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February 2 - 6, 2004
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Monday, Feb. 2, 2004 |
Session 2004: Polarizing issues in play
State lawmakers are back in St. Paul today for the opening gavel of the 2004 legislative session. After wrestling with a $4.5 billion projected deficit last year, legislators had expected an easier round this time, focused on borrowing cash to make long-term improvements in the state's infrastructure and physical assets. But as the opening day drew near, a host of issues from gambling to professional sports stadiums to the death penalty appeared on the horizon. To complicate the picture, all 134 members of the House will face re-election this fall, making their decisions and their votes that much more important. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has this preview of the session.
Poll shows little support for stadiums
A new poll suggests a majority of Minnesotans think the state legislature should not make it a priority to come up with taxpayer financing plans for new Vikings, Twins and Gophers stadiums. The poll's findings are in keeping with many previous surveys on the stadium debate. Groups on the both extremes of the political spectrum say lawmakers should pay attention to their constituents and concentrate on issues other than sports. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Straddling the blue collar and white collar worlds
There's the perception that the United States is a place where a blue-collar kid can become part of the upper classes through hard work, determination and a little luck. But many who rise from humble beginnings, like first-generation college graduates, find themselves in a unique position. They straddle both the blue-collar and white-collar worlds while not feeling comfortable in either. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Kerry campaigns in North Dakota
Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry campaigned in Fargo on Sunday, two days before the state's caucus. The Massachusetts senator said he was going to watch the Superbowl in Fargo and defeat President George W. Bush in November. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
North Dakota holds its caucuses Tuesday
North Dakota is one of seven states that will hold their primaries or caucuses tomorrow. A poll published last week by the Fargo Forum found John Kerry in the lead among likely democratic voters in North Dakota, with support from 31 percent of those surveyed. Wesley Clark came in second with 15 percent. Joining us now is Phil Harmeson, a North Dakota political observer.
Snow storm makes for dangerous driving
Snow continues to fall in many parts of our region. There is already significant accumulation with more on the way. The city of St. Paul has declared a snow emergency. That means parking is prohibited on all non-posted east-west residential streets, and on the unplowed sides of north-south residential streets until those streets are completely plowed. Minneapolis did not declare a snow emergency yesterday. Mike Kennedy is the Director of Winter Operations for the Minneapolis Department of Public Works. He explains how that decision was made.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004 |
Sen. Dayton on ricin found in Senate building
A suspicious white powder has shut down the U.S. Senate office buildings in Washington, D.C. Officials have confirmed that the poison ricin was discovered in Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office mailroom yesterday. At least sixteen people were later decontaminated, but Sen. Frist said no one was expected to get sick. The U.S. Capitol building is expected to be open today, and the Senate is expected to convene today as well. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota Sen. Mark Dayton. He says the three senate office buildings are close to each other.
Gov. Pawlenty poll rating up
A new MPR - St. Paul Pioneer Press poll shows more than half of Minnesotans give Gov. Tim Pawlenty's job performance high marks. The numbers are higher than a similar poll conducted nearly a year ago. The poll also shows Minnesotans are divided about the budget fix approved last year to plug a record $4.2 billion projected deficit. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Northstar on the line this legislative session
The legislative session that began yesterday may determine the fate of the proposed Northstar Commuter rail service. Under the latest version of the plan, commuter rail cars would carry riders about forty miles from Big Lake, north of the Twin Cities, to downtown Minneapolis. Supporters say the line is needed to relieve congestion on Highway 10 in one of the state's fastest growing corridors. Opponents acknowledge the corridor's rapid growth, but they say numbers used to support a commuter rail line don't add up. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
Indie record stores fighting back
After years of slumping CD sales and the illegal downloading of songs, the music retail industry is finally embracing the digital age. Online music sales through companies such as Apple Computer, Napster and even Walmart are growing, and several major record labels are converting their music catalogs to digital. Many industry observers say the shift to digital delivery of music spells doom for the independent record store. Yet, the few such stores that remain in the Twin Cities say reports of their impending death may be premature. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
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Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004 |
General Mills subject of SEC inquiry
Golden Valley-based General Mills says it may face civil charges in an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company says it has received a so-called Wells notice that also covers General Mills' CEO and Chief Financial Officer. The company disclosed the SEC's investigation of its sales practices and related accounting last October. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
North Dakota caucus gets attention. Kerry wins
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry now has about 200 of the nearly 2,200 delegates he will need to secure the Democratic nomination for President. Yesterday, Kerry won five of the seven contests including 22 delegates from North Dakota. This was the first time North Dakota voters had an early voice in selecting a Democratic presidential nominee. North Dakota changed the date of its presidential caucus to get more attention. It worked. Five of the Democrats running for President visited the state. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Minnesotans split on reinstating death penalty
A new poll shows Minnesotans evenly divided over Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to re-introduce the state death penalty. The Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press survey shows 46 percent of the state's likely voters oppose capital punishment -- compared to 44 percent who support it. But the same poll also shows Minnesotans are fairly unified in their desire to crack down on the state's sexual offenders. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
More political information is going online
Later today, the Center of the American Experiment is launching a website designed to help people track issues at the Minnesota Legislature. Recent surveys show that an increasing number of Americans are using the Internet as their primary source of political information. The state legislature already has a website that provides information on bills, lawmakers, and schedules. And several non-governmental groups provide similar information. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Steven Clift, board chair of e-democracy.org, Minnesota's first election-oriented website. He says the fact that so much information is on the web is just the first step.
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Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004 |
Minnesota poll on gay marriage
The Massachusetts high court declared that gays are entitled to nothing less than marriage, and that civil unions are not good enough. The court said that separate systems in U.S. history have rarely, if ever, been equal systems. A new Minnesota Public Radio / St. Paul Pioneer Press poll says a majority of Minnesotans are opposed to legalizing gay marriage. But the poll also shows Minnesotans are split on whether they want to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage. The topic is expected to be a hot button issue at the Legislature this session. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Presidential landscape in Wisconsin
Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is rallying his supporters in Wisconsin, saying that if he does not win there on February 17, that he will quite his presidential run. He appeared last night at a packed nightclub in Madison. He promised to provide health care for all Americans and take the country back from the special interests he says now run it. Dean is not the only one putting time and money into the state. Southern natives Sen. John Edwards and Gen. Wesley Clark have announced new plans for TV ads and visits in Wisconsin. All three are hoping the state's primary will give them a boost as they chase frontrunner Sen. John Kerry. Joe Heim is a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin -- LaCrosse.
Changing tastes are changing food imports
Every year the U.S. imports more and more food. Even though the country produces enough to feed itself, the tastes of American consumers are changing. Big city or small town, they are looking for food from all over the world. Many of those consumers are new arrivals to the country. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Herb Brooks' son on "Miracle" movie
The movie "Miracle" opens tomorrow in theaters across the nation. The Disney film tells the story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team and their upset of the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, New York. The game has become known as the "miracle on ice." Minnesota's Herb Brooks coached that team. Actor Kurt Russell portrays Brooks in the movie. Brooks was killed in a car accident last August. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Herb Brooks' son Dan.
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Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 |
Pawlenty suggests business tax cuts
In his second state of the state speech, Gov. Tim Pawlenty emphasized that Minnesota lawmakers managed to dig the state out of a massive budget hole without raising taxes. The governor used yesterday's speech to highlight past accomplishments and focus on his plans for the future. He says he wants those plans to include a limit on state spending. He also thinks the Legislature should reduce a business tax to encourage Minnesota businesses to hire more people. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Rethinking higher education
Gov. Tim Pawlenty say it is time to rethink the future of higher education in Minnesota. During his state of the state address yesterday, the governor announced the formation of a higher education commission led by the Citizens League of Minnesota. Higher Education officials are mostly praising the move, but there is some skepticism about the utility of this type of commission. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Results of teen survey may be in jeopardy
Results from this year's Minnesota Student Survey of teenagers may turn out to be less useful to policy makers, because of a change in how parents give permission for their kids take the survey. The survey has been done since 1989, and has gathered information that's shaped programs designed to reduce bullying, smoking, and drug use. In previous years, parents could opt their kids out of the survey. But starting this spring, the Department of Education is requiring written permission from parents. Several school districts say they will not even bother with the survey this year, because they do not have the staff and budget to pay for it. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Cheri Pearson Yecke.
Herb Brooks celebrated with new statue
In movie theaters around the country tonight, audiences will re-live the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's unlikely march to a gold medal under the leadership of the late Herb Brooks. In Brooks' hometown of Saint Paul, the opening of the movie Miracle is just one part of a week-long celebration of hockey. Last night, officials unveiled a bronze statue of the Hall of Fame coach outside the city's arena and convention center, which is hosting this weekend's National Hockey League All-Star game. Family members and friends attending the ceremonies say Brooks' spirit is alive and well in the city he called home. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
Minnesota sculpture artist in Fargo
Speaking of sculptures, Duane Hanson's sculptures of everyday people are so realistic, gallery patrons often talk to them. A retrospective of the Minnesota-born sculptor's work is on display at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo. The Alexandria native spent most of his creative years living and working in Florida. He died in 1996. Plains Art Museum curator Rusty Freeman says Hanson's work was influenced by his midwestern roots.
Warland on Grammy nomination
Dale Warland is finally going to the Grammys. The conductor of the Dale Warland Singers was nominated for the first time after more than 30 years with his group, and just in time as he has announced his retirement at the end of this season. The Grammys are on Sunday, and Warland is expected to be at the ceremonies, hoping to win the award for "Best Choral Performance" for the piece "Walden Pond." Minnesota Public Radio Classical Music host Tom Crann talked with Warland about his nomination.
Meteorologist Mark Seeley on snowfall and cold
In his weekly weather analysis, University of Minnesota meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses seasonal snowfall totals. In the Twin Cities, it is 47 inches, Duluth has had 81 inches and International Falls has 56 inches. In addition, Seeley discusses the unusually cold weather that swept through the area about a week ago.
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