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October 20 - 24, 2003
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Monday, Oct. 20, 2003 |
Columbia Heights on alert after note threatens students
Teachers and school officials will be on alert at Columbia Heights High School today, after the discovery last week of a note threatening to hurt students. Police will monitor the school, and parents have been notified of the threat. Dr. Nancy Kaldor is the superintendent of Columbia Heights schools. She's on the line now.
"Camp Wellstone" part of Senator's legacy
This Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of the plane crash that took the life of Senator Paul Wellstone. Wellstone, his wife and daughter, and five others were killed when their small plane crashed on its approach to the Eveleth Virginia Municipal Airport in northeastern Minnesota. Some of the people closest to the former senator think they have found a way to build on Wellstone's legacy. They are trying to teach thousands of people how Wellstone won elections by assembling a base of supporters and energizing them. "Camp Wellstone," as it is called, is open to anyone interested in running for office, working on a campaign or becoming a community activist. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Minnesota farmers sell more to Cuba, but worry about politics
About a year ago, Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura traveled to Cuba to promote the state's trade interests. He was taking advantage of the U.S. government's partial lifting of the Cuban trade embargo. Since then, U.S. exports to the communist country have skyrocketed. Minnesota is among the top ten states that export to Cuba. However, Minnesota farmers are concerned about how heightened U.S.-Cuba political tensions will affect their exports. Mainstreet Radio's Rob Schmitz reports.
MPR's Chief Economic Correspondent Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell discusses the week in the financial markets, including the psychological milestone of the Dow rising above 10,000 again. It has been lingering just below that level.
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Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003 |
University of Minnesota workers go on strike
Nearly 2,000 University of Minnesota clerical workers are walking the picket lines. Negotiations between the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3800 and university officials broke down on Monday. No new talks are planned. Picketing is scheduled for university buildings on the Twin Cities campuses and on U of M campuses in Duluth, Morris, and Crookston. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
The Boundary Waters: 25 years later
It was 25 years ago today that President Jimmy Carter signed a bill creating the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Minnesota's one million-acre canoe country first joined the National Wilderness system in 1964. But the region was given special exemptions to allow motors, logging and even mining. The controversy over what was appropriate in the wilderness boiled for years. Then, in 1978, two lawyers drafted an historic compromise that still guides activities in the Boundary Waters today. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Washington County may tighten restrictions on ATVs
Washington County may become the first in Minnesota to ban All Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, from going on ditches along county roads. The county is expected to hold a public meeting later today on its proposal. County officials say ATVs are tearing up the ditches and creating environmental problems that are expensive to fix. ATV riders say that making it a misdemeanor offense to ride along any county road is an extreme reaction. Washington County isn't the only place where ATVs are an issue. Joining us on the line to talk about the status of ATV regulation across Minnesota is Ron Potter, off-highway vehicle coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources.
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Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003 |
U of M clerical workers begin strike
Members of the University of Minnesota's clerical union are off the job and on the picket lines again this morning in the second day of a strike over wages and healthcare costs. There were no reports of major disruptions during yesterday's first day of picketing. No new talks are scheduled. Leadership for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3800 says members will stay on strike until the university comes up with a better offer. University officials say the 15 percent cut to its state appropriation last session means their best offer is already on the table. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Bad economy, health care costs driving labor dispute
University of Minnesota officials say they are surprised that the U's largest union has gone on strike. But labor relations experts say the strike reflects the financial squeeze that a tough economy and rising health costs are putting on workers and employers alike. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
Minneapolis starts over in search for superintendent
The Minneapolis school board now plans to spend the next two months gathering public input before launching a search for a new superintendent. Board members outlined a strategy Tuesday that ensures district residents several opportunities to weigh in on the decision. The plan is in sharp contrast to the board's quick move last month to hire David Jennings, who later turned down the offer. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Real estate investor accused of scam
A St. Paul real estate investor is accused by his customers of duping them into selling their homes and taking their equity. Several homeowners facing foreclosure say Hendrie Grant rushed them through a complicated and confusing real estate deal they thought would help them save their homes. Instead, they discovered they had sold their house to Grant and had agreed to a lease-back deal with much higher monthly payments. His accusers say the deals fit the pattern of an increasingly common real estate scam. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
University of Minnesota Duluth meeting on racism
College campuses around Minnesota are dealing with issues of racism. Last year, St. Cloud State settled a lawsuit with faculty who complained the university fostered a racist atmosphere. Tonight at the University of Minnesota Duluth, students and faculty are gathering to talk about racism. Some black students say they've experienced overt racism. Others say they have felt welcomed at U.M.D. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
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Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003 |
Memorials keep Paul Wellstone's memory alive
A year after the plane crash that killed Paul Wellstone and seven others, some of his Minnesota supporters are keeping his memory alive with bumper stickers, yard signs and more personalized memorials. Some of those who continue to display Wellstone campaign signs, say the memorials comforts them. One of Wellstone's sons says he and his brother also welcome the shows of support which he says speaks to his father's legacy. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Career switch to teaching could get easier
In the last month, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has issued a series of education proposals that have put teachers and students on notice that he expects higher achievement in the classroom. His ideas for shaking up the system include suspending driver licenses for truant students and awarding bonus pay to what he calls "super teachers." The "super teachers" plan also includes a provision to offer more alternative routes to the teaching profession. It's not a new idea - even here. Nearly every state, including Minnesota, offers some kind of alternative teacher certification. But the administration says the current options aren't sufficient to meet future teacher shortages. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Minneapolis neighborhood raising money to keep library open
One of the poorest neighborhoods in Minneapolis has raised enough money to open an interim library while the Franklin library is closed for renovations. The building in the Phillips neighborhood closed earlier this week. Its closure was going to leave area residents without their library, which has become a community gathering place, for 18 months. But tonight, thanks to a neighborhood fundraising effort, they will celebrate the opening of the interim site next door. Joani Essenburg is a member of Friends of Franklin, which is leading the fundraising. She's on the line now.
Final report on Wellstone plane crash still to come
The cause of the plane accident that killed the late Sen. Paul Wellstone and seven others is still under investigation almost a year later. The National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, issued a preliminary report in the spring that reached few conclusions about the accident. There is no deadline for a release of the final report, but it could come any time now. Joining us to talk about what we know at this point about the accident and what to look for in the final report is Jeffrey Johnson, a professor in the Aviation Department at St. Cloud State University.
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Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 |
U of M strike affects Morris campus too
University of Minnesota clerical workers are in the fourth day of their strike. Hundreds of workers have walked the picket lines at the U's Twin Cities campus. There are smaller groups of workers on strike at the university's Morris campus. In a community the size of Morris, nearly everyone knows the striking workers. But as Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports, that does not always work in their favor.
Group of New Ulm priests want optional celibacy
A group of 17 priests in the Diocese of New Ulm has signed a letter saying that celibacy should be optional for Catholic priests. The group is following in the footsteps of over 100 Milwaukee priests, who sent a similar letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in August. About 22 percent of active and retired priests in the New Ulm diocese signed the letter. The bishop of the diocese responded by issuing a statement opposing optional celibacy. Reverend Kenneth Irrgang, is a retired priest who helped organize the petition. He says the petition was a response to the Milwaukee letter.
Former Mark Dayton employee talks about firing
The man suing U.S. Senator Mark Dayton for firing him spoke publicly this week for the first time about his lawsuit. Brad Hanson ran Dayton's Health Care Help Line. He says he was fired in July of 2002 after telling Dayton he needed heart surgery. Dayton will not discuss Hanson's firing, but his chief of staff says Hanson was fired because he did not do his job. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Public defenders celebrate 40 years, worry about future
The phrase is commonplace during arrests -- "you have the right to an attorney; if you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you free of charge." But that was not always the case in the American legal system. Before a landmark ruling in 1963, states were not required to fund public defenders. Many poor people accused of crimes were forced to defend themselves in court. Members of the Minnesota Bar held a celebration yesterday marking the 40th anniversary of the so-called Gideon Ruling. It comes at a time when state public defenders have asked for relief from soaring caseloads. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Abbott Northwestern's plan to heal brain, back, and bones
Abbott Northwestern hospital is planning to spend $41 million to consolidate three centers of treatment into one building in south Minneapolis. Their plans are the topic of an article in this week's edition of The Business Journal. Joining us in the studio is Scott Smith who wrote the article.
Langlais plays Langlais
You have never heard the Piece Symphonique. But then, the composer never heard it either. Jean Langlais was a master organist in Paris, but he could not afford to hire an orchestra. No one's ever performed the entire Piece Symphonique. Now its finally getting its world premier in Minnesota. The composer's widow is a concert organist. She has half-a-dozen performances over the next few days in Duluth in Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin has the story.
U of M climatologist Mark Seeley on our warm October
The string of warm days earlier this week produced a number of high temperature records for individual communities, but perhaps the most remarkable record occurred on Sunday, October 19th when Browns Valley, MN (Traverse County) reported 90 degrees F. Plus, Mr. Seeley tells us about a study that says the urban heat island may be a misnomer.
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