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February 9 - 13, 2004
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Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 |
Warsame arraignment today
In Minnesota, legal procedings are continuing in the case of another suspected terrorist. A federal judge in Minneapolis holds an arraignment hearing this morning for a man accused of ties to the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Mohammed Warsame's hearing is expected to be public but the judge has closed previous hearings and sealed most of his records. As Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, several constitutional scholars say the Warsame case is an example of post-September 11th court secrecy that's unprecedented in U.S. history.
Mental health system complicated
Minnesota's mental health system can be a complex and confusing maze for those in need of help. Public and private programs spent $1.3 billion to help Minnesotans with mental health problems in 2001. And yet, people say they cannot navigate through the hundreds of different services that are offered. Advocates for people who have a mental illness say better coordination should be a top priority for improving the system. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has the first report in our series, "A Bad State of Mind: Minnesota's Fractured Mental Health System."
Look ahead to week at the state capitol
Minnesota lawmakers will be back at the Capitol this morning for the second week of the legislative session. After struggling with a $4.5 billion projected deficit last year, their main job this session is to agree on a bonding bill to fund capital projects around the state. But other issues are already getting attention at the capitol. Joining us now for a look at the week ahead is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum.
NHL All Star game is success
The festivities surrounding the NHL All-Star game in St. Paul are now over. Yesterday's game went off without a hitch and players and fans alike called it a good time, as the stars from the Eastern Conference defeated their counterparts from the West, 6-4. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.
St. Cloud trivia contest getting bigger
Hundreds of people in St. Cloud spent this past weekend bleary-eyed, over-caffeinated, and glued to their computers. They were participants in the 25th annual trivia weekend. The contest started as a way to beat cabin fever. There were a handful of teams back then, but now it's 71 teams strong. St. Cloud State's student radio station, KVSC, broadcasts the 50 hour contest live. Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter reports.
MPR's Chris Farrell Monday Markets talk
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent discusses the week in the financial markets and economic reports. He talks about the fed and interest rates, the value of the dollar being so low, and the chatter about a correction in the stock market.
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Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004 |
Surprise trip has Pawlenty in Iraq
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is in Baghdad, Iraq today at the invitation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Pawlenty's office says he is traveling with a group of governors from both political parties. He started his trip on Sunday, with a briefing at the Pentagon. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with Leslie Kupchella, Gov. Pawlenty's spokesperson.
Minneapolis school system to be overhauled
Minneapolis school district officials are considering a plan to close ten schools and reorganize dozens more in response to declining enrollment and dwindling resources. The state's largest school district is facing a $20 million budget shortfall next year. But the proposed elimination of surplus classroom space will only solve a small part of the financial problem. Officials say their primary aim is to better position the district for long-range academic success. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
A success story for Minnesota's mental health system
Minnesota's mental health system can often be confusing for those seeking treatment. People who have difficulty managing their illness often end up in the hospital, living on the street or in jail. But mental health advocates say there are many who are managing their illness successfully. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has the latest report in our weeklong series "A Bad State of Mind: Minnesota's Fractured Mental Health System."
Advocates say black homeownership gap a problem
Minnesota's homeownership rate is among the highest in the nation. However, people of color in Minnesota are less likely than whites to own a home. The largest homeownership gap exists between white and black Minnesotans. The gap alarms housing and civil rights activists who say homeownership is the best way to end generations of poverty. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Museum guards show own art work
Museum security guards. Patrons know them as solemn, stoic "art cops" who watch their every move. But many guards are artists themselves and the hours they spend strolling through galleries gives them a chance to mull over their own artistic visions. At a small, makeshift gallery in Minneapolis, those visions are being given a chance to shine. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
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Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 |
Minneapolis school overhaul plan criticized
Parents, teachers, students and community activists are blasting a Minneapolis school district plan to close nine school buildings and reshuffle several programs. District administrators outlined their proposal last night during a packed school board meeting. They described the reorganization as a painful, but necessary action to try to stop a spiraling enrollment decline. Most critics, however, don not appear willing to share in that pain. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
St. Paul schools wrestle with budget cuts
In St. Paul, the school board is also preparing to make difficult choices. St. Paul schools are facing a projected $12 million budget shortfall for the 2004-05 school year. Earlier this week, Superintendent Pat Harvey presented the board with three packages of possible cuts. Some of the options include turning Wilson Junior High into an alternative program, changing the district's transportation services, and reducing its budget for the English Language Learner program. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with Toni Carter, chair of the St. Paul school board.
Alleged school shooter to be tried as adult
The 15-year old accused of killing two classmates last fall in Cold Spring will stand trial as an adult. Jason McLauglin is charged with shooting Aaron Rollins and Seth Bartell at Rocori High school on September 24th. Both students died. McLauglin's attorney is still holding out hope that the case will be tried in juvenile court. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has this report.
Politics of Pawlenty's trip to Iraq
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has another full day planned in Baghdad, Iraq today for the second part of his two-day trip there. Pawlenty is one of six American governors picked by the Defense Department for a surprise visit to the country, the first visit by governors since the occupation began in April. Pawlenty says the group wants to visit troops stationed in Iraq and learn more about the U.S. mission. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with Steven Schier, political science professor at Carleton College in Northfield, for a political perspective on the trip.
Older Minnesotans and mental health
Mental health researchers are finding that clinical depression is more common in the elderly than once thought. Heart attacks, strokes and bypass surgery can all trigger depression, as can factors like the loss of independence and growing isolation. But diagnosing and treating depression among older adults is not easy. Patients are often in denial, trained geriatric psychiatrists are in short supply, and steep Medicare co-pays often prevent effective treatment. Left unaddressed, the problems threaten to grow as the state's population ages. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this latest report in our series "A Bad State of Mind: Minnesota's Fractured Mental Health System."
Grass roots help for mental health illness
The mental health care system in Minnesota is not just the territory of doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists. There are others on the front lines of helping the mentally ill. As part of our on-air series on the state's mental health system called "A Bad State of Mind: Minnesota's Fractured Mental Health System," we have launched a companion website, where you can hear some of those voices. Among them is a man who had mental health issues early in life, who has turned his experiences into something positive. Peter Feigal was diagnosed with major depression at 13, and spent much of his life in Minnesota's mental health care system. He also has Multiple Sclerosis. Feigal now talks to groups about living with mental illness and disability. He says one group he speaks to that is a tough audience is state legislators.
Professional theater coming to Fargo Moorhead
There is a lot of theater in the Fargo-Moorhead area, but until recently there were no professional theater companies. The Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre has been around for more than 50 years. The local colleges all have reputable theater departments. Now a small group of theater professionals is trying to establish a repertory company in the heart of the community's revitalized downtown. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
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Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 |
Democratic candidates campaign in Wisconsin
Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards toured Wisconsin Wednesday with stops in Janesville, Green Bay and LaCrosse. The state's primary is less than a week away and Edwards, a senator from North Carolina, continues to trail Democratic frontrunner John Kerry. But Edwards spent his time criticizing the Bush administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports from LaCrosse.
Private prisons may solve prison space crunch
Lawmakers considering how to manage Minnesota's rising prison population may consider a new option -- private prisons. Corrections officials say Minnesota's prisons will be full next year. Over the long term, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has requested the state borrow $75 million to expand a prison complex in Faribault. But several groups that operate privately run prisons across the country say they can build and run a similar facility for less money. Meanwhile, the mayor of a city in southwest Minnesota says he wants to build a private prison in his community. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Shortage of child psychiatrists in state
In Minnesota and across the nation, there are not enough psychiatrists who treat children. Estimates from the federal government and the American Medical Association suggest 15 million American kids have a psychiatric disorder. If the nation's Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists divided that caseload, each would have almost 2,400 patients. The shortage is so serious that many kids' illnesses go untreated for months. As part of our series "A Bad State of Mind: Minnesota's Fractured Mental Health System," Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson has the story of two families who believe their kids have suffered needlessly because of the psychiatry shortage.
Mental Health Court helps mentally ill
This week on Morning Edition, we are airing a series of reports on the mental health care system in Minnesota called "A Bad State of Mind: Minnesota's Fractured Mental Health System." One place where those with mental health issues can sometimes be found is in the criminal justice system, where some are arrested, tried, and released multiple times. They are also in and out of health care facilities like Hennepin County Medical Center. Some Hennepin County doctors, social workers, and judges noticed those patterns, and created a "Mental Health Court." Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with Hennepin County District Judge Richard Hopper, who played a key role in setting up the court, and is now its presiding judge.
Embryonic stem cell research ban has support
Dozens of lawmakers are prepared to stand behind a bill that would deny public money to institutions that conduct research on human embryos. The bill, scheduled to be introduced today, is a threat to the University of Minnesota. Officials there announced this week they would pursue embryonic stem cell research. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
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Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 |
Fees for public defenders struck down
Several speakers before a Supreme Court advisory committee yesterday said allowing the public to access court records online could exacerbate racism and discrimination in Minnesota. The committee held a public hearing on the extent court records should be available on the internet. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
.08 limit on drunk driving passes state senate
The Minnesota Senate today has voted to lower the state's drunk driving limit. Minnesota is one of just four states in the country that does not have a drunk driving standard of .08 blood-alcohol content. The Legislature has debated the lower limit for years, and many observers think this year, it will finally become law. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
McElroy sent tough letter to Lottery director
The state Finance Department was in the middle of an ongoing review of the Minnesota Lottery when former director George Andersen committed suicide last month. Gubernatorial Chief of Staff Dan McElroy -- who previously served as finance commissioner -- sent a sharply-worded letter to Andersen just weeks before Andersen was found dead outside his home. But McElroy says he had not reached a decision on whether his concerns might cost Andersen his job. The administration review coincided with a Legislative Auditor's investigation of the Lottery. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Howard Dean makes stop in Minneapolis
Democratic Presidential hopeful Howard Dean says he is not giving up and will keep running until he wins the party nomination. Dean was in Minneapolis last night raising some much needed cash for his campaign. Dean's supporters seem willing to stick with him until the Minnesota caucuses on March 2nd. But he's got to get through the Wisconsin primary first. He once called the Wisconsin primary his make or break contest, but as Wisconsin's primary looms on Tuesday, Dean is focusing on winning, not stepping aside. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Funeral held for soldier who died in Iraq
Funeral services were held today in Elk River for Patrick Dorff an Army helicopter pilot who crashed in northern Iraq late last month and apparently drowned in the Tigris River. Dorff who grew up in Buffalo, Minnesota joined the army to gain flying experience and to earn money for college. The 32-year-old left behind a wife and a young daughter along with a long list of friends and admirers. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Child psychiatrist shortage is acute
Minnesota's shortage of child psychiatrists is so severe that most mentally ill kids must wait months for a psychiatric appointment. While they are waiting, some children get dangerously sick and are forced to go to the emergency room. Even then, they might not get the skilled help they need. State officials and health plans say they are aware of the problem and they agree the solution might require a radical change in the way Minnesota doctors care for their patients. All week long we have been looking at mental health issues in our series "A Bad State of Mind: Minnesota's Fractured Mental Health System." In our final report, Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson looks at a pilot program where one child psychiatrist is trying to address the psychiatrist shortage by redefining his and his colleagues jobs.
Specialty medical centers hurting hospitals
An increasing number of specialty centers for surgery and imaging are popping up in the Twin Cities, and some hospital executives say they are threatening the area's health care safety net. Hospital leaders will ask the Minnesota Legislature to make it more difficult for doctors and entrepreneurs to open these kinds of centers. They also want the facilities to undergo tougher regulatory scrutiny. Scott Smith covered the story for this week's edition of The Business Journal. He's come by the studio this morning.
Meteorologist Mark Seeley's weather commentary
This week, University of Minnesota meteorologist Mark Seeley tells us which month is typically the snowiest. And, he explains that this February has been one of the snowiest Februarys since 1884.
Timberwolves successful through All-Star break
Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, Flip Saunders and the rest of The Minnesota Timberwolves coaching staff are headed to Los Angeles for the NBA All-Star Game. Saunders was named the coach of the Western Conference All-Stars because the Wolves have one of the best records in the league. At the break, the Wolves are 37-15, 22 games over .500 for the first time in franchise history. Brit Robson covers the Timberwolves for City Pages. He says the addition of some new players -- especially Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell -- are a big part of the Wolves success so far this season.
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