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May 31 - June 4, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, May 31, 2004 |
MPR Poll: Presidential race is close
A new Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press poll shows the presidential race is extremely close in Minnesota. The poll shows Democrat John Kerry with a slight lead over Republican incumbent George W. Bush, although that lead is within the poll's margin of error. The poll also shows President Bush's approval ratings have steadily dropped over the past year. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Budget cuts hit High Five pre-school program
Minneapolis school district officials say the state Legislature's failure to pass an education finance bill this year has forced them to cut back a popular pre-school program. The funding hangup could eliminate as many as 11 sites for the program known as "High Five." It also means fewer children will get an important learning boost before entering kindergarten. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Air Guard museum exhibit highlights role on 9/11
Today begins the first summer since 9/11 that visitors can return to the Minnesota Air Guard Museum at Twin Cities International Airport. The museum features historic military aircraft, and the story of the nation's first Air National Guard unit. Security concerns closed the museum after 9/11, but this summer it is open most Saturdays. New displays include the role of one Twin Cities-based flight crew on the day of the attacks. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
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Tuesday, June 1, 2004 |
MPR Poll: Growing concern about Iraq
A new poll finds growing concern about the aftermath of the war in Iraq, even though a majority of Minnesotans say the U.S. was right to invade Iraq. The Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press poll also found most Minnesotans want the U.S. to stabilize Iraq, even if it takes awhile. Yet many people say they believe the Bush administration misled the public about the reasons for going to war. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Pawlenty forges ahead on homeless plan
The Pawlenty administration is moving ahead with its plan to end long-term homelessness in Minnesota. Legislators this session did not approve $20 million for the proposal's first-phase. But the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency says 59 apartments are already being developed using money the agency has redirected from its own budget. Over the next seven years, the administration hopes to build or refurbish 4,000 apartments to house the state's most chronically homeless residents. Homeless advocates generally welcome the idea, but some wonder if it is targeting one group at the expense of another. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
A doctor's struggle against managed health care
A small town doctor in southwest Minnesota is taking on a big opponent: managed health care. Richard Mulder has some experience at political infighting. He served 8 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The Divine Providence Health Center in Ivanhoe wants to boot Mulder's clinic out of their building, effective today. The man everyone calls "doc" says he will not leave. The hospital says Mulder's personality is the problem. The doctor says it is all about money. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Timberwolves season ends in L.A.
The Minnesota Timberwolves played the last game of their season last night. They were defeated 96 to 90 by the Los Angeles Lakers in the game six of the Western Conference Finals. But the Wolves had their best season ever. They won 68 games, advanced to the third round of the playoffs, and saw Kevin Garnett named the league's Most Valuable Player. Joining us now for a look at last night's game, and the season, is Brit Robson, who covers the Wolves for the City Pages, and for MPR.
Monday Markets with Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the week ahead in the financial markets and the economy. Gas prices went up over the Memorial Day weekend, and later this week, the government reports on unemployment.
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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 |
Herseth wins South Dakota election to Congress
Democrat Stephanie Herseth is South Dakota's first congresswoman. She defeated Republican Larry Diedrich by nearly 3,000 votes. Herseth will serve out the remaining seven months of Bill Janklow's term. She lost to him in 2002 and he resigned in January after being convicted of manslaughter for a fatal accident. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland, who has been covering the story.
MPR Poll: Legislature get poor grades
State lawmakers are receiving overwhelmingly poor marks in a new poll that looks back to this year's do-little legislative session. Lawmakers adjourned last month after failing to reach consensus on most of the year's main issues. The survey was conducted for Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. It shows wide dissatisfaction with lawmakers and a willingness to spread the blame widely. Gov. Tim Pawlenty, however, seems to have escaped much of the rancor. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
City smoking bans may help statewide ban effort
The St. Paul City Council is scheduled to discuss and possibly vote on a citywide smoking ban later today, a day after the city of Bloomington's health advisory board recommended a smoking ban in that city. The St. Paul council has struggled with their proposal for about a month. Supporters say the ban will improve public health and reduce the effects of second-hand smoke. Opponents say it will hurt businesses, and that a statewide ban would be better. Joining us on the line to talk about the prospects for a statewide ban is DFL State Senator Scott Dibble, the principle author of a smoking ban bill at the state Capitol.
Kids in Duluth talk about their summer plans
Across Minnesota, kids are getting ready to descend on ice cream shops, beaches, and shopping malls. It is summer vacation. We talked with some kids at Grant grade school in Duluth about the big plans they are hatching. Today is their last day of school.
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Thursday, June 3, 2004 |
Two U.S. Senators have similar approval ratings
A new poll shows about equal support among Minnesotans for the state's two U.S. Senators. In the Minnesota Public Radio - St. Paul Pioneer Press poll, 51 percent of those questioned said they rate the performance of Republican Senator Norm Coleman as "good" or "excellent." An equal number of people said they rate Democratic Senator Mark Dayton's performance "good" or "excellent." The margin of error in the poll was plus or minus four percent. Steven Schier is a political science professor at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and is currently leading Carleton's political program in Washington, D.C.
St. Paul Mayor Kelly won't support smoking ban
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly says he will not support a proposed smoking ban in that city's bars and restaurants. He is working on a compromise that would not ban smoking entirely. Last night, the St. Paul City Council decided to wait a week before voting on the anti-smoking measure. The council did modify the proposal they are considering so that -- if approved -- it would not take effect until September. That is when backers of a proposed Minneapolis smoking ban hope to have their ordinance in place. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
State unsure number of sex offenders in nursing homes
State corrections officials say they are not sure how many convicted sex offenders may be sharing living space with vulnerable adults at nursing homes. The practice of housing sex offenders in specialized nursing homes attracted widespread attention last week when Attorney General Mike Hatch filed a complaint against Concordia Care Center in Minneapolis for alleged abuses committed by offenders against other residents. Legislative hearings into the matter, however, show there is no clear indication of how widespread the problem may be. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
New estimate: 5,000 Hmong coming to Minnesota
Later this month, Hmong refugees will begin arriving in Minnesota from Thailand. By the end of the year, the Twin Cities will have nearly 5,000 new Hmong residents. They will join the more than 20,000 Hmong who began arriving here in the 1970s. While this new wave of refugees will have some obstacles to overcome when they arrive, they will have some advantages their predecessors never did. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
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Friday, June 4, 2004 |
Poll: Minnesotans worrying about health care coverage
Most respondents in the latest Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press poll say they believe they have adequate health insurance. But respondents also say they're worried that their coverage could change as health insurance and prescription drug costs increase. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
John Kerry trying to tap support from vets
In a visit to Minnesota Friday, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry will announce that his campaign has put together "veterans for Kerry" organizations in all 50 states. Kerry claims vets, who traditionally vote Republican, are increasingly backing him over President Bush. Both campaigns are aggressively courting veterans, who make up about 13 percent of eligible voters. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Minnesota Green Party to hold convention this weekend
The Minnesota Green Party holds its state convention in Bemidji this weekend. Party members will sort through more than 200 proposals to amend their party platform. They'll also select 28 delegates to go to the national convention later this month in Milwaukee. Perhaps the biggest issue will be selection of a presidential candidate. Some delegates still support Ralph Nader. But as Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports, many don't want the party to run a candidate at all.
Racetracks hope to capitalize on success of Smarty Jones
The undefeated Smarty Jones will make his run for the Triple Crown tomorrow at the Belmont Stakes. The three-year-old colt has already won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness and could become the 12th horse ever to take all three races in the same year. Around the country, racetrack owners are hoping the buzz around Smarty Jones will draw more people to the tracks. Randy Sampson is President and CEO of Canterbury Park racetrack in Shakopee, Minnesota. He joins us now.
Minnesota's top corporate leaders giving money to Bush campaign
President Bush is leading when it comes to raising campaign money from Minnesota's top corporate leaders. Data from the Federal Elections Commission shows he's getting more cash from the state's top business leaders than likely Democratic Party nominee John Kerry. Meanwhile, Kerry is favored by attorney's at Minnesota's largest law firms. John Share took a look at the numbers and wrote a story for this week's edition of The Business Journal. He's come by the studio this morning.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses the weather and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.
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