|
April 26 - 30, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
|
Monday, April 26, 2004 |
President Bush visits Twin Cities
President George W. Bush makes another visit to Minnesota this morning. He will give a speech on higher education at a conference of community college officials in Minneapolis. From there he will head to a private fundraiser in Edina. The presidential visit comes one week before Bush's presumptive Democratic challenger, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, will appear at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Bush will speak to community colleges association
Community colleges are often ignored in discussions about the higher education system. But the truth is, the country's nearly 1,200 community colleges have been quietly providing affordable education and job retraining to millions of Americans for decades. It is a constituency President George W. Bush appears interested in. Later this morning, the president will speak to a convention of the American Association of Community Colleges, which is holding its 84th annual meeting in Minneapolis this week. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Budget, bonding, stadium to headline week at Capitol
Minnesota lawmakers have less than a month to go before they are constitutionally mandated to adjourn the legislative session. House Republicans last week announced a proposal to borrow about $600 million for new construction projects around the state, but that plan will have to be reconciled with the Senate DFLers bonding proposal, which they have not released yet. In addition, lawmakers still need to agree on a fix for a projected $160 million shortfall. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief.
Farmers made profits last year
New figures show that most Minnesota farmers made a healthy profit last year. That is a big change from a few years ago when farmers struggled to stay in business. A study by farm management specialists in the state university system looked at about $2,300. The average profit per farm in 2003 was $67,000. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
MPR's Chris Farrell and his Monday Markets comments
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses what the latest economic numbers could mean for the economy and financial markets down the road. He also tells us what the Google IPO means for the markets.
|
|
Tuesday, April 27, 2004 |
Wetterling mulling run for Congress
Patty Wetterling is thinking about running for Congress this fall to oust Republican Mark Kennedy. Wetterling is nationally known for the way she responded to the 1989 abduction of her son Jacob who's still missing. She helped create the Jacob Wetterling Foundation to push child safety issues at the state capitol, and in Washington, D.C. The DFL party has been recruiting her for the past couple of weeks to run in the Sixth Congressional District which stretches from the suburbs of the Twin Cities, up to St. Cloud. If she does decide to run, she will have to secure the DFL endorsement before a possible matchup against Kennedy. At least one other DFLer, Ted Thompson, has already announced his intention to get the DFL endorsement. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Patty Wetterling.
President Bush makes 8th visit to Minnesota
President George W. Bush raised $1 million on a swing through Minnesota yesterday. Bush appeared at an invitation-only fundraiser at the Edina home of real estate developer David Frauenshuh. The president also addressed the American Association of Community Colleges. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Community Colleges grateful for Bush visit
Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry will campaign in Ohio today while President Bush visits a hospital in Baltimore. Bush was in Minneapolis yesterday and raised $1 million at a private fundraiser after giving a policy speech to a national education group. Many who attended the annual convention of American community colleges say they are grateful for the president's recognition of the education and job training programs they offer. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Minnesota Kerry campaign reacts to Bush appearance
While President Bush was in Minnesota for the eighth time in his presidency, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry plans to visit Minnesota for the first time since he all but won the Democratic nomination in March. Ken Martin is the state director of the Minnesota Kerry Campaign. He joins us now.
Big Business to boost early childhood education
A group of top business leaders in Minnesota is launching a new effort to help children be ready for kindergarten. Executives from 80 companies like 3M, Best Buy, and Cargill are forming the Minnesota School Readiness Business Advisory Council. The effort is led by H.B. Fuller CEO Al Strouken who joins us on the line this morning.
|
|
Wednesday, April 28, 2004 |
Three teens die in St. Paul caves
Three teenagers are dead and one is struggling to survive this morning after they were apparently overcome by carbon monoxide in the Wabasha caves in St. Paul. A fifth teenager managed to get out of the tunnel yesterday and told police that his friends were still inside. Officials say the group entered the cave through a small hole in the bluffs across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Paul. The complex of caves in the soft sandstone in that area can stretch for hundreds of feet. People exploring the area have died there before. An effort was made to improve safety by filling in the caves with debris from construction. But some experts believe that the effort may have made the caves more dangerous. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Calvin Alexander, a professor at the University of Minnesota who's studies geology.
Senate committee rejects Yecke
State Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke says she will be back at work as usual today even though a key legislative panel wants her removed from the job she's held for over a year. Members of the DFL-controlled Senate Education Committee voted on a six to four party line vote Tuesday to reject Yecke's confirmation as commissioner. The recommendation now goes to the full Senate. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
House committee rejects Northstar
The Northstar commuter rail line linking Minneapolis with its northwestern suburbs has taken a step backward. Last night, a House committee voted to strip funding for the project from a bill that finances long-term state construction projects. The Northstar line has the support of Gov. Tim Pawlenty and key legislative leaders from both parties. But a group of mainly Republican opponents engineered a miniature revolt by making the opposition an offer it could not refuse. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
University of Minnesota to lead on protecting food supply
The security of our food is the focus of a new effort at the University of Minnesota. The University will get $15 million over the next three years from the federal government to come up with ways to detect deliberate attacks on this country's food supply. The money will be used for a new University center for post-harvest food protection and defense. Joining us this morning is Michael Osterholm, co-principal investigator for this new center. Dr. Osterholm is also the director of U of M's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
Ramsey county to report on Hmong refugees
Several members of a team that recently traveled to a Hmong refugee camp in Thailand will present their findings at a public meeting tonight in St. Paul. The team assessed the conditions of the camp and the needs of the Hmong refugees who live there. Between one and three thousand of those refugees are expected to arrive in Minnesota sometime this summer, and many will probably move to the St. Paul area. Maykao Hung oversees adult services for Ramsey County and led the assessment team in Thailand. She joins us now.
|
|
Thursday, April 29, 2004 |
Charges against GOP chairman dropped
A Mower County judge has dismissed campaign finance charges against the chair of the state Republican Party. Chairman Ron Eibensteiner was indicted last year for allegedly facilitating illegal campaign contributions from a Florida-based company during the 2002 gubernatorial election. But the judge ruled there was no evidence that the donations were ever used in Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Ramsey Co. preparing community for new Hmong refugees
Ramsey County officials are preparing for 1,000 to 50000 Hmong refugees to resettle in the county in the next few months. They will create new challenges for local and state resources including health, education and housing. To help residents and service providers understand the challenges they will face, Ramsey County and St. Paul city officials last night began an education campaign they hope will prepare residents to welcome the newest Minnesotans. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Stadium lessons from Milwaukee
Legislation to authorize stadiums for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings is facing some of its toughest scrutiny this week in the House Tax Committee. A vote could come as early as tomorrow and Committee chair Ron Abrams has indicated prospects could be dim if changes are not made. Like Minnesota, Wisconsin went through years of contentious negotiations before lawmakers authorized public subsidies for the Milwaukee Brewers three-year-old home, Miller Park. And like Minnesota, supporters there said the small-market team needed the ballpark to stay competitive. It has not worked out that way. The team continues to lose and attendance is poor. As Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, ill will lingers over the way the deal came together.
Unique urban architecture on display on Home Tour
The 17th annual Minneapolis and St. Paul Home Tour will be held this weekend. The Tour offers a chance for the public to see the best in new and remodeled houses. This year there's one house that is likely to stand out from the others. Its creators call it "NowHaus 01" They say it combines the sensibilities of modern art with new trends in sustainable urban architecture. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs has the story.
U of M students going to see Warren Buffett
A group 45 students from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management is headed to Omaha, Nebraska this weekend to attend what the host has called "Woodstock for capitalists." They're off to the annual shareholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the company headed by Warren Buffett. The Oracle of Omaha, as he's known, is a legend. He's made billions by ignoring Wall Street and investing in businesses he thinks are underpriced. His annual meetings are a big draw -- more than 10,000 shareholders and admirers attended last year -- in part because Buffett and his vice chairman answer questions, offer advice, and even circulate at cocktail parties. Avanish Vellanki is the president of the MBA Finance Club at the Carlson School. He was at Berkshire's annual meeting last year, and organized the group trip this year. He joins us now.
|
|
Friday, April 30, 2004 |
House passes bonding bill; rejects commuter rail line
The Minnesota House has voted overwhelmingly for a $677 million package of capital improvement projects. About $600 million in projects would be funded by money borrowed through bond sales, so the bill is commonly called the bonding bill. The project that drove the six-hour debate was an item that was removed from the bill earlier this week - the proposed Northstar commuter rail line between Minneapolis and Big Lake. Northstar supporters failed in their attempt to put funding for the line back into the bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Rybak announces boost for north Minneapolis in State of City
North Minneapolis residents will get a $42 million boost for building and renovating housing. Mayor R.T. Rybak announced the new initiative yesterday during his State of the City address. Rybak also emphasized the city's efforts to increase employment. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Milwaukee built ballpark, Brewers can't build winning seasons
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has said small-market teams like the Minnesota Twins and the Milwaukee Brewers require state-of-the-art ballparks in order to compete. Selig owned and ran the Brewers before he was commissioner and led the push for public financing of Milwaukee's new stadium, Miller Park. Nevertheless, the Brewers have failed to stop their slide of 11 straight seasons below .500 ball. Observers there say Minnesotans should be aware that in the current economics of baseball, sometimes a new stadium just isn't enough. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
U of M history professor Hy Berman retiring
A ceremony at the University of Minnesota tomorrow will honor a longtime history professor who is retiring at the end of the semester. Hy Berman has taught at the university for 43 years, and he's known by many throughout the state for the history lessons he's offered on television and in newspapers. During his long career, 79-year-old Berman provided context and commentary on many key moments of Minnesota history. Professor Berman joins us now.
New York dancer inspired by migratory patterns of birds
Waterfowl enthusiasts and dance aficionados will have a chance to co-mingle this weekend with the arrival of New York choreographer Jennifer Monson. Monson is performing a piece based on an exploration of the migratory patterns of ducks and geese. She'll bring her organic, improvisational style to three different outdoor locations in the metro area. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts has more.
Polaris hopes military use of its ATVs will attract U.S. customers
The U.S. military is using ATVs made by Minnesota-based Polaris Industries for its work in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company hopes that the military connection will enhance the rugged image of its all-terrain vehicles and convince more people to buy them. Sam Black covered the story for this week's edition of The Business Journal. He's says Polaris plans to play up that military connection.
|
| Morning Edition Archive |
|
|
|
© 2024 | Home : Terms of Use : Your Privacy Rights