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April 12 - 16, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, April 12, 2004 |
Lawmakers to debate budget, stadiums, Yecke this week
Minnesota lawmakers have five weeks left before the state constitution forces them to adjourn the legislative session, and most of their work is still unfinished. The House and Senate have passed markedly different plans for fixing a projected shortfall of $160 million in the state budget, and reaching agreement on a final plan could be tough. Neither body has passed a bonding bill to fund capital projects around the state, and both are still considering legislation for a new stadium. Education Commissioner Cheri Pearson Yecke also has another confirmation hearing in the Senate. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief.
Weighing the risks of gastric bypass surgery
Last spring, Mainstreet Radio's series "The Fight Against Fat" documented America's growing problem with obesity. One of the people we met in that series was Gail Hocking, a member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe. When we talked to Gail last year, she weighed 370 pounds. Gail had been overweight all her life.
Residents of Madelia trying to lose more weight
Many people in Madelia are also facing the ongoing challenge of weight management. Last year, a group of about 250 people in the southwestern Minnesota town collectively lost over 2,300 pounds in 10 weeks. But since then, many have gained at least some of that weight back, and this year, the town held another "fight the fat" effort to lose weight. Deb is a spokesperson for Madelia Community Hospital, which organized the program.
Divorcing parents logging on to less conflict
Even if they want to, parents who divorce rarely sever their bond completely because they have to talk to each other about the children. But for some, just hearing a former spouse's voice can reopen emotional wounds and turn almost any discussion into a fight. So Hennepin and several other Minnesota county courts have started suggesting a web tool designed to take the emotion out of communicating between divorced parents. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Utne hopes to spark englightened political talk
The Minneapolis-based Utne magazine wants to spark a conversation among Americans that's more educational and less confrontational. The magazine is teaming up with other organizations to start a program called "Let's Talk America." The program asks people of different political views to get together to talk with each other during this election year in cafes, coffee shops, and living rooms. "Let's Talk America" creators say it's an effort to combat powerful forces... like some talk radio programs... and negative political campaigns... that divide Americans. Leif Utne is the co-chairman of "Let's Talk America." He says he hopes the project will get people excited about participating this election year.
Monday Markets with Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics correspondent Chris Farrell joins Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the financial markets and the economy.
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Tuesday, April 13, 2004 |
Picketing bus strikers react to tentative deal
A tentative agreement in the Twin Cities' bus strike has been reached. Negotiators met for 15 hours starting at 2:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Gov. Tim Pawlenty joined the negotiations at 11:00 p.m. and an agreement was reached this morning at 5:30. Negotiations were conducted at a hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Details of the tentative agreement will be announced this morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Capitol. This is the 41st day of the strike and the key issue separating the two sides has been health care benefits. MPR producer Eugene Cha talked with union members on the picket line after news of the settlement was announced. Mechanic Carl Munson says he is optimistic that the offer will be approved by the union members.
Mixed news from new state economic forecast
A new state economic update has mixed news for Minnesota's financial prospects. The April report shows state receipts for the past two months were $33 million below the forecast. The bulk of the shortfall came from corporate income tax payments, despite reports of increased company profits around the country. The update has state officials perplexed -- and is likely to factor into this year's budget negotiations. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Large city school districts on desegregation cuts
Minneapolis and St. Paul school district officials are blasting legislation that would take away some of the state funding they get for keeping their schools racially balanced. The Minnesota House recently approved the measure, which would spread the money statewide. The state's large urban districts have long relied on the extra money to comply with desegregation laws. But some rural legislators say their schools have been unfairly short-changed. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Prominent doctor wants obesity declared a disease
Obesity is one of the country's top killers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it contributed to 400,000 deaths in the year 2000. The CDC says it will not be long before more Americans die of obesity than from smoking. Like smoking, obesity is hard to tackle. Doctors do not have a lot of treatments. There are some medications or in extreme cases a risky surgery to reduce the size of a patient's stomach. Diet and exercise are also options, but the success rate is so low that many doctors and patients have lost hope. But one Minnesota doctor is not ready to give up and as Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, he's staking his reputation on the belief that obesity can be treated effectively if it's treated as a disease.
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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 |
Bus strike settlement hits snag
The process for settling the Twin Cities' bus strike has hit a snag. After announcing the tentative agreement early yesterday, Metro Transit delivered the written deal to union leaders with "incomplete" health care numbers. Metro transit then sent new information to the union last night, but the delay could affect when union members vote on the deal. Workers walked off the job on March 4th over pay and health care, leaving more than 70,000 bus riders to find other ways to get around. The strike has also had an impact on the state's first light-rail line. The line was scheduled to open between downtown Minneapolis and just north of the airport on April 1st, but was delayed because light-rail drivers have been on strike as members of the union. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Peter Bell, the chair of the Metropolitan Council about the latest developments, and the affect of a settlement on the light-rail.
Getting riders back on the bus
If striking drivers approve this contract agreement, bus service will be back to normal by next week. However, many former riders might not be coming back, at least not right away. Transit officials worry that the strike will lead to a decrease in ridership - just as it did following the last transit strike in 1995. Some say the strikes weaken people's confidence in the system. Now, the challenge for transit officials is to get riders back. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Stem cell research out in the open
When University of Minnesota officials announced recently they would pursue human embryonic stem cell research, they made a pledge to keep the controversial process open to public scrutiny. To that end, the university held a public forum last night to discuss the scientific and ethical issues behind the new research policy. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Stem cells from cloned embryos a major development
Another research project involving stem cells was a hot topic of discussion two months ago, but has faded to the background again. Commentator Craig Bowron is a practicing physician in the Twin Cities. He says the announcement that researchers in South Korea have successfully extracted stem cells from a cloned human embryo is bigger news than most people realize.
New flood plan is modeled after a waffle
For years residents of the Red River Valley have struggled with floods. Cities and towns have spent millions of dollars building dikes and diversion projects in an attempt to stay dry. Now researchers are working on a new approach to flood protection. Officials at the "Energy and Environmental Research Center" in Grand Forks, North Dakota are testing a program they think will help. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Encouraging women to go into politics
The creator of "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" will be in Minnesota this afternoon to promote womens involvement in the political system. Marie Wilson is leading an initiative called, "vote, Run, Lead" which aims to get more women into the voting booth and into public office. The multi-year effort involves leadership training, get-out-the-vote activities, and meet-up style gatherings in numerous U.S. cities. Marie Wilson joins us now to discuss the effort.
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Thursday, April 15, 2004 |
Striking bus drivers expected to vote on contract
Striking Twin Cities transit workers will vote tonight and tomorrow morning on a tentative agreement that would settle the bus strike which began on March Fourth. The union's executive board meets this morning to consider whether to recommend the agreement to rank-and-file union members. Metro Transit officials say they are still hoping to restart bus service this weekend even after the ratification vote was delayed by what union leaders say was "inaccurate and incomplete information" from the Met Council. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Taxes front and center at State Capitol
Personal income taxes are due today -- and hundreds of Minnesotans are expected at the Capitol to call for restraints on government spending. The rally is sponsored by the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, perhaps best known for the no-new-taxes pledge it put before candidates in the 2002 election. The pledge -- whose supporters include Governor Tim Pawlenty -- remains central to budget debates at the state Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Tax day could be bad day for Nongame Wildlife Fund
Tax day may prove to be a tough day, not just for procrastinating taxpayers, but for many species of birds, animals, and other nongame wildlife. That's because fewer Minnesotans are marking their tax returns to include money for the nongame wildlife fund. Taxpayers who do their own forms are familiar with the small picture of a loon next to the line asking for a contribution. Minnesota's Nongame Wildlife Program Supervisor Carrol Henderson says so far, the fund is down about nine percent from this point last year.
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Friday, April 16, 2004 |
Bus strikers voting on tentative contract
Striking Metro Transit workers continue voting today on a contract offer that includes a marginal wage increase compared to what the union rejected in February. The offer emerged from a 15 hour long negotiating session that included Gov. Tim Pawlenty earlier this week. Results of the voting, which began last night, are expected to be announced tonight. If the contract is approved, buses could start up again as early as Monday. Many union members say it is difficult to vote for the contract because it is so close to the offer that put them on the picket lines 43 days ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Federated pursues Marshall Fields
Federated Department stores may want to buy its way into the midwest. Federated owns Macy's and Bloomingdales, and now has its eye on Marshall Fields, which has 62 stores mostly located in the region. Many retail analysts say buying Marshall Fields, a chain with deep Minnesota roots, would give Federated a quick way to reach new customers in places like Minnesota. But while Federated is unfamiliar with shoppers here, many Minnesota shoppers are also unfamiliar with Federated. Joining us on the line to tell us more about Cincinnatti-based Federated Department Stores is Kurt Barnard, president of Barnard's Retail Consulting Group.
Med tech firms wonder where the workers will come from
The labor market has been weak in Minnesota for the last few years, but one industry is wondering where it is going to find enough talented workers to fill open positions. Several medical technology companies like Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Guidant have recently announced big expansions. The Twin Cities is also home to many smaller med tech companies that are also growing. Industry analysts expect these companies to hire about 10,000 people in the next 5 to 7 years. Joining us in the studio is Sam Black, who wrote about this story in this week's edition of "The Business Journal."
Farm prices up, farmers excited
As temperatures warm up, Minnesota farmers are ready to head into the fields for spring planting. This year farmers have reason to be optimistic. Prices for the state's two major crops, corn and soybeans, are close to all time highs. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has this report.
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weekly weather comments
This week, University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the dry weather in much of the state that's contributing to wildfires.
Small museum seeks big visibility
Minneapolis is home to a number of well-known museums. But relatively few people know about the only art museum in St. Paul. Until recently, the Minnesota Museum of American Art sat hidden from view in the upper floors of the Landmark Center. Now it is making a big move in order to get the attention of people on the street. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports.
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