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June 28 - July 2, 2004
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Monday, June 28, 2004 |
LRT takes on first rush hour
The Hiawatha Light Rail Line has been up and running for two days now, but this morning it will be tested during a weekday rush hour for the first time. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people came out to ride for free, but starting today passengers will need a ticket. The line runs between downtown Minneapolis and the Fort Snelling area. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes has been communing with the commuters this morning and he joins us now from the LRT station on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis.
Few spaces open for educating Hmong refugees
The thousands of Hmong refugees who are expected to arrive in Minnesota will face a major obstacle: learning English. But many English language learning classes are already full in the Twin Cities and have waiting lists. Educators say they are concerned an already stressed system could cause problems for the refugees. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Treehouses go up at the arboretum
There's something about a treehouse. Up high above the world, a treehouse affords kids and adults the ability to see things from a different perspective. It can be a special, private space that says "no grownups allowed." Many people create designs in their heads for the perfect treehouse, but they rarely get to build them. This summer, at the Minnesota Arboretum, local designers and architects have seen their treehouse dreams become a reality. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms has this report.
Antiques Roadshow informs collectors about items
Some Minnesotans now know whether their antiques are hidden treasures... or worthless pieces of junk. Many fans of the popular public television program "Antiques Roadshow" stood in line for hours Saturday hoping to get their antiques appraised. The show was in the Twin Cities taping for a broadcast next season. On Friday, we spoke with Sue Winking who, along with her husband, had tickets to the event. They were planning to bring with them an etching, a couple of dolls of the Seven Dwarfs, and a vase, but had not yet decided on their fourth item. Sue Winking joins us on the line to tell us what happened.
MPR's Chris Farrell's Monday Markets comments
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the coming week in the financial markets and the economy. He looks ahead to the possibility of rising interest rates.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2004 |
Minneapolis attorney reacts to Supreme Court ruling
A Minneapolis attorney, who was the lead counsel on a Supreme Court case that gives "enemy combatants" access to U.S. courts, may soon be leaving for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Joe Margulies led the case in which the court ruled that detainees being held at the navel base may challenge their confinement in U.S. court. Yesterday's ruling is considered a set-back for the Bush administration, which has held hundreds of people in a prison in Guantanamo Bay for many months. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Joe Margulies.
Smooth riding for LRT but not for road traffic
Metro Transit officials say the new Hiawatha Light Rail line performed smoothly during its first work-day commute. Yesterday was the first day passengers were required to purchase tickets to ride the train that travels from downtown Minneapolis to the Fort Snelling area. Bob Gibbons is a spokesperson for Metro Transit. He says officials are pleased with how the operation is going.
Local election officials worry about Kiffmeyer plan
Minnesota's new voter registration system has its first test today in a special primary election in Dakota County. The switchover is part of a nationwide overhaul inspired by the Florida debacle of 2000. But some local election officials say a broad rollout of the new system during a tight presidential election could lead to big headaches in Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
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Wednesday, June 30, 2004 |
Minneapolis teacher layoffs now exceed 600
The number of teacher layoffs in the Minneapolis school district has now grown to over 600. School board members approved an operating budget last night that included nearly $23 million in spending cuts. Those cuts directly eliminated more than 200 teaching positions. The rest of the layoffs were due to the district's declining student numbers. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Final phase of Minnesota welfare reform to affect half of new applicants
A new Minnesota program that starts tomorrow is designed to help people find work before going on traditional welfare. The diversionary work program will require welfare applicants to look for work for four months. They won't get a welfare check, but they will get help with rent, food and utility bills. The Pawlenty administration calls the program the next phase in welfare reform, but some advocates for welfare recipients say it will hurt low-income Minnesotans. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Lower Sioux Historic Site to close due to funding cutbacks
Unless a last-minute savior steps forward, the buildings on the Lower Sioux Historic Site in southwest Minnesota will close to the public later today. It's one of several historical landmarks struggling with state funding cutbacks. The other sites are expected to stay open, but only with a great deal of help from outside sources. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
June weather rough on Minnesota farmers
With the month of July right around the corner, many farmers across Minnesota are saying good riddance to the month of June. Their crops have grown slowly during the past month, and some farmers have had to replant fields because of flooding. Joining us on the line is Kevin Paap, who has a 600-acre farm in Garden City, Minnesota. He's also vice president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau.
Minnesota Twins approach half-way point of season
The Minnesota Twins are approaching the half-way point in their season essentially tied for first place in the American League Central Division. That's despite major changes to the team's roster in the off-season. Key players like closer Eddie Guardado and catcher A.J. Pierzynski left the team or were traded away. The Twins have also persevered through a rash of injuries, some of which seemed to coincide with the installation of a new turf in the Metrodome. Last night, the Twins lost to their main rival in the division, the Chicago White Sox, 6-2. Joining us on the line is La Velle E. Neal III, who covers the Twins for the Star Tribune.
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Thursday, July 1, 2004 |
Medtronic and Genzyme to combine med tech and biotech
Fridley-based Medtronic and Genzyme of Massachusetts today officially launch a marriage of medical devices and biotechnology, with the goal of better treatment for damaged hearts. The two companies announced their joint venture a month ago. They are testing promising techniques pioneered by a University of Minnesota researcher. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
Grand Excursion flotilla nearing Twin Cities
Officials are calling it a tie, but Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is conceding the race to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. The two state leaders raced steamboats up the Mississippi River yesterday as part of the 2004 Grand Excursion, which marks the 150th anniversary of an expedition led by former President Millard Fillmore to highlight the upper Mississippi. As part of the celebration, a flotilla of riverboats is traveling up the river and is expected to arrive in St. Paul on Saturday. Right now, the boats are preparing to leave the harbor in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Patrick Seeb is at the harbor. He's CEO of the 2004 Grand Excursion, and he joins us on the line.
The decline and fall of the Mississippi environment
This week a flotilla of steamboats have made there way up the Mississippi River marking the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion. Back in 1854 a similar parade of boats navigated their way to St. Paul to celebrate the arrival of the railroad. The journey signaled the start of a major population boom and the advent of the state's industrialization. That combination transformed the Mississippi River from a pristine waterway, into a river rife with pollution. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports.
Brazil students confronted Minnesota lawmaker
A Minnesota lawmaker returned from Brazil this week, where he had a run-in with anti-American demonstrators. Republican House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen was at the State University of Rio de Janeiro as part of an exchange sponsored by the State Department when protestors rushed at him throwing eggs and flour. Paulsen and an Illinios lawmaker were trapped in a University auditorium for about 90 minutes. They escaped by running through a crowd with nine unarmed campus security guards and several faculty members. Former MPR reporter Amy Radil now lives in Brazil, where she often reports for Marketplace and The World. She joins us now by phone.
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Friday, July 2, 2004 |
St. Paul has a new police chief
St. Paul has a new police chief this morning. John Harrington officially took control of the department yesterday with a swearing-in ceremony outside police headquarters. Harrington is a native of Chicago and has worked in the St. Paul police force since 1977. Mayor Randy Kelly has said he is a good person to face upcoming budget struggles in the department. Chief Harrington joins us now.
Details of Microsoft settlement made public
Starting next week, millions of Minnesotans are entitled to get money back from Microsoft. Yesterday, a judge in Hennepin County District Court approved a settlement between the software giant and lawyers representing consumers and businesses. The sides reached agreement in April, stopping the first-ever class-action suit against Microsoft ever to go to trial. Both sides claimed success -- but as Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports, the biggest winner could be the state's public schools.
Should the Mississippi river gorge be restored?
A flotilla of paddleboats arrives in the Twin Cities on Saturday marking the 150th anniversary of the original Grand Excursion. The event in 1854 celebrated America's first railroad connection to the Mississippi River. More than 1,200 people, including President Millard Fillmore, traveled by rail from Chicago to Rock Island, Illinois. They then boarded steamboats and headed upriver to Saint Paul. The boats could not go any farther north because of rugged rapids and the Falls of Saint Anthony. So the delegation traveled by horseback and wagon the last few miles to view the celebrated limestone falls. Today the natural waterfall is hidden by a concrete spillway and the rapids are gone. The changes were made to harness the river's power and allow navigation. But there is a movement to restore them. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
Sculptor clashes with LRT official
A Minneapolis artist is going toe to toe with Hiawatha Light Rail officials who forced him to remove his sculpture designed for one of the new train stations. Sculptor Aldo Moroni says his painted steel abstract of the Minneapolis skyline is the result of more than two years of design and discussion. As Moroni was installing the piece, a Hiawatha project official told him it was not up to snuff and he had to take it down. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weather commentary
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley comments on the Preliminary June Climate Summary. Cool and dry are the words that describe June weather across most of Minnesota. As always, there are some exceptions to this. Overall, June temperatures averaged about 3 to 5 degrees
Farenheit cooler than normal around the state.
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