaughlin say he was teased by other students, in part because of severe acne. Sheryl Harmer is the director of program development at "Committee for Children," a national nonprofit organization that focuses on violence, bullying, and student learning. She joins us on the line now.
Gov. Pawlenty's first trade mission
Gov. Tim Pawlenty leaves Sunday on his first trade mission, a two-day trip to Montreal. The governor says he wants to promote Minnesota's biosciences and medical industries. Pawlenty says he doesn't plan to announce any trade deals while in Montreal, but says the trip's cost to the state of about 20-thousand dollars will pay off in increased trade with the state's largest trading partner. Others aren't so sure. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Twin Cities' phone market changing rapidly
Another competitor is entering the Twin Cities's telecommunications market. SBC Communications, which is based in San Antonio, is expected to focus on selling to businesses first, and eventually to residential customers. That's just one part of a rapidly changing telecommunications marketplace in the Twin Cities. Joining us in the studio is Mark Reilly, who wrote about SBC in this week's edition of The Business Journal.
Meteorologist Mark Seeley's weather commentary.
Seeley talks about the first frost in Minnesota's history, and does a review of the weather in this month.
Word of Mouth arts roundup
What is happening in the world of theater, music, and the arts on this week's Word of Mouth Arts roundup
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