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January 5 - 9, 2004
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Monday, Jan. 5, 2004 |
Mesaba and pilots set to resume talks
Mesaba Airlines and its pilots union begin an eleventh hour round of contract talks today. The Twin Cities-based regional airline and its 840 pilots face a strike deadline Friday night. Mesaba operates 600 daily flights to mostly smaller cities for Northwest Airlines from Northwest's hubs in the Twin Cities, Detroit and Memphis. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
Dick Gephardt visits Fargo-Moorhead
Presidential hopeful, Democrat Dick Gephardt, courted the farm and labor vote during a campaign stop in Fargo-Moorhead. He told a group of Red River Valley sugar beet growers yesterday that a new deal with Central America would hurt family farms. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Mark Dayton's first 3 years as U.S. Senator
Minnesota's Senior U.S. Senator, Democrat Mark Dayton, is marking the halfway point of his first term with plans to increase his visibility and to begin raising the millions of dollars he says he'll need for his 2006 re-election campaign. Dayton was elected to the Senate in 2000 after a campaign against Republican incumbent Senator Rod Grams. The liberal Democrat says earlier than expected Republican attacks are forcing him to plan for re-election sooner than he expected. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Chris Farrell on Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell discusses the outlook for the new year, and tells us which economic reports are coming out this week, which includes the unemployment rate for December which will be reported on Friday.
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Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004 |
Citizens League says property taxes up in 2003
Property taxes in the Twin Cities metro area are going up again, according to the Citizens league. Taxes on a hypothetical $166,000 home went up an average of almost 3 percent in 2003, after falling 24 percent in 2002. The league's survey took into account total taxes, including those from cities, counties, school districts, and other local governments. Brooklyn Center had the highest total taxes in the seven county metro area. Average property taxes outside the metro actually fell slightly. Joining us on the line is Bob DeBoer, program associate at the Citizens League.
Thune challenges Sen. Daschle in South Dakota
Some political analysts say South Dakota's race for the United State Senate just became the closest watched race in the nation. Former Republican Congressman John Thune announced his intentions to challenge Democratic leader Tom Daschle. Thune ran against Sen. Tim Johnson in 2002 and lost by just over 500 votes. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
Howard Dean meets voters in Fargo-Moorhead
A standing room only crowd greeted Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean at a Fargo hotel last night. Speaking to more than 500 people in a question and answer session, Dean said he is a better alternative to President Bush than any of the other Democratic candidates. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Twins and Vikings make case for stadiums
The Twins and the Vikings will make their case tomorrow for new stadiums for their teams. They are expected to speak to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's stadium screening committee, which he created to help him make decisions about site, and finance options for stadiums. The group will meet several times this month, and is expected to give final recommendations in early February. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Finance Commissioner Dan McElroy, who is also leading the stadium committee.
Paramount theatre has high hopes for 2004
Like many arts groups around the state and country, St. Cloud's Paramount theatre and arts center hit hard times during the economic downturn of the past few years. But the new year may signal an upturn for the Paramount. The city of St. Cloud is going to take over ownership of the arts facility. And that includes about $400,000 in debts. The move will lend some financial stability to one of Central Minnesota's most important cultural centers. Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter reports.
St. Paul native Paul Molitor in the Hall of Fame
A St. Paul native and former Minnesota Twin could get some good news today. Paul Molitor is expected to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame when voting results are announced later today. Molitor played high school ball at Cretin, then played for the Gophers in the 1970s. Paul Molitor went on to play for the Milwaukee Brewers, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Twins. He had 3,319 hits and a .306 career batting average, stats that make him a likely candidate for election into the Hall of Fame. Jim O'Neill played with Molitor in high school. He now coaches at Cretin-Derham Hall, and he joins us now.
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Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 |
Twins and Vikings make stadium pitch
The Minnesota Twins say they will need more flexibility than was offered under 2002 stadium legislation if they're to successfully finance a new ballpark. The team made their case yesterday to a gubernatorial Stadium Screening Committee that's been asked to sort through stadium proposals for the upcoming legislative session. The Twins were joined by the Minnesota Vikings and the University of Minnesota Gophers football team -- both of whom hope to leave the Metrodome for new facilities. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
McManus meeting the public
This morning, the executive committee of Minneapolis City Council will consider the appointment of William McManus, Mayor R.T. Rybak's choice as the city's new police chief. Last night, McManus met with residents at a south Minneapolis community center. The mayor's office organized the meeting in anticipation of today's committee vote. With the full council vote a week and a half away, Rybak is applying pressure on those council members who are still not supporting McManus. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
All Minnesota diocese meet audit standards
Minnesota's six Catholic diocese are complying with a mandate to prevent sexual abuse, according to a national report released yesterday in Washington D.C. Catholic leaders in Minnesota say the report shows the church is living up to its pledge to stop sexual abuse by priests. But some abuse victims say the report has major problems. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
Ice Palace construction continues
The weather should warm up a little today, but not above freezing. That is good news for the folks hard at work building the St. Paul Winter Carnival ice palace. Two shifts of volunteers are sawing huge cakes of ice - 27,000 in all - from Lake Phalen. Workers downtown are stacking the 500 pound blocks to build the structure. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
St. Paul's Molitor is in Hall. Making the case for Jack Morris
St. Paul native and former Minnesota Twin Paul Molitor will travel to Cooperstown, New York in July, where he will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Molitor's election was announced yesterday. Molitor was elected in his first year of eligibility. But another St. Paul native came away empty-handed again this year. Pitcher Jack Morris failed to get into the Hall of Fame for the fifth time. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Jim Molony, a writer for MajorLeagueBaseball.com, who recently wrote a column in support of Morris' candidacy.
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Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004 |
St. Paul city council shifting on Twins stadium
Local governments interested in hosting new baseball and football stadiums for Minnesota's Twins and Vikings have one week left to prepare and submit their proposals to a state stadium committee. But some local officials in Saint Paul and Hennepin County seem less enthusiastic about pursuing new stadiums than they were a year or two ago. As Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports, the Saint Paul city council is now considering a cap on the city's financial contribution toward a ballpark.
McManus still has hurdles in Minneapolis city council
Minneapolis residents heaped praise on police chief nominee William McManus at a public hearing Wednesday. Supporters say his reputation for reform and record of mending community relationships would serve the city well. But it does not appear the outpouring has so far swayed additional city council votes in his favor. Several council members and residents still see a window of opportunity for two internal candidates that applied. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Delfs leaving SPCO
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra announced yesterday that Music Director Andreas Delfs will step down at the end of the 2003-2004 season. The move comes as the SPCO adopts a new leadership model placing musicians at the center of the orchestral decision making. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
Insuring an Ice Palace
Organizers of the St. Paul Winter Carnival Ice Palace say the first stumbling blocks they had to overcome in making the palace a reality had little to do with ice blocks, and everything to do with insurance. Unlike the last ice palace in 1992, Carnival officials wanted to allow people to go into their new palace for a fee, but that presented major problems for insurance companies. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with David Crary, co-chairman of the Winter Carnival Ice Palace.
Light Rail video and audio art to come from Minnesotans
When the Hiawatha light-rail line is up and running, and you are standing at a station waiting for a train, you will have something to help you pass the time. The Metropolitan Council has commissioned a New York artist to design interactive art for the stations. Janet Zweig has created a series of kiosks, at which you will be able to watch a short video, or listen to a short audio tape. The audio and video will come from Minnesotans, and project organizers are encouraging people to send in entries. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Zweig, who explains the project.
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Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 |
Mesaba Airlines strike deadline is tonight
Mesaba Airlines and its pilots union face a strike deadline tonight at 11:01. A walkout would ground about 600 daily flights Mesaba operates for Northwest Airlines. Negotiations continue today over issues including wages, work rules, and job security. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports the dispute reflects the upheaval in the airline industry since 2001.
Regional carrier Comair won concessions in 2001
The last airline strike in the U.S. was also at a so-called "regional carrier." In 2001, 1,400 pilots stopped flying for Comair, in a three-month strike that cost Delta Airlines hundreds of millions of dollars. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich looks at the lessons learned from that strike.
Macalester prof's book causes riots in India
A Macalester College professor who wrote a book about a 17th Century King in India is now worried about his colleagues there who are being harrassed for helping him write the book. Professor Jim Laine wrote about an Indian King named Shivaji, who established a Hindu Kingdom in the city of Pune. The Kingdom was located between two Muslim Kingdoms and Shivaji became a symbol of Hindu independence. Earlier this week, Hindu extremists in Pune rioted at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute where Laine did much of his research and some of those he acknowledged in the book for helping him have been subject to personal attacks. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Macalester professor Jim Laine.
Transplants not breaking in to Twin Cities social circles
A survey of transplanted workers in Minnesota conducted on behalf of the Minnesota Employee Relocation Council finds that the state is not a very welcome place for newcomers. That is the subject of an article this week in The Business Journal. Reporter Mark Reilly wrote the article, and he's come by the studio this morning.
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weather commentary
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the week, which started out very cold, with -30 F at Baudette, MN, and wind chill values ranging from -30 to -40 F in parts of the state. He says on this date in 1977, St Cloud reported their all-time lowest temperature reading of -43 degrees F. They recorded 14 days that month with lows of -15 F or colder. On Wednesday of this week, Khatanga in north central Russia reported a low temperature of -59 degrees F, while Churchill in Manitoba Canada reported -45 degree F. This is indicative of the cold air positioned at high latitudes in the northern hemisphere this time of year.
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