|
September 13 - 17, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
|
Monday, Sept. 13, 2004 |
ACORN's renegade reputation
A conference in St. Paul today presents what organizers say are successful ideas to reduce poverty. One Twin Cities organization known as ACORN is presenting its methods for winning victories against unscrupulous mortgage lenders. The group's direct intervention has halted foreclosures for dozens of Twin Cities homeowners. But ACORN has also developed a renegade reputation that has alienated people and organizations that cross its path. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes looks at what drives ACORN's uncompromising mission.
Vikings fans tailgating in new area
The Minnesota Vikings treated their fans to a 35-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on the first Sunday of the new National Football League season. Of course, the advent of football season means more than 60,000 people will converge on downtown Minneapolis on game days, turning much of the area into a sort of Vikings Village. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports the inhabitants of the village are adjusting to some changes this year.
A true story: geek audio visual guy
Here's a true story. Paul Lundgren seems like a hip guy. He's a writer. He was on his high school football team. But he was also on the school's audio-visual squad. He says he is more of a geek than a cool dude.
|
|
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2004 |
Teacher performance-based pay experiment to begin
Three Minneapolis schools and the Waseca school district have volunteered to participate in an experiment in teacher pay. They will pay some teachers based on their performance. Gov. Tim Pawlenty praised the two school districts for stepping forward on the idea. He said, if the experiment is successful, the new pay system could transform the current system that rewards teachers for the number of college credits they have earned, and for time spent on the job. The experiment also had the blessing of the teachers at the schools that will adopt the plan. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with Louise Sundin, union president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers.
Kiffmeyer on sending homeland security posters to polling places
The Minnesota Secretary of State's office is a busy place these days. In addition to checking out the petitions for the Ralph Nader presidential campaign, there is a primary election today. Polls are open until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 14. There are primary races in several U.S. Congressional Districts, and a number of state house races also have contested primaries. In addition, there are many local primaries as well. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with the person in charge of overseeing elections in Minnesota, Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.
Nader supporters submit petitions to get on ballot
Today is the deadline for Presidential candidates to submit petitions to the Secretary of State's office in order to get on the November ballot. Supporters of Ralph Nader submitted almost 5,000 signatures yesterday. That is more than double the number of names required to get on the ballot -- but Nader campaign workers say the buffer is necessary as protection against possible legal action by Democrats and their allies. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Counties now center stage in smoking ban debate
Since St. Paul began considering banning smoking in public places last May, the smoking ban movement has spread throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. Today, the debate will take center stage in Ramsey and Hennepin counties. Ramsey County Commissioners are set to vote today on an ordinance that would ban smoking in restaurants. And in Hennepin County, commissioners are holding a hearing on a smoking ban in restaurants and bars. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
Who's recover is it? Minnesotans speak.
For almost three years now, Minnesota has been in an economic recovery. This week, Minnesota Public Radio examines the recovery and its impact on Minnesotans in a series of reports we're calling "Whose Recovery Is It?" To help tell this story, we asked you, our audience, to share your first-hand observations and experiences with the changing economy. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg prepared this collection of the responses, with sometimes drastically different takes on the health of the Minnesota and U.S. economies.
Twins and Santana on a roll
The top two teams in the American League Central Division begin a three game series tonight at the Metrodome. This would be a really big series if it wasn't for the fact that the Twins now have a 10 1/2 game lead over the White Sox with only 19 games to play. There should be a good crowd for tonight's game because of one player: Twins starting pitcher Johan Santana. Santana is the hottest pitcher in baseball. He's won ten games in a row, has a record of 17-6, and is a leading candidate to win the American League Cy Young Award. Joining us now is LaVelle Neal who covers the Twins for the Star Tribune.
|
|
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004 |
Weather service details heavy rains in southern Minnesota
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for several counties in southern Minnesota this the morning because of heavy rains overnight. Warnings were posted for Mower, Fillmore, Winona, and Dodge counties. Joining us for an update on the weather situation is Seth Binau, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.
Heavy overnight rains hit Mower County
Officials in Mower County are using boats to rescue motorists and home owners left stranded by rising water after a night of heavy rain. The Mower County Sheriff says rising water has closed several heavily traveled roads in the Austin area, including Interstate 90 near Dexter, U.S. Highway 218 near Austin, and Minnesota Highway 56 near Adams, along with many rural roads. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with Mower County Sheriff Therese Amazi.
Lillie defeats DFL incumbent Wasiluk in primary
A DFL state representative who was caught on video tape drinking alcohol in his Capitol office has lost his primary election. Scott Wasiluk of district 55A lost to challenger Leon Lillie, a city council member from North St. Paul. Television cameras caught Wasiluk and three other people drinking in his office on the last day of the legislative session in May. Lillie's win over Wasiluk was the only upset victory over an incumbent state lawmaker in primary elections across the state. Turnout in the election was light. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with upset winner Leon Lillie.
Latest job numbers for August
Job growth is not a technical requirement for an economic recovery. Minnesota and many other states have learned this the hard way. Even as the economy grew, Minnesota has regained less than 60 percent of the jobs it lost since the start of the 2001 recession. The latest jobs numbers for the state -- for August -- do not do much to raise that tally. As part of our series, "Whose Recovery Is It?" Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
|
|
Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 |
MPR poll: Bush gaining on Kerry
As President Bush prepares to make a three-city campaign swing through Minnesota today, a new poll shows him with a narrow lead over Democrat John Kerry in the state. It is the first time Bush has led Kerry in the Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press poll. The slim two-point lead is within the poll's margin of sampling error, and pollsters say the race is still a toss-up. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Why do poll results differ?
The poll results in the Minnesota Public Radio - St. Paul Pioneer Press poll which showed President Bush with 46 percent and Democrat John Kerry with 44 percent are significantly different from a Minneapolis Star Tribune's poll that showed John Kerry ahead in the presidential race. That poll, released yesterday, had Kerry at 50 percent, and President Bush had 41 percent. Morning Edition substitute host Perry Finelli spoke with University of Michigan professor Michael Traugott, who's also author of the "Voter's Guide to Election Polls" about the why polls differ.
|
|
Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 |
President Bush visits 3 cities in Minnesota
President Bush will attend fundraisers today in Washington and North Carolina. Yesterday, Bush made three campaign stops in Minnesota, and the economy was a prominent theme. In St. Cloud, Blaine, and Rochester, Bush took credit for job growth nationally and in the state of Minnesota. But some economists question whether Bush should be taking the bows. Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter has more.
Nader looks for votes in Minnesota
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader took direct aim at Democrats, Republicans, and corporate interests last night during two Twin Cities appearances. Nader spoke to hundreds of supporters first at Macalester College in St. Paul and then at the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus. Recent polls show Nader struggling to find support in Minnesota -- but he and his supporters say the campaign is about more than winning the race. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Selling Minnesota's "Goods from the Woods"
The folks in Grand Rapids, Minnesota are hoping for a big turnout this weekend, for their showcase of products made from the region's forests. They call it the Up-North Marketplace. This is not about plywood and two by fours. It is about arts, crafts, and economic development. It's part of a bigger effort to create a new cottage industry. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Weather comments from Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the heavy rains in southern Minnesota earlier this week. It relieved the areas drought conditions, but also flooded Austin and much of Mower county.
|
| Morning Edition Archive |
|
|
|
© 2024 | Home : Terms of Use : Your Privacy Rights