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July 5 - 9, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, July 5, 2004 |
Same-sex marriage remains hot issue at state Capitol
Senate Democrats, House Republicans, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty continue to float trial balloons regarding a possible special session this year. At stake are the state budget, tougher public safety laws, and millions of dollars for improvements in state buildings and infrastructure. However, woven throughout the tangle of budget and policy matters is the thread of same-sex marriage, and that issue alone may be enough to keep the knot tied tight. While the marriage debate is framed as a matter of morality or values, the stakes take on a new importance in a tight presidential election year. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Five years after the blowdown
Five years ago on the 4th of July, a powerful storm tore through the heart of Northern Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The region's signature trees cracked and fell over thousands of acres. Now, the forest is growing back, but officials warn there's a risk of catastrophic wildfire for many years to come. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Sinkholes sinking progress
Sinkholes - those cavities in the ground that seem to open overnight - can wreck roads or destroy crops. In the tiny town of Askov in Northeastern Minnesota, sinkholes are giving a major headache to the entire town. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2004 |
Jobs for Hmong refugees a priority and a challenge
Last month, Tong Her stepped off a plane in the Twin Cities after an 8,000-mile trip from Thailand. He arrived with his wife and nine other relatives -- the first in a wave of Hmong refugees coming to Minnesota over the next few months. Her told a reporter his first priority is finding work, something almost always easier said than done. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2004 |
U.S. military faces recruiting and retention challenges
The war in Iraq is forcing the armed services to call up reservists and National Guard soldiers in numbers not seen in years. This week nearly 100 Minnesotans who are in the military's "ready reserve" pool will get notices in the mail calling them back. Meanwhile, troop deployments are being extended. Some soldiers are being ordered to remain on the job well past the time they had expected to be released. Yet, despite the strain, the Department of Defense says it's not having problems attracting new soldiers. However, military officials say recruiting and retention challenges lie ahead. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik has this report.
Minnesota DFLers cheer Edwards selection, but effect is harder to gauge
Many Minnesota Democrats are cheering Tuesday's selection of North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as presidential candidate John Kerry's running mate. They say Edwards brings energy to the ticket and will appeal to undecided and moderate voters. But political analysts say vice presidential picks haven't made much difference in the outcome of recent elections. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Group launches voter turnout effort aimed at ex-felons
A Minneapolis group is launching a campaign to educate newly-released felons about reinstating their voting rights. The Council on Crime and Justice says the campaign is designed to help the disenfranchised regain their voices in elections. Civil rights groups have long challenged restrictions on felons voting, arguing they dilute the voting strength of people of color and the political representation in poor neighborhoods. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Airport security test starts today
This morning for the first time, airline passengers enrolled in the Registered Traveler program can move through the Twin Cities International Airport with less scrutiny than other passengers. The Twin Cities airport is the first of five airports where the pilot program will be tested. Justin Obermann is the Director of the Credentialing office for the Transportation Security Administration. He says the Registered Traveler program has been very popular so far.
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Thursday, July 8, 2004 |
Study: too many deer putting forest plants at risk
The white-tailed deer is as much a part of the Minnesota scene as the loon, the showy lady's slipper, and the norway pine. But it turns out the deer might not be so good for the lady's slipper and other plants in the forest. New research suggests deer may be a prime culprit in a worrisome loss of rare plants in the woods. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
Bush to visit Northern Minnesota
President Bush will be in Northern Minnesota next week as part of a bus tour through Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. He's expected to appear at a rally in Duluth on Tuesday. The president was last in Minnesota in April, when he addressed a community college convention in Minneapolis. His Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry, launched a midwest bus tour from Cloquet last week. Republican party activist Dan Urshan is the former mayor of Hermantown, Minnesota, which is near Duluth. He joins us now to discuss the upcoming visit.
Charges filed in alleged case of animal cruelty
Charges have been filed in Carlton County, Minnesota in a case involving alleged animal cruelty. Terry Liebeck of Twin Lakes Township has been charged with six counts of cruelty to animals, and similar charges are expected against his wife. On July 1, seven horses were taken from the Liebecks' property. Veterinarians at the University of Minnesota say the horses were so malnourished their growth was stunted. Drew Fitzpatrick is with the Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation in Minnesota. She joins us now.
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Friday, July 9, 2004 |
Nader supporters not backing down
Consumer advocate and presidential candidate Ralph Nader debates former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean later today. In 2000, Minnesota voters gave Nader one of his strongest showings, enough to propel the Greens to major party status here. His supporters say they'll continue that fight this year, but other progressive voters say Nader's candidacy could undermine Democrat John Kerry and ultimately benefit the Republican ticket. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Education finance task force to release final report
An education finance task force appointed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty will release its final report today. The 19-member group was charged with recommending changes to the state's complicated school funding system, and it's been working on that job for about a year. Duane Benson is a member of the task force. He's also a former executive director of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and he joins us now to talk about the report.
New CD features Duluth's music of 1970s
You might not remember the band QuickBreath -- unless you were growing up in Duluth 30 years ago. They were a big deal back then. They played bars and dances. And they got on the radio in Duluth. That was before a few monster companies owned most ratio stations. Back then, bands could get their records played on the local rock station. A new CD features some of the local music that got onto the radio during the 1970s. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin has more.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.
The Business Journal finds companies linking CEO pay to performance
A report this morning in the Minneapolis-based The Business Journal suggests that pay packages for Minnesota CEOs are being linked more closely to performance. Reporters at The Business Journal took a look at who's making how much, and reporter John Share has come by the studio this morning to tell us what they found.
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