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July 26 - 30, 2004
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Monday, July 26, 2004 |
Ground on smoking bans shifts under St. Paul
St. Paul faces a new smoking ban landscape, and may now establish a ban similar to one passed in Bloomington, and Minneapolis. The St. Paul City Council passed a ban by just one vote in June, but Mayor Randy Kelly vetoed it. St. Paul's ban is different than ones passed in Bloomington, and Minneapolis, and officials in St. Paul say it will take a month to pass a ban that is similar to bans in those two cities. Dave Thune is a St. Paul council member. He favors a ban -- and in fact, he's the person who raised the idea in the Twin Cities in the first place. Mr. Thune joins us now.
New faces in DFL delegation to Democratic Convention
More than 5,000 Democrats have assembled in Boston, Massachusetts today to open the Democratic National Convention. Among their number are 98 Minnesota delegates and alternates who are counting down to the nomination later this week of Sen. John Kerry for president. The road to Boston began, for Minnesotans, during the March precinct caucuses that drew a record number of attendees. Out of that surprise turnout has comes a new crop of activists. They are younger and perhaps less seasoned, but, as they tell it, every bit as determined as the old guard to take the White House in November. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
New political groups form in Minnesota
A group billing itself as the largest voter mobilization project in American history plans to become a major presence in the presidential race in Minnesota this year. America Coming Together - or ACT - wants to knock on 700,000 doors in the state before November 2. ACT's goal is to defeat President Bush, but legally, it can not work with the Democratic party. ACT is a 527, which means it can raise unlimited amounts of money to try to elect Democrats. As part of an occasional series - "Every Vote Counts" - Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports on ACT's activities.
Registered traveler plan at airport may be extended
The Transportation Security Administration says it may extend what was to be a 90-day test run of the new "Registered Traveler" program at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The TSA launched the program in Minnesota earlier this month as part of a six month, five-airport pilot project to try to move some frequent travelers more quickly through security by pre-screening them and using biometrics to confirm their identities. The agency says the equipment that scans fingerprints and irises is working well and the travelers who volunteered for the program are getting though the newly opened special security checkpoint with little or no waiting. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Monday Markets with Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the economy and financial markets. This week, he discusses the lackluster stock market and corporate earnings.
Molitor inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
From now on visitors to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York will be able to read about the career of St. Paul native Paul Molitor on a plaque which be on permanent display in the museum. Molitor, who played in the major for the Brewers, Blue Jays and Twins, was officially inducted into the Hall of Fame yesterday. He spoke for about twenty minutes during the ceremony. In this excerpt from the speech, he remembers his upbringing in the Twin Cities.
Long distance runner has farther to go to make Olympics
Minnesota long-distance runner Carrie Tollefeson still has not qualified for the Olympics in Athens. Tollefson fell short in her latest bid to make the U.S. Olympic team in the 1,500 meters. Tollefson won the 1,500 meters at U.S. Track and Field Trials earlier this month, but that did not guarantee her a spot on the team because new rules require runners to reach an Olympic qualifying time. Her time at the trials came up short. Yesterday, she ran a race in Birmingham, England, but came up short again, running a time of 4 minutes 13 seconds, almost 7 seconds behind the time she needed to run. She still has a chance though with more events to run later this week. Tollefson's parents have been watching closely. Her dad, John Tollefson, joins us now from Dawson, Minnesota.
The sounds of the Ruffed Grouse
Let's step outside again for another installment of our occasional sound series. If you have ever been in a forest late at night, you might have been startled by a low and distant whumping sound. It is like a heart beating, or the thumping of a drum. It is the mating call of a bird called the Ruffed Grouse. The male Ruffed Grouse makes that sound when he drums his wings against his body. He will stand on top of a log or mound of dirt -- what is referred to as the "drumming log" -- to perform this mating ritual.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2004 |
Officials closely watching fire in Voyageurs National Park
The forest fire in Voyageurs National Park near International Falls continues to burn because of dry conditions. Lightning started the fire on July 8, and has burned about 650 acres of land so far. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mike Johnson, fire information officer for Voyageurs National Park.
How Minnesota is seen at the Democratic convention
In 2000, the Minnesota delegation was seated in the risers as Democrats nominated Vice President Al Gore for the presidency in Los Angeles' Staples Center. This year, Minnesota Democrats have a front row seat at Boston's Fleet Center. Many factors affect a delegation's seating, but one of them is likely the state's status as a newly-minted battleground state. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Kerry strategists minimize Midwest blemishes
Minnesota Public Radio's online editor Bob Collins is also covering the convention in Boston. Collins is writing a blog on our website at MinnesotaPublicRadio.org, and he joins us on the line.
Battle over trailers on Iron Range
A week before taconite workers may strike Cleveland Cliff's mines in Minnesota and Michigan, the company is already in a battle over trailers - intended to house replacement mine workers. Local officials say the trailers are not legal. And they could not possibly be legal by the strike deadline of July 31. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
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Wednesday, July 28, 2004 |
Steelworkers and Cleveland Cliffs reach tentative agreement
The company Cleveland Cliffs and steelworkers at two taconite plants in Minnesota have reached a tentative agreement in labor negotiations. The announcement appeared on a website for United Steelworkers local 2705, but no details of the agreement were given. The current contract was set to expire on July 31. Joining us on the line is Minnesota Public Radio reporter Bob Kelleher.
Minnesota Democrats react to party platform
Democrats in Boston have approved a new platform that more than doubles the space given to defense and foreign policy issues. It also touches on the controversial issues of abortion rights and gay and lesbian unions. But despite the tangle of thorny issues, Minnesota delegates say they -- like their colleagues across the country -- are unified behind Sen. John Kerry and Sen. John Edwards in a way that they have not been in recent years. From Boston, Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Hmong population grows rapidly in Walnut Grove
Of all the places the Hmong have settled, the least likely may be a small town in southwest Minnesota. In the last three years, the Hmong presence there has grown from a few people to more than a quarter of the community. The town is tiny but it's name is known worldwide, thanks to a popular television show. That fame is one of the reasons that the Hmong moved there. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
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Thursday, July 29, 2004 |
Lipman to coordinate sex predator policies
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has named former Republican State Representative Eric Lipman to a new job that oversees the state's management of sexual predators. Lipman will become the State Sex Offender Policy Coordinator and will manage the many state agencies that are involved in handling sexual predators. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mr. Lipman.
Minnesota's moment in the political spotlight
You may have missed it because it happened early this morning, but Minnesota was the last state to declare its votes at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. The Minnesota delegation deferred to Ohio when its turn came up in the roll call of states. Here's what it sounded like when Minnesota's moment in the nation's political spotlight came up.
Money's influence at the Democratic convention
Last night's official nomination for president of Senator John Kerry at the Democratic National Convention comes as no surprise. But Kerry's chances in November may depend as much on what goes on outside the Fleet Center as what happens inside. Throughout the day and into the night, elected officials, interest groups, and activists are engaged in the time-honored arts of political life: networking, lobbying, and raising money. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports from Boston.
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Friday, July 30, 2004 |
DFLers coming home from Democratic convention
Minnesota Democrats are returning home today after wrapping up the four-day Democratic National Convention in Boston. The convention came to an end last evening with Sen. John Kerry's speech accepting the party's nomination for president. Minnesota delegates uniformly cheered Kerry's remarks -- but the event is only the first step in what's sure to be a tough three months. From Boston, Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
U.S. Transplant games open in Minnesota
About 1,500 athletes are in the Twin Cities this weekend competing for gold medals in 13 events. They are from all over the country. Their ages range from toddlers to senior citizens. But the athletes all share one common experience. They have received at least one major organ transplant. The National Kidney Foundation's U.S. Transplant Games are held to showcase organ donation success stories. The event also is held to honor those whose deaths gave life to others. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Kids learning at Design Camp
It is summer camp season in Minnesota. But for about 175 teenagers from around the state, it is not about canoeing and campfires. They are attending an unusual summer camp at the University of Minnesota's Design Institute in Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Bob Edwards going to satellite radio
A familiar voice to listeners of this program, Bob Edwards is going to host a new show on XM Satellite Radio. Bob's new show is expected to be part of a new satellite channel that will include programs distributed by American Public Media Group, which is a part of Minnesota Public Radio. The new channel is expected to be launched this fall. Bob Edwards says he is still working on the details of the show.
Medical records go electronic at Park Nicollet
Park Nicollet Health Services is the first major health system in the Twin Cities to build an electronic medical records system for its hospitals and clinics. The new system gives doctors immediate access to patient records, eliminating the need for paper records to be shuffled around the system with vans. The completion of their project comes a few days after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said that he wants to build a national electronic records system. Joining us in the studio is Scott Smith who wrote about this story in this week's edition of The Business Journal.
Global Volunteers sending people to small town Minnesota
The group Global Volunteers is known for flying people around the world to teach English and other skills, but this weekend, some of its volunteers are hopping into a van and riding to Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. The town sits in the western part of the state, near Moorhead. Bud Philbrook, president of Global Volunteers, says it may not be in a foreign country, but Pelican Rapids is a town that needs the services of his group because of a recent influx of immigrants.
Mayor Kelly on the presidential race
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, a DFLer, is expected to make an announcement about the 2004 presidential race, but he's withheld details about the announcement. Earlier this week on Midmorning on Minnesota Public Radio, Mayor Kelly was coy about whether he would endorse Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. Here's an excerpt from that Midmorning show hosted by Kerri Miller. Mayor Kelly begins by answering a listener question about who he may endorse for president.
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