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March 22 - 26, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, March 22, 2004 |
Both sides in bus strike meet again
The two sides involved in the Twin Cities bus strike will be back at the table today for the first time since the strike started more than two weeks ago. Union representatives and Metro Transit officials will meet this afternoon for a mediation session requested by the Bureau of Mediation Services. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes is covering the story, and he joins us now.
Whalen leads U of M women in NCAA tournament
The University of Minnesota women's basketball has advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Gophers beat UCLA 92 to 81 yesterday afternoon at Williams Arena. Lindsay Whalen, playing for the first time since breaking two bones in her hand on February 12th, scored 31 points to lead Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal reports.
Twins not on big cable TV and satellite systems
The Major League Baseball season begins two weeks from today and many Minnesota Twins fans are still wondering how closely they will be able to follow their team on television this year. Nearly two-thirds of the Twins' games will be televised on a network that is currently unavailable to most Minnesotans. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has this look at the standoff between the Twins' new network -- Victory Sports One -- and the region's leading cable and satellite providers.
Social issues to take over Capitol agenda
Lawmakers at the Minnesota Capitol are expected to take up some hot social issues this week. Bills regarding both same-sex marriage and the death penalty are likely to get hearings. This comes during a session when lawmakers' main job is to agree on a bonding bill to fund capital projects around the state. Joining us now for a look at the week ahead is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum.
Monday Markets with MPR's Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics correspondent Chris Farrell discusses economic reports coming out this week, and the week ahead for the financial markets.
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Tuesday, March 23, 2004 |
Stadium opponents gird for one more battle
The 2004 version of the Minnesota stadium debate begins today. Governor Pawlenty's proposal to build two new stadiums for the Twins and the Vikings will have its first legislative hearing before a House committee this afternoon. The teams, their lobbyists, and their assorted allies will be there to present their case. But so will the opponents. And while their numbers may have dwindled, those opponents have essentially won each of the previous rounds. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Bus strike negotiations resume
State mediators couldn't bring the two sides in the Metro Transit strike any closer to resolving the dispute during seven hours of talks Monday. The strike by 2200 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union is in its third week. Metropolitan Council negotiators emerged from the mediation session frustrated, calling a proposal submitted by the union baffling. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
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Wednesday, March 24, 2004 |
Pawlenty's stadium proposal begins journey through Legislature
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's stadium proposal has begun its journey through an uncertain legislative process, clearing its first committee hearing late last night. The House Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs committee voted to advance the package to its next stop, but declined to give its full endorsement. Pointed questions by committee members indicate the plan will face many obstacles along its path. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Gopher women advance to NCAA "Sweet Sixteen"
The University of Minnesota women's basketball team is in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament after trouncing Kansas State 80-61 last night at William's Arena. Minnesota dominated the game from the start, building a 26-point halftime lead and never letting the Wildcats back into the game. Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal reports.
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Thursday, March 25, 2004 |
House approves bill for gay marriage amendment
The Minnesota House has voted in favor of letting voters decide whether the Minnesota Constitution should be changed to ban same sex marriage. After a relatively short but somewhat emotional debate, the House voted 88-42 in favor of the proposed constitutional amendment. Supporters say the measure is needed to ensure that marriage remains between one man and one woman. Opponents, however, say the proposal is divisive and is diverting attention away from the state's real problems. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Former lawmakers discuss same sex marriage vote
The Minnesota House has voted in favor of letting the public decide whether the Minnesota Constitution should be changed to ban same sex marriage. After a relatively short debate, the House voted 88-42 yesterday in favor of the proposed constitutional amendment. The emotional issue has drawn large rallies at the Capitol, and lawmakers have been heavily lobbied for their votes. Joining us to talk about what it's like to vote under those circumstances are two former lawmakers. Mary Jo McGuire is a former DFL House member from Falcoln Heights. Dave Bishop is a Republican former House member from Rochester.
Former Clark collegue and Minnesotan talks about 9/11 hearings
The commission investigating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has wrapped up two days of hearings on Capitol Hill. Yesterday the commission heard from former anti-terrorism official Richard Clark, who said the Bush administration did not urgently respond to the terrorism threat leading up to the attacks. One Minnesotan is reacting to the hearings with an insider's view. Tom Maertens served with Richard Clark on the National Security Council staff during both the Clinton and Bush administrations. Maertens was the National Security Council Director for Nuclear Nonproliferation, while Clark was National Coordinator for Counterterrorism. Tom Maertens is now retired and lives in Mankato. He joins us on the line.
Budget battle heating up at the Capitol
Eight months before they stand for re-election, the Republicans who control the Minnesota House are working on their plan to resolve the latest state budget shortfall. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has already released his plan to fill in the projected $160 million gap. It includes cuts to nursing homes, hospitals and pharmacies. House Republicans say they have a proposal to avoid those cuts, but some DFLers at the Capitol say the plan still unfairly hits welfare recipients. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the budget debate shaping up at the Capitol.
Mathew Janczewski 'resonates' through dance
Many dance companies have their own schools and regular concerts to keep them financially healthy all year long. Meanwhile ARENA Dances exists ju st beneath the radar, surviving from one concert to the next,usually performing just once a year. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports.
Patrons help public libraries
Public libraries around Minnesota are getting less money from the state than in the past. They're responding by cutting services and buying fewer books. The Minneapolis library eliminated a quarter of its staff. The Le Sueur library stopped subscribing to half its magazines. The library in Thief River Falls parked its bookmobile. But at the same time, libraries are getting creative about finding more money. Also, people who are used to using the library for free, are stepping forward to help out. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
Parade of planets visible at night
For the next couple of weeks, five planets will be visible at the same time in the night sky, creating a spectacular show that won't be back for over three decades. One of the planets, Venus, is currently the brightest object in the sky other than the moon. The parade of planets also includes Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. For those who want a closer look, the Minnesota Planetarium is hosting a viewing event tonight at the Eisenhower Observatory in Hopkins. Bob Bonadurer is the director of the Minnesota Planetarium. He says it's unusual to have such a nice view of all five planets simutaneously in part because one of them is often tough to see.
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Friday, March 26, 2004 |
Is same-sex marriage a civil rights issue?
The fate of a constitutional same-sex marriage ban could largely be decided today when a Minnesota Senate committee considers whether the issue should go on the November ballot. The hearing caps a week in which same-sex marriage has been in the forefront at the Capitol. Thousands of supporters and opponents held rallies, and the House on Wednesday approved putting the question to voters. Supporters of the constitutional ban say they want to ensure that Minnesota's Defense of Marriage Act cannot be overturned in the courts. But opponents say they want gay couples to have the same civil rights and legal benefits afforded to heterosexual couples. The civil rights argument has caused concern among some African-American religious leaders in Minnesota, especially when they've heard it compared to the fight for racial equality. They argue that the civil rights struggle is completely different than the gay marriage issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Transit strike affecting students, teachers
Some metro area educators say the three-week-old transit strike has created an additional hardship for students. They say it has led to declines in attendance and decreases in participation in afterschool programs. The Met Council is expanding its efforts to help bus-dependent commuters get around. The Transit Grant Assistance Program is now available to schools that need help getting students to and from school. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Study finds public need not fund ballparks
A study at the University of Dayton finds that major league baseball owners could finance stadiums themselves, and still make money in the long-run. The study looked at more than a dozen new baseball stadiums built since 1989, and found that owners could have recovered the construction costs of the new stadium in an average of 12 years. Joining us on the line is Larry Hadley, economics professor at the University of Dayton and the study's author.
Spring brings with it severe weather
Normally at this time, we talk with University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley. Mark is on vacation this week, so we turned to WCCO meteorologist Paul Douglas, who joins us on the line from Des Moines, Iowa, where he's attending the "Severe Storms and Doppler Radar" conference.
First there was 'Music of the Spheres.' Now there's 'Cubemusic!'
If you've ever seen a kid's toy magic lantern, you'll know what's in store at State Cloud State's Kiehle gallery. A magic lantern is a lamp with a rotating base. Light filters through the shapes cut in the shade and casts kaleidoscopic patterns on the walls. Artist Craig Colorusso has enlarged upon that concept. He's turned the gallery into a giant magic lantern using six aluminum cubes that radiate light. They also produce an eery droning sound that Colorusso calls "Cubemusic." Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter has more.
Minneapolis group working to attract gay and lesbian tourists
Have you seen the ads on television for a travel agency for gays and lesbians? It's a growing business, and the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association wants to join in when it comes to attracting tourists. Joining us in the studio is Andrew Tellijohn, who covered the story in this week's edition of The Business Journal.
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