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November 15 - 19, 2004
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 |
Same sex marriage debate returns to the Capitol
People who want to amend the Minnesota constitution to ban same sex marriage say they will renew their push to get the measure on the ballot. They say they are energized by the passage of similar measures in other states on Election Day. But opponents of the measure say the Minnesota election results show that voters want legislators to focus on core issues, not divisive ones. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
St. Paul schools slowly filling with new Hmong refugees
St. Paul school district officials say 600 Hmong refugee students have enrolled since the beginning of the school year, and hundreds more could still arrive in the coming weeks. The influx of immigrants from a refugee camp in Thailand has been slower than expected. That has caused some financial headaches for the district. But school leaders say the preparations made to accommodate the new students are working well. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Frenchman launches jazz festival in Twin Cities
Twin Cities jazz fans may not realize it, but a special relationship has been built between local jazz musicians and musicians in Paris. The collaboration will be on full display this week with the Minnesota sur Seine music festival, held at a variety of Twin Cities venues. The man behind this musical exchange is internationally known producer Jean Rochard. Last year, Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts caught up with Rochard to talk about his "discovery" of the Twin Cities jazz scene.
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Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004 |
Elmer L. Anderson dead at 95
The man known as "Minnesota's leading citizen" has died. Former Republican Gov. Elmer L. Andersen died last night at the age of 95. Although Andersen served as the state's governor from 1961 to 1963, he's probably better known for what he accomplished outside of that office. For Andersen, that's a long list: President and CEO of a billion-dollar company, newspaper publisher, environmental leader, civil rights leader and philanthropist. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Minneapolis bike trails expanding
A key piece of the Midtown Greenway bike trail is now open in Minneapolis, making it possible to follow bike trails all the way from Hiawatha Avenue out to Chaska. The Greenway is just a small part of a rapidly expanding biking infrastructure in the Twin Cities. Minneapolis officials estimate that 10,000 people use the city's bike trails each day during the spring, summer, and fall. A recent survey by the city shows the number of people who bike downtown is up 14% from last year. Peter McLaughlin, of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, has championed the trails. He joins us now.
FCC approves St. Olaf sale of radio station to MPR
The grassroots group "Save WCAL" has lost its bid to prevent Minnesota Public Radio from buying St. Olaf's FM station. The Federal Communications Commission dismissed the group's petition, calling parts of it "frivolous and irrelevant." Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
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Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004 |
Forciea sentenced to 8 years
A federal court judge has sentenced entrepreneur and DFL political consultant Pat Forciea to eight years in prison. The judge also ordered Forceia to repay more than $5 million that he swindled from banks and associates in an attempt to build a minor league sports empire. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
S. Dakota Supreme Court hears Janklow appeal
Former South Dakota Gov. Bill Janklow appealed his manslaughter conviction before the South Dakota Supreme Court on Tuesday. Janklow was convicted last December for the traffic accident that killed Minnesota motorcyclist Randy Scott. He was sentenced to 100 days in jail and three years probation. In South Dakota, all felony convictions are a0-utomatically appealed to the state supreme court. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
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Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004 |
Minneapolis schools hold hearing on closings
Minneapolis school officials are hearing familiar complaints from parents, teachers and students who do not want their schools closed or reorganized. The district is considering a proposal to close 19 schools over the next three years due to declining enrollment. School board members held the first of two public hearings on the plan last night at North High School. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
State role in locating livestock farms debated
A task force appointed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty may recommend that the state play a role in deciding where new livestock farms will be located. The livestock task force is looking for ways to streamline the regulatory process and build Minnesota's livestock industry. The proposed state commission would hear appeals of decisions made by counties and townships concerning the placement of livestock farms. The idea is opposed by some who say it represents a loss of local control. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Housing develop on Lake Vermilion is controversial
A mining company is planning a new shoreline housing development on land it owns on Northeast Minnesota's picturesque Lake Vermilion. U.S. Steel says its development will protect the environment and the region's esthetics. But opponents say it violates a new management plan recently approved by the St. Louis County Commission. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Updating a U of M renewable energy iniative
Scientists working on a University of Minnesota renewable energy initiative will give the public a progress report today. The initiative got $20 million over five years from the Minnesota Legislature. It is supposed to explore bio-based and other renewable energy sources. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Bob Elde, Dean of the U of M's College of Biological Sciences, and chair of the executive committee of the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment.
Duluth poet Barton Sutter's new book
It's been said that, to a poet, "Nothing can be useless, he must be conversant with all that is awfully vast or elegantly little." Duluth writer Barton Sutter's latest collection of poems runs from the vast beauty of the Boundary Waters, to the elegance of an old pump handle near a rundown corral. It's called, "Farewell to the Starlight in Whisky." In the book, Sutter explores a wide range of topics, among them: politics, sobriety, the Minnesota wilderness, and love. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Sutter who told her that to anyone reading perceptively, it will be clear that this is a midlife book.
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Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 |
Thune sees victory as a mandate and a warning
South Dakota's new senator-elect has been called a hero and a giant-killer by some, and a huge mistake by others. Republican John Thune defeated Democratic Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle earlier this month, in a race that was called the most important race outside of the bid for the White House. Thune sees his victory as a mandate for the Senate to do its work. Many outside South Dakota expect great things to come from Thune's victory. But the locals are taking a wait-and-see approach. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
Hip-hop from the north woods
The guys in Crew Jones are rappers, and they rap about the usual stuff -- going swimming, getting caught in a snowstorm, watching ships on Lake Superior. They're north woods rappers. But this is no novelty act. These guys mean business. We wanted to find out more, so we met up with Chris Godsey. He writes about music for the Ripsaw in Duluth, and he agreed to introduce us to the band.
The band life
Indie rock clubs in the Twin Cities are often populated with 20-something men and women who are musicians in bands. It's a lifestyle that revolves around the bar scene. St. Paul singer songwriter Martin Devaney is currently living "the band life," and the bar is the setting for many of the songs on his new CD, "La Mancha." Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.
Minneapolis ad firm creates new tool for Amazon.com
A Minneapolis-based advertising company has come up with a new way to promote Amazon.com. Fallon Worldwide was approached by Amazon because the company was looking for ways to advertise the lesser-known parts of its business-- the sale of clothing and personal items. Fallon created short videos to run on the Amazon website, videos that entertain webpage visitors and then promote certain products displayed in the scenes. Nicole Garrison-Sprenger covered the story for this week's edition of The Business Journal. She talked talked with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.
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