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March 1 - 5, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, March 1, 2004 |
Minnesota caucus night culminates campaign flurry in state
On Tuesday, neighborhood meetings held around the state could help decide who the Democrats nominate for president. The Minnesota caucuses are part of Super Tuesday. Residents of California, New York and seven other states will also vote in presidential primaries. For the first time in many years, the candidates have been focusing on Minnesota along with the bigger states. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Bus riders ready alternatives on the eve of a potential strike
Neither the bus drivers' union nor Metro Transit officials are optimistic about breaking an impasse over wages and health benefits before Tuesday's strike deadline. Transportation officials say the best way to avoid gridlock if there is a strike is to plan ahead. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes takes a look at how some of those who rely on buses are making other plans.
Moorhead City Council debates smoking ban
Moorhead city officials are voting on an ordinance that would ban smoking in local restaurants. About a dozen Minnesota communities have such laws. Proponents say the bans protect workers from second-hand smoke, but others argue the smoking bans are a personal attack on smokers. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Anti-trust suit against Microsoft goes to trial
Jury selection begins this week in a Minnesota class-action, anti-trust case against the software monolith, Microsoft. The suit seeks hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. It alleges Microsoft used a market monopoly to overcharge customers. Microsoft denies the charges. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
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Tuesday, March 2, 2004 |
It's precinct caucus day
Thousands of Minnesotans are expected to go to schools and community centers tonight to attend their party precinct caucuses. There are more than 4000 precincts in Minnesota, and each will have a caucus location. Minnesotans who go to these neighborhood political gatherings can choose a candidate for president, talk about issues and in some cases, pick a party mascot. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Still no deal in bus talks
The leaders of the union which represents bus drivers in the Twin Cities has scheduled a meeting for this afternoon, at which they plan to set a strike date. A long day of negotiations between the Amalgamated Transit Union and Metro Transit broke off after midnight last night without a settlement of the contract dispute. Joining us with the latest on the situation is Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes.
The view from Thailand
The government of Thailand would like to expand the number of Hmong refugees who are eligible to relocate to the United States. A delegation of officials from Minnesota, including St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, is visiting a resettlement camp in Thailand where 15,000 Hmong refugees are currently living, in preparation for some of them to move to the Twin Cities in the coming months. Fred de Sam Lazaro of Twin Cities Public Television is with the Minnesota delegation in Thailand, and he joins us now.
Taming Highway 1
One of the state's most scenic highways is ready for a facelift. Highway 1 snakes through the forest from Lake Superior to Ely. In a 15-mile stretch there are more than 60 curves. It's a pretty drive, much loved by wilderness visitors. But it's a headache for anyone who has to follow its twists as a course of daily life. Plans are coming together to rebuild the northern section of Highway 1. But the plans won't please everybody. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Memories and words from the Snow Country prison
Sixty years ago, U.S. authorities imprisoned nearly 4,000 German and Japanese men at a camp in Bismarck, North Dakota. When World War II began, the government rounded up thousands of "enemy aliens." A new exhibit at the North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks remembers those men and their stories. Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2004 |
Kerry adds Minnesota to Super Tuesday rout
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry was the top vote getter in Minnesota's DFL caucuses Tuesday night. Unofficial returns show the Massachusetts senator received more than 50 percent of the vote in a binding presidential preference ballot. The vote will determine how Minnesota's 72 delegates to the national convention are apportioned. Kerry was followed by North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 27 percent, and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich at 17 percent. Kerry supporters say they're confident that Minnesota Democrats will unite behind Kerry, now that he has the presidential nomination locked up. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Metro bus drivers to strike at 2 a.m. Thursday
Twin Cities buses will stop running by the time commuters wake up Thursday morning. Barring an 11th-hour intervention by the governor, the union representing 2,200 bus drivers and other transit workers go on strike overnight. Union leaders say Metropolitan Council officials rejected renewed bids to go to arbitration during a last-minute mediation session. Met Council leaders maintain their last contract offer represents a need to move away from overly generous benefits that taxpayers cannot sustain. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Duluth caucus goers discuss variety of issues
In Duluth, members of three parties met at Denfeld High School. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill checked in with DFLers, Republicans, and Greens.
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Thursday, March 4, 2004 |
Metro transit bus drivers on strike
Bus drivers and other Metro Transit union workers walked off the job at 2:00 a.m. Thursday, stranding tens of thousands of workers and others needing transportation. Last-minute communications between the union and Metropolitan Council through a mediator failed to avert a strike. There are picket lines at seven Twin Cities Metro Transit garages. It's the first standoff between union drivers and the Met Council in nine years. As both sides dig in for a fight over wages and benefits, bus riders are scrambling to find a way around. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Traffic flowing well despite bus strike
Buses are not running today in the Twin Cities. Metro Transit drivers went on strike at 2:00 a.m. after last-minute talks failed to reach a contract settlement. Many commuters who usually ride the bus will be driving to work today. Joining us now with the latest on how that is affecting is traffic in the Twin Cities is Todd Kramasz, Traffic Operations Supervisor at MNDOT's Traffic Management Center.
Study ranks Twin Cities high on economic impact of artists
The Twin Cities ranks highly in a new University of Minnesota study analyzing the economic impact of artists. The study looks at the concentration of artists in the 29 largest metro areas in the United States. Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco topped the list, with the Minneapolis-St. Paul area at number eight. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs has the story.
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Friday, March 5, 2004 |
Riders feel impact of bus strike
The strike by Metro Transit bus drivers is now in day two. On day one, the work stoppage didn't produce the major traffic headaches that had been anticipated, but there was a big impact for some bus riders. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
Snow storm hits Minnesota
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses the winter storm.
Social Studies standards clear first legislative hurdle
The controversial social studies standards proposed for Minnesota public schools have cleared their first legislative hurdle. Approval by the House Education Committee came yesterday on a mostly party-line vote, with Republicans favoring the bill that would also set new grade-by-grade expectations in science. A task-force appointed by Gov. Pawlenty's education commissioner developed the standards, which are expected to win quick passage in the Republican-controlled House. The hangup could come in the DFL Senate. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Jeune Leune reworks production mid-run
Theater productions rarely stay the same from opening night to closing performance. However it's very unusual for a theater company to halt a show mid-run, to rework it. But that's what has happened in Minneapolis with Theatre De La Jeune Leune's production of "The Ballroom." Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
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