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November 24 - 28, 2003
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Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 |
A tale of two police departments
Why can't Minneapolis be more like St. Paul? That's the question some are asking about police community relations. For whatever reason St. Paul appears to avoid the police abuse allegations that dog Minneapolis. Both cities are seeking new chiefs of police because of retirements. But the new Minneapolis police chief will inherit strained relations with some of the city's minority residents. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
Clark stumps in upper midwest
Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark was in the Twin Cities this weekend to raise money for his campaign. Clark is one of nine candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. Observers say coming to Minnesota when most candidates are stumping for the nation's first primary in New Hampshire sends a signal that Clark is in the campaign for the long haul. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Some doctors advise caution during winter storm
Big winter storms bring with them many trips to the emergency room. Some people fall on the ice. Others strain their backs shoveling the snow. Doctors are hoping people will take extra precautions and avoid an unnecessary trips to the hospital. Joining us now is Dr. Kurt Belk, medical director of the Unity Hospital Emergency Department.
New number portability rules offer customers more options
Starting today, new federal rules will allow cell phone customers to keep their number, even if they switch cell phone companies. The new rules also allow home phone numbers to be switched to cell phones, and vice versa. It's called number portability, and the Federal Communications Commission made the rule changes to spur competition. Joining us on the line to explain all the changes is Brian Callahan, executive vice president of Communications Consulting and Coordination, a telecommunications consulting firm in Brooklyn Park.
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Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003 |
Charter schools competing with Minneapolis
Minneapolis school district officials are trying to slow the exodus of students to city charter schools. A report issued last month quantified for the first time what district officials long suspected - that they are losing students to charter schools by the hundreds. The report prompted district leaders to begin addressing the charter school competition. But charter school advocates say the district is using test scores and legislative proposals to mount an unfair attack. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Racial strife hits Stillwater schools
Parents of students at Stillwater Area High School met last night to discuss recent problems at the school. Last week, 16 students were suspended after a fight between an Asian student and a white student led to an exchange of racial slurs and two larger fights. Stillwater Area High School is located in Washington County, about 15 miles east of St. Paul. Census Bureau estimates show the number of minorities has almost tripled in that county since 1990, outpacing the overall population growth. In 2002, Asians were the single largest minority group in the county. Chris Lennox is the principal of Stillwater Area High School. He was at the meeting last night, and he joins us now.
Housing market cooling a bit
Even during the recent recession, real estate surged to new heights. Homeowners, especially in the Twin Cities, propped up the struggling state economy with a flurry of buying, selling and refinancing. Experts agree the frantic housing market of the past few years is ending. It is cooling off, but still warm to the touch. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich has the first of two stories on the Twin Cities housing market.
Steger highlights global warming in next arctic trip
Polar explorer Will Steger is preparing a quest across Northern Canada - a six month sled dog adventure that will bring the arctic into thousands of classrooms. Steger hasn't led a sled dog journey in five years, but says he came out of retirement because of a concern over global warming. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Avoiding problems at the airport
Tomorrow will be a very busy day at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport, as folks make their way home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Airport officials expect 10 to 15 percent more travelers will pass through the airport than on an average day, and that extra traffic could mean more time getting through security. Tim Callister is the director of the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. He says security will be efficient, but there are likely to be some lines.
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Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003 |
Buyers face the end of hot housing market
The housing boom of the past few years has left a challenging climate for prospective home-buyers, especially in urban areas like the Twin Cities. Interest rates are low, but rising. The pressure to join the ranks of homeowners is strong. But housing as an investment is looking less brilliant than it has in recent years. Buyers are facing the end of the hot housing market, and experts say it's essential to keep a cool head. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Working to save the NorShor
The last downtown movie theater in Duluth closed last month. But locals are trying to re-open it. A national historic preservation group is helping. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
Thieves steal thousands of treetops near Hibbing
Minnesota DNR conservation officers are investigating a possible suspect in a treetop caper that's devastated a state-owned black spruce plantation. Officials say the tops of as many as 20,000 spruce trees were lopped off recently, in a remote area north of Nashwauk on the Iron Range. Officials suspect the treetops are on their way to other cities, where they will be sold as small Christmas trees. Brian Buria is with the DNR's Bigfork office. He says a commercial logger first tipped him off to the theft.
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Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003 |
Homeless shelters brace for busy winters
Emergency shelters, especially those for families with children, are bursting at the seams in the Twin Cities. Providers say the signs point to high demand this winter. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Demand is up at Minnesota food shelves
Over the past 18 months, food shelf usage in Minnesota has risen nearly 15 percent. Janine Laird is the director of public policy and advocacy for Hunger Solutions Minnesota, which coordinates Minnesota's network of 320 food shelves. She joins us now from the Hormel Hunger Walk at the Mall of America.
The Pumpkin Pie lady
Homemade pumpkin pies will be on lots of Thanksgiving day tables for dessert. And whether they know it or not, the pie eaters in our region have Minnesota's Marian Biersdorf to thank for blazing a culinary trail. Thirty years ago Biersdorf used her college training and the memory of her mother's recipe to create what many of us know as the traditional pumpkin pie. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
Those who don't eat turkey have other Thanksgiving options
It's Turkey Day, a day for feasting on fowl. But what about people who don't eat turkey? We thought we'd find some alternatives at a co-op grocery store, so we paid a visit.
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Friday, Nov. 28, 2003 |
MSP airport parking prices in line with other airports
On this the busiest of holiday weekends, many air travelers leave their cars at the Minneapolis - St Paul airport's long-term parking lot. At $14 a day, the price of parking for a long vacation can cost a small fortune. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, what appears to be a high price to pay for convenience is not out of line with other airports around the country.
Law firm celebrates 10 anniversary of free clinic
The law firm of Leonard Street and Deinard is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its free legal clinic located in one of the poorest areas of Minneapolis. Only six major law firms in the Twin Cities offer free legal clinics. Leonard Street and Deinard's was the first to open. It is a one room office located in a health clinic. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Preaching alternative ways to celebrate the holidays
The day after Thanksgiving marks the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, but for many church-goers across the Twin Cities, the hunt for the perfect gift won't begin at the mall. That is because many churches are highlighting alternative ways of giving to honor the spirit of the holiday season. One of those churches is Easter Lutheran Church in Eagan. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Easter Lutheran's pastor Jim Borgschatz.
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weather commentary
University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley discusses a major storm that hit northeastern Minnesota in 1960, and gives us the weekend forecast.
New book on why the Nutcracker is a sensation
'Tis the season for shopping, good will, and the Nutcracker ballet. Here in Minnesota, dozens of groups, all over the state, will perform the Nutcracker this holiday season. Some will be traditional, like the annual performance by the Minnesota Ballet which opens in mid-December. Others, like the Ballet of the Dolls' "Nutcracker Not So Suite," take an unconventional approach. Jennifer Fisher is a professor of dance history at Pomona College and the University of California, Irvine. She's out with a new book called "Nutcracker Nation: How a Russian Ballet Became a Christian Ritual in the New World." Fisher says the Nutcracker, which is one of the big Tchaikovsky ballets, premiered at the end of the 19th century in Russia, and was a good candidate to become popular in the United States.
Target not likely to sell Marshall Field's, Mervyn's
Target Corporation expects to sell millions of dollars of merchandise this holiday season, but there are a couple of big items that the company won't put up for sale. The department store units of Marshall Fields and Mervyn's, won't be on the block, even though some business analysts say that the two department stores are dragging down the company's financial numbers. Joining us in the studio is Andrew Tellijohn, who wrote about Target in this week's edition of The Business Journal.
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