|
January 19 - 23, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
|
Monday, Jan. 19, 2004 |
NWA gave customer info to NASA
Privacy advocates say Eagan-based Northwest Airlines violated its own privacy policies by sharing passenger information with the federal government. But Northwest officials say they simply complied with the government's counter-terrorism research. Privacy groups are threatening to take legal action in response to the airline's data-sharing. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
State's social studies standards and Martin Luther King Jr.
In the new proposed history and social studies standards for Minnesota students, Martin Luther King Jr.'s name is mentioned more times than most historical figures. Children will be required to become familiar with King and with his contribution to the country as early as kindergarten. Throughout high school, students are supposed to have several more exposures to King's life and work. Still, critics of the new standards say there are too few required lessons on the social injustices King fought. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
NAACP Youth Director to celebrate King Holiday
To mark the King holiday, the state of Minnesota will honor the slain civil rights leader in ceremonies, and a march from St. Paul Central High School, to Concordia University. The keynote speaker at the Concordia event is Brandon Neal, the National Director of the Youth, College, and Young Adult Division for the NAACP. He joins us on the line now.
DFL and GOP chair on Iowa and Minnesota caucuses
All eyes are on Iowa today, where democrats will meet in high schools, living rooms, and town halls around the state. It is the first step in choosing a Democratic nominee to challenge President George W. Bush this fall. Because Iowa has the nation's first caucus, political observers will be watching carefully. They will likely pay less attention on March 2, when political parties caucus here in Minnesota. Joining us now are two guests, Mike Erlandson, chair of the state DFL party, and Ron Eibensteiner, who heads up the state Republican party.
|
|
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004 |
Decorah differs from rest of Iowa in caucuses
More than 100 people crammed Decorah's city council chamber's last night to participate in the Iowa Democratic caucus. For this precinct, in a tiny northeastern Iowa college town, it was the best attended caucus in recent memory. Mirroring the statewide trend Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry quickly emerged as the evening's winner, with his band of supporters taking up nearly half of the room. Howard Dean finished in second place, and Dennis Kucinich came in third. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this report.
Superintendent wants big changes to Minneapolis schools
Minneapolis public school board members are expected to consider major changes to how the state's biggest school district operates when they retreat later today. The changes were proposed in a memo from interim school Superintendent Dave Jennings who proposed fundamental changes intended to keep students from fleeing to suburban schools, and to stabilize the districts sinking budgets. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with interim Superintendent Dave Jennings.
DFL Senate comes out with agenda
DFLers in the tate senate have settled on an agenda for this year's legislative session that begins in about two weeks. DFLers who control the senate met last night to discuss the issues and priorities they will bring to the table as they debate with Republicans who control the House and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Senate DFLers will be doing it with a new leader, State Sen. Dean Johnson, who's replacing Sen. John Hottinger as majority leader. Joining us on the line is Sen. Dean Johnson.
MPR's Chris Farrell on Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the upcoming week in the financial markets, including earnings reports that are due out this week.
|
|
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004 |
Minnesota reaction to State of the Union
Both Democrats and Republicans are reacting this morning to the President's State of the Union address. Last night, in a nationally televised speech, Bush outlined his domestic priorities for the coutnry, and called on Americans to stand behind him in the war on terror. Joining us now are two members of Minnesota's congressional delegation. Republican Congressman John Kline and Democratic Congresswoman Betty McCollum.
Drug offenders filling Minnesota prisons
For the first time, the number of people put in prison for drug offenses in Minnesota has surpassed the number of those incarcerated for violent crimes and property crimes. That is according to a study from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, which analyzed numbers from 2002, the last year from which statistics are available. The study also says that taxpayers could save up to $30 million a year, if nonviolent drug offenders were sent to treatment instead of prison. Joining us on the line is Barbara Tombs, executive director of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
Competition heats up for stadiums
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's screening committee listens to more stadium pitches today. The major suitors hoping to build stadiums for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings lined up yesterday to make their cases to the committee. The task force is meant to untangle the various stadium issues. But it is providing a new forum for a tug-of-war between St. Paul and Minneapolis over a potential Twins ballpark. That rivalry could complicate the discussion over a baseball stadium. Meanwhile, the Vikings seem to be warming to advances from Anoka County. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Legal actions taken after NWA data sharing
A St. Paul lawyer has filed a class-action lawsuit against Northwest Airlines on behalf of passengers whose personal information was given to NASA shortly after terrorist attacks on September 11th. Yesterday, the Washington D.C.-based Electronic Privacy Information Center called on the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate Northwest Airlines for deceptive trade practices. Aviation experts say it is no surprise that NASA has been involved in airline security. But some say they are baffled by the uproar, since airlines and government agencies have routinely exchanged passenger information for decades. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Mesothelioma group starts in Northeaster Minnesota
Doctors expect the incidence of mesothelioma to increase in the next 20 years. It is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. It attacks the lining of the lung, and is caused by exposure to asbestos. Northeastern Minnesota has a higher rate of mesothelioma than the rest of the state. The health department says it is because of industries in the region, including shipbuilding during World War II. Nationwide, about 3,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year. Now in Minnesota, doctors and patients are working to get the word out about mesothelioma. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
|
|
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004 |
Minneapolis student indicted for supporting Al Qaida
Court documents allege a Minneapolis community college student arrested last month admitted to federal authorities he was at an Afghanistan training camp the same time as Osama bin Laden. Thirty-year-old Mohammed Abdullah Warsame is a Canadian citizen of Somali descent. A grand jury indicted him this week on charges of providing material support to the terrorist network Al Qaida. He is expected to return to Minneapolis to face the charges in court. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
More youth are smoking than thought
A new report from the Health Department reveals that many more young adults in Minnesota are smoking than originally thought. The report finds that 39 percent of 18 to 24 year olds have smoked cigarettes at least once in the last 30 days. That is a much higher rate than adults in general. The report comes just months after Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the state legislature used money, that had been set aside for youth anti-smoking programs, to help balance the budget. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Four stadium proposals advance
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Stadium Screening Committee has pared a list of competing proposals down to four contenders: two each for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. As expected, committee members selected locations in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul as possible sites for a Twins ballpark. Blaine and Eden Prairie are the two possibilities for the Vikings. But other crucial parameters -- such as how the state might assist ballpark financing -- remain controversial. And state officials and the two teams clearly disagree about how to proceed on that front. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Students experience New Hampshire first hand
Out in New Hampshire, the Democratic presidential candidates are criss-crossing the state campaigning before next Tuesday's primary. Their campaigns have provided a learning experience for a group of students from St. Olaf college in Northfield. Those students are spending the month out in New Hampshire, taking a class offered by St. Olaf professor Dan Hofrenning and working on a presidential campaign of their choice. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Professor Hofrenning, and Rachel Ricker, a senior from Lincoln, Nebraska who is enrolled in the class and working on the Edwards campaign.
Ice Palace worth the cost?
The St. Paul Winter Carnival Ice Palace will be officially unveiled at a ceremony tonight starting at 7:00 p.m. Onlookers will see the palace illuminated for the first time and then have a chance to walk through. St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly and some former NHL players will be hand and there will be fireworks. Some see the building of this palace as a great civic achievement. Others see it as an enormous waste of time and money. We asked you to contact us with your thoughts about this endeavor. Will Shapira called from Minneapolis to say the ice palace is a symbol of misplaced priorities. But, another listener, Andrea Zander, called in from Rochester to say that she likes the ice palace because it is a positive example of public art.
Rubber stamps as art and collectors item
The paint brush, camera, pen and pastel are all recognized as instruments of the artists trade. But what about the rubber stamp? Originally created for small businesses and teachers, rubber stamps have a long history in the art world as well. The Minnesota Center for Book Arts documents the rubber stamps rise from utilitarian tool to art object in its latest exhibition. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports.
|
|
Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 |
Janklow sentenced to 100 days in jail
A South Dakota judge has sentenced former Governor and Congressman Bill Janklow to 100 days in jail. Janklow was convicted last month of second-degree manslaughter for an auto accident that killed a Minnesota motorcyclist. Janklow resigned from congress Tuesday. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland has this report.
Minneapolis uses new teacher training to improve achievement
The Minneapolis School District is hoping to improve academic achievement by reducing the number of students who get sent out of the classroom or suspended because of their behavior. The district is encouraging teachers to learn techniques that will help them prevent disruptions and manage discipline within the classroom. The training is being offered as part of a new compensation system for teachers. Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal reports.
Wal-Mart to open a store in St. Paul
Minneapolis and St. Paul have many amenities, but neither city has a Wal-Mart. That will probably change this spring, when a Wal-Mart opens in the Midway area of St. Paul. The opening faces few, if any, obstacles. But community activists are marshalling their forces. They say if they can't make Wal-Mart go away, they want to at least make it a better neighbor. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Ani DiFranco gives concert in Minneapolis
In a time when many musicians rely on digital technology to enhance their sound, folk icon Ani DiFranco is returning to basics. She recorded her new album "Educated Guess" by herself, in her living room, using an old reel-to-reel tape recorder. The result is a raw, intimate sound. DiFranco brings that sound to the Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis this weekend. She spoke to Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr about the new disc, and the challenges of her rigorous touring schedule.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses the cold weather.
Ice Palace opens in St. Paul
For the 118th year, the people of St. Paul are reveling in winter by holding a citywide celebration. The centerpiece of this year's Winter Carnival is, of course, the walk-through ice palace that opened in the middle of downtown last night. It's the first time in more than 60 years that carnival-goers have been able to step into an ice castle. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen attended the opening ceremonies and has this report.
Minneapolis visitors will have new tool for navigating city
Visitors to Minneapolis will soon have a new way of finding coffee shops, restaurants, and other destinations in the city. Beginning this year, the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association will launch a new mobile service that will turn hand-held computers, often called PDAs, into city guides. Sarah Brouillard covered the story for this week's edition of The Business Journal. She came by the studio to explain how this will work.
|
| Morning Edition Archive |
|
|
|
© 2024 | Home : Terms of Use : Your Privacy Rights