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August 23 - 27, 2004
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Monday, Aug. 23, 2004 |
Minnesota doctor questions physicians actions at Abu Ghraib
A University of Minnesota physician is calling for an investigation into the actions of doctors at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. In an article published over the weekend in a British medical journal, Dr. Steven Miles describes ethical lapses by medical personnel at the prison. Miles says he looked at the records because he wanted to know why doctors did not blow the whistle on the abuse at the prison. He says in his investigation he found three major problems.
New technology provides detailed info on driving habits
One of the nation's largest car insurance companies says it wants to ride shotgun -- at least virtually -- with 5,000 willing participants. Ohio-based Progressive Insurance plans to analyze drivers' habits by installing a device in volunteers' cars for collecting that data. Progressive officials say more data means lower rates for safe drivers. But privacy advocates worry the data could make its way into the wrong hands. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
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Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004 |
Tollefson to run in Olympics
Another big day at the Olympics. Minnesota native Carrie Tollefson runs the 10,000 meters. MPR Sports Commentator and Star Tribune writer Jay Weiner is in Athens and he joins us now.
Criticism mounts in advance of school list release
Later this week, the public will learn which Minnesota schools are getting passing marks under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The list of schools falling short is expected to grow this year, because the evaluation includes test data from middle schools and high schools for the first time. Educators worry that the list, without detailed explanation, will wrongly label schools as "failures." Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Judge:State followed procedure on Devils Lake
A North Dakota judge says the state followed proper procedure when it decided to build an outlet to Devils Lake. The landlocked North Dakota lake has been rising for nearly a decade. The water has caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. North Dakota officials want to build an outlet to release water into a nearby river which flows to the Red River. But people living downstream say the outlet will harm the quality of their water. They sued to stop the project. Minnesota and Manitoba joined the suit. Today their arguments were soundly rejected in a North Dakota courtroom. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
Actor talks about Guthrie's "Salesman"
It is a story of an exhausted 63-year-old man struggling to make ends meet. He is trying to make sense of his life and to regain the respect of his sons and his wife. "Death of a Salesman" is one of the most prominent plays in 20th century American theatre. The actor who was cast as the star--Willy Loman--in the Guthrie Theater's new production had never seen the play performed on stage. Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham spoke with actor Peter Michael Goetz about what it is like to play an icon in American culture.
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Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004 |
Former Police Chief Finney remembers officers killed
A series of memorial events will be held tomorrow in honor of two St. Paul police officers who were killed in the line of duty ten years ago. Officer Ron Ryan was shot while investigating a man who had apparently fallen asleep in his car. Officer Tim Jones was shot during the manhunt that ensued. The culprit, Guy Harvey Baker, confessed to the killings and is serving consecutive life prison terms. In the days after the shootings, the city and the department mourned the loss together in public ceremonies. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with former St. Paul Police Chief William Finney, who was chief 10 years ago and recently retired from the job.
Anoka County is key area in presidential election
When Democrat John Kerry comes to Minnesota to campaign tomorrow he is going to the Anoka Hennepin Technical College in Anoka County. Why Anoka County? Most likely because it is a key swing county in what both Republicans and Democrats see as a key swing state. Al Gore narrowly won in Minnesota four years ago, but George W. Bush narrowly won in Anoka County. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck spent some time there recently and talked with a wide variety of voters about a number of issues. He has a report on what makes the county a toss up.
Ralph Nader visits South Dakota
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader says the only way to change government is to get involved. Nader spoke for more than two hours during a campaign appearance in Sioux Falls last night. He criticized corporate greed, the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. Nader says the nation's best laws have been a reaction to citizen outrage. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
Northwest Airlines changes ticket fees
Starting later this week, Northwest Airlines will make some major changes to some of its ticket fees. The airline says it is following trends established by low-cost carriers like JetBlue and Southwest, which now compete for 70 percent of Northwest's customer base. But the changes are almost certain rub some consumers and travel agents the wrong way. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
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Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004 |
Metro area population grows rapidly since 2000
The booming population growth of the Twin Cities metro area in the 1990s is showing no signs of slowing down. The Metropolitan Council estimates that growth since the year 2000 has added almost 100,000 people to the seven county metro area, which is now home to an estimated 2.7 million people. The council did find a change in the pattern of growth since the 90s. Suburbs in the northern and western parts of the metro are now growing faster than those in the eastern metro. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mark Vander Schaaf, the Metropolitan Council's Director of Planning and Growth Management.
Kerry, Bush offer different health care proposals
Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry will hold a campaign event this morning in the Twin Cities to talk about improving health care. Kerry is promising voters he can save the average family will save $1,000 a year in medical premiums. President Bush is telling voters one of the best ways to reduce the cost of health care would be to clamp down on what he calls frivolous lawsuits. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik has this look at the competing presidential campaign health care proposals.
Minnesota State Fair opens
The Minnesota State Fair opens today for a 12 day run. And while there are more than 3,000 fairs in North America, Minnesotans have long claimed that their annual state fair is one of the best. As it turns out -- they are right. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
Pelican Rapids school braces for "underperforming" status
Schools are not open yet, but report cards are released this morning. The reports will not go to students but to their schools. The progress reports are part of the No Child Left Behind law. Some school administrators estimate more than half of the state's high schools and many junior highs will be labeled as underperforming. School officials in Pelican Rapids, in northwest Minnesota expect to be on that list. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Crop insurance expected to minimize losses to frost damage
Federal officials are checking farms in parts of central and northern Minnesota to see if crop damage from recent frost is bad enough to declare a federal disaster. Early estimates found $100 million in damage to the soybean crop alone. One factor that is expected to minimize the economic loss to farmers and to the state is the widespread use of crop insurance. Joining us to explain how that insurance works is David Bullock, a risk management specialist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
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Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 |
Tribe offers to talk about sharing revenue
Leaders with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe say they might be willing to share some of their future gambling revenue with the state. The band wants to explore cooperative business ventures that could result in gaming money flowing into state coffers. Both state and tribal leaders hope this represents a new beginning, one that could soften the debate over Indian gaming before the next legislative session starts. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
Coleman plays prominent role in Bush campaign
Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman will play a prominent role during next week's Republican National Convention in New York. Coleman is one of a handful of GOP elected officials who will run portions of the convention. The post is just the latest recognition for Coleman, who has taken a high profile role in the Bush campaign and in Republican fundraising around the country. Coleman says the visibility is good for Minnesota, but critics say it is also good for Coleman, and that he may already be eyeing his next political opportunity. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Minnesota sends first Hispanic delegate to national GOP convention
For the first time ever, Minnesota is sending a hispanic delegate to the Republican National Convention. Rick Aguilar is a businessman from St. Paul who runs a company that produces conferences and seminars. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Rick Aguilar.
Kerry campaign goes after undecideds
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry today laid out his plans for addressing the increasing cost of health care at a forum at Anoka Technical College. But health care was not the only issue on the minds of the audience. Kerry's scheduled 45 minute appearance expanded to nearly two hours as he tackled questions that veered well beyond the topic of the day. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Big increase in schools missing No Child goals
About a quarter of Minnesota public schools are not meeting the performance goals required under the federal No Child Left Behind Law. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his new education commissioner, Alice Seagren, released the updated school performance list yesterday at the Minnesota State Fair. They also unveiled the latest report cards that rate individual schools on a scale of one to five stars. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Small business health care costs going up slower
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota says its small business clients will catch a break on health care cost increases in the coming year. Blue Cross expects to raise premiums for small businesses about 7 to 8 percent in 2005. That represents a slow-down in premium increases from the past few years. Joining us in the studio is Scott Smith who wrote about this story in this week's edition of "The Business Journal."
Mark Seeley's weather comments
University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley discusses how shifts in the weather away from "normal" weather patterns can have a profound effect on farming and energy use.
Dietician lists her best and worst food at the State Fair
Today is second day of the 2004 Minnesota State Fair. There are all kinds of attractions that bring folks to the fair, but among the most popular is the food. Of course, much of what you can get at the fair is not exactly health food. HealthPartners has released a list of which foods are the best and the worst for you. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with dietician Marna Canterbury who went through the fair yesterday and put together the list.
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