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July 12 - 16, 2004
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Monday, July 12, 2004 |
Getting to the "heart" of Minnesota's Irish connection
When you look at the countries where Minnesota sends its exports, something is noticeably out-of-whack. Canada is our No. 1 trading partner -- that's no surprise. But second on the list -- far above major economies like Japan, Mexico, and Germany -- is a country most people wouldn't expect. It's Ireland, a pastoral island with a population a little bigger than Oklahoma. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich found out what lies behind Minnesota's Irish connection.
Mayo Clinic researchers isolate aging-related gene
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester have isolated a gene that may allow them to slow the effects of aging in mice -- and maybe eventually in humans. The discovery could open the door to treatments for a wide range of age-related conditions. Dr. Jan van Deursen is the lead investigator on the project, and a member of the Mayo Clinic's departments of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He joins us now.
Internet access to court records is issue at Minnesota Supreme Court
An advisory committee to the Minnesota Supreme Court is recommending a cautious approach to putting court records on the Internet for public access. The committee issued its final report on the issue late last week. The group has been considering to what extent information such as court calendars, arrest records, and personal divorce files should be on the web, where anyone with a computer could access and search them in minutes. Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson chaired the advisory committee. He joins us on the line now.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2004 |
Joe Mauer's Rookie Rally
Major League Baseball's best players will be in Houston, Texas tonight for the 75th All-Star game. The Minnesota Twins are sending right-handed closer Joe Nathan as the team's lone representative. Catcher Joe Mauer didn't make the All-Star cut. But if his rookie season is any indication, he'll be rubbing elbows with the league's other top talents in a not-too-distant All-Star game. The 21-year-old has the highest slugging percentage on the team and an approach to the game that has earned him accolades from coaches, teammates and fans. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
Old music reaching new audiences
Old-time Scandinavian music is making a comeback with new audiences. Five musicians from the Brainerd area called Skalmusik preserve and play Swedish and Norwegian folk tunes. The group's members are carrying on long family traditions of playing music that reflects their heritage. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
President Bush mining votes on traditional DFL turf
President Bush is making a stop in northern Minnesota for an evening rally at the Duluth Convention Center. The Bush campaign visit comes a little more than a week after Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry appeared at a rally just outside of Duluth in Cloquet. DFLers say northeastern Minnesota is solidly Democratic and that the president is wasting his time trying to pick up votes there. Republicans say many residents of northern Minnesota agree with the president on key issues, and they're not giving up on any part of the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Ikea to open first store in Minnesota
The Swedish retailer Ikea will open its first store in Minnesota tomorrow. The company is known for its clean-lined Scandinavian furniture, bright colors, and inexpensive prices. There are 19 stores in the U.S., most of them on the coasts. When a new Ikea opens, people tend to get excited. In the San Francisco Bay area last year, an estimated 5000 people waited more than an hour to get inside on opening day. John Leland is a Style reporter for the New York Times. He's covered Ikea in the past, and he joins us now.
Jefferson Lines may take over some abandoned Greyhound routes
A Minneapolis bus company may take over some of the routes that Greyhound will stop running next month. Officials with Jefferson Lines will meet today with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to discuss federal funding for the routes. They could announce their plans as early as tomorrow. Greyhound announced earlier this month that it will eliminate service to 56 Minnesota communities in mid-August. Officials in outstate Minnesota are hoping Jefferson can replace some of that service. Charlie Zelle is the CEO of Jefferson Lines. He joins us now.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2004 |
Judge shoots down concealed carry gun law
A Ramsey County judge has struck down the state's handgun permitting law, ruling that the process used to broaden the availability of permits was unconstitutional. Opponents of the law, including several Twin Cities churches, applauded the judge's decision. Supporters of more access to gun permits, however, vowed to continue the fight. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Bush courts voters in Democratic territory -- Duluth
President Bush says he -- not John Kerry -- represents the values of the nation's heartland. Thousands of people turned out to hear the president at a campaign rally in Duluth yesterday evening. Bush's visit came on the heels of a campaign stop in the Duluth area by Democrat John Kerry earlier this month. The president used his 45-minute speech to criticize Kerry, and defend his own record on the war in Iraq. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Sara Jane Olson's 14-year prison sentence thrown out
Sara Jane Olson could be released from prison sooner than California corrections officials would like. The St. Paul woman was convicted in 2001 of crimes she committed in the 1970s as a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army. A judge has thrown out Olson's 14-year prison sentence. If the judge's order stands, Olson could be free in as soon as two years. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Lindsay Whalen comes to town with Connecticut Sun
This afternoon, for the the first time this summer, the Target Center will be nearly full for a women's professional basketball game. There is one reason why. Lindsay Whalen is back in town. The former University of Minnesota star now plays for the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. The Sun play the Minnesota Lynx starting at noon today. This will be Whalen's only appearance in Minnesota this year, which is a big disappointment to fans who hoped the Lynx would be able to get her in a trade. Pam Schmid covers the Lynx for the Star Tribune. She's also been following Whalen's rookie season with the Sun. She's on the line now.
Ikea furniture wins loyal fans even though assembly's required
Thousands of customers are expected to turn out for the much-anticipated opening of the new Ikea store in Bloomington. The store near the Mall of America is part of a major U.S. expansion for the Swedish furniture chain. Ikea's low-cost, assemble-it-yourself products already have a devoted following here. Many Minnesotans have driven to the company's Chicago store. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has this look at Ikea's strategy to woo its customers and make them loyal fans.
Minnesotans consider what marriage should be
Everyone's talking about marriage -- especially about who can get married. We decided to ask a more basic question. What is marriage? This is our third in a series of conversations about marriage. First we talked with married couples, and then we talked with three gay and lesbian couples. This time, Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin talked with a group of unmarried people.
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Thursday, July 15, 2004 |
Minnesota's 6th Congressional race is underway
Political junkies will be scanning the latest fundraising reports due today, looking to see how candidates in the most competitive races are faring. In Minnesota they'll pay particular attention to the 6th Congressional District race between Republican incumbent Mark Kennedy and DFLer Patty Wetterling. The race may come down to experience versus name recognition. Kennedy is hoping that voters will appreciate his two terms in office over Wetterling's popularity. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck profiles Wetterling's first few months on the campaign trail.
Hmong refugees get mental health services in Thailand
Hmong families continue to arrive in Minnesota from a camp in Thailand. An estimated 5000 refugees are expected to resettle in the state by the end of the year. When a fact-finding team traveled to Thailand and assessed the needs of the refugees earlier this year, it found a high degree of mental health issues among adults. Xong Mouacheupao is a mental health counselor for the Minnesota-based Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. She's at the refugee camp in Thailand providing individual and family therapy, and she says families are facing many different issues.
Twin Cities to get new Hmong funeral homes
The Twin Cities is due to get a couple of new Hmong funeral homes. Even though the funeral homes won't open for more than a year, that won't be too soon for the growing Hmong community. About 5000 new Hmong refugees are expected to resettle in Minnesota by the end of the year. Families now often have to wait weeks before burying their loved ones. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
State lawmaker plans to test limits of concealed carry ruling
A state lawmaker plans to use this week's ruling over Minnesota's handgun law to challenge other laws. On Tuesday, a Ramsey County judge struck down the state's concealed carry law, saying it violated the state Constitution's prohibition on laws that embrace more than one subject. Big Lake Republican Mark Olson wants to stop the common legislative practice of combining unrelated bills into one big law. He joins us now.
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Friday, July 16, 2004 |
Congressional campaign coffers could reach $1 million or more
Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy and DFL challenger Patty Wetterling have been busy dialing for dollars in the last few months. The two 6th District candidates reported they have each raised more than $400,000 since April. The Wetterling-Kennedy contest is not the only race that is receiving attention from political donors. The candidates in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District have also been busy on the fundraising circuit. That race pits first-term Republican John Kline against DFL challenger Teresa Daly. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Smoking ban debate may move to parks
The St. Paul Parks and Recreation Commission has voted to recommend a proposal which would ban smoking in all city parks. The commission voted 4-3 in favor of the measure, which is the latest in a series of attempts to limit places where people can smoke. Thomas Kayser is one of the commission members who voted for the ban, and he joins us this morning.
Fergus Falls tries to save a landmark
The city of Fergus Falls is trying to save a well-known local landmark. When it was built in the 1890s, the Fergus Falls state hospital was considered a model of mental health treatment. Most of the residents are gone now, and the state has declared the site surplus property. If no developers are interested in the sprawling complex, the historic site might fall under the wrecking ball. Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend weather.
Target looking for a place to build new distribution center
Sources tell The Business Journal that the Target Corporation is looking for a site somewhere on the edge of the Twin Cities to build a new regional distribution center. The distribution center would be one of the largest industrial buildings in the Twin Cities, occupying at least 60 acres, and it would create hundreds of new jobs. Target is expected to make a decision on a site sometime this fall. Sam Black reports that story in today's edition of The Business Journal, and he joins us now.
New American RadioWorks documentary marks 10th anniversary of Mandela election
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison and emerged to become president of South Africa. A new American RadioWorks documentary marks the tenth anniversary of Mandela's historic election. Airing today at noon, "Mandela: An Audio History," by producers Joe Richman and Sue Johnson, chronicles his life and struggle against white rule in South Africa with rare archival sound and interviews with Mandela's friends and foes. In this excerpt, Mandela and his comrades go on trial for sabotage in 1964.
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