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November 22 - 26, 2004
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Monday, Nov. 22, 2004 |
The next big Twin Cities transit debate
Brace yourself. Now that the debate over the Hiawatha light rail line has concluded, there's another big Twin Cities transit brouhaha on the horizon. This one is the Central Corridor project. The question is what form of transit should be built between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul -- bus or rail? The answer may be known by Jan. 1, 2005. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
North Dakota State arts building drawing rave reviews
North Dakota State University in Fargo isn't famous for its visual arts program. NDSU has built a reputation around agriculture and engineering. But that may be changing. The visual arts program just moved into a new facility in downtown Fargo that's creating a buzz. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
State health officials carefully watching flu season
Minnesota health officials are watching to see how this year's flu season will develop, after nationwide concern about a flu vaccine shortage. Earlier this fall, state health officials asked people who aren't at high-risk to forego the vaccination and later requested that health care workers do the same. State Epidemiologist Dr. Harry Hull talked with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004 |
Hearing due for hunter suspect
A probable cause hearing is expected today in Hayward, Wisconsin for Chai Vang, the St Paul resident accused of opening fire on a party of hunters from Rice Lake Wisconsin on Sunday. Six people are now dead and two are recovering from their wounds. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher who has with an update on the situation.
Judge rules implied consent law unconstitutional
A Dakota County District Court judge says the current version of Minnesota's implied consent law is unconstitutional. The law allows the state to immediately revoke the license of drivers who don not pass a blood alcohol test or decline to take one. Judge Richard Spicer says the Legislature has made the law increasingly harsh over last 20 years to the point that it denies due process to those who have their licenses revoked. The law will remain in effect while the case heads to the court of appeals. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
DFL gives cool reception to special session proposal
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's call for a special legislative session to authorize state construction projects is encountering considerable DFL skepticism. Last week, Pawlenty called for a short session next month to approve borrowing for a short list of public infrastructure projects that he says are largely uncontroversial. But Democrats are wary that the governor's list excludes the investments they happen to favor. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Red Lake Band wants water tower replaced
The Red Lake Band of Ojibwe is in a fight with the federal government. The tribe wants the Bureau of Indian Affairs (B.I.A.) to replace Red Lake's antiquated water system. The B.I.A. built the system about 100 years ago. It is still owned by the B.I.A.. But underground pipes leak. Water mains burst several times a year. The problem has become critical. Water pressure is so low it has crippled the fire department's ability to fight fires.
Tribal officials say the B.I.A. has known about the problem for years. They say the agency is ducking its responsibility. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports.
Remembering Ancel Keys
A pioneering researcher in the areas of cholesterol and heart disease has died. Ancel Keys was 100 years old. Keys had a long career at the University of Minnesota, where his studies showed that there is a link between high cholesterol and coronary heart disease. The research landed him on the cover of Time Magazine, and he became known as "Mr. Cholesterol." Keys is also famous for developing the meals that fed GIs during World War II. The K-rations are named after him. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Dr. Russell Luepker, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health. The focus of his research is cardiovascular epidemiology.
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Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004 |
Man arrested for deer-stand shooting says he was fired on first
The suspect in Sunday's shooting in the woods of Wisconsin says he was fired on first. 36-year-old Chai Vang shot and killed 6 people, and wounded two more. Vang is being held on $2.5 million bond after a statement of probable cause was entered in Sawyer County District Court yesterday. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher explains what's in the document.
Wisconsin shooting raises questions about hunter relations
Sunday's shootings appear to have begun as a confrontation between hunters. The incident has raised all sorts of questions about how hunters get along in the woods. DNR enforcement officers say conflicts among hunters are not unusual, but they rarely result in violence. Some say increased pressure on public and private hunting lands may lead to more frequent hunter conflicts in the future. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports.
Investigation reveals jet fuel leaks in underground fuel system
According to a state investigation, thousands of gallons of jet fuel have leaked out from an underground fuel system over the past three years at the Twin Cities International Airport. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the fuel has contaminated the ground, and some of it has drained into the Minnesota river. The investigation concludes that officials mismanaged the inspection and upkeep of the system, saying fuel workers failed to monitor the pressure in the system and skipped some repairs that were needed. Pat Hogan, of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, spoke with Morning Edition's Cathy Wurzer.
Law changes deductions for car donations
Donating your car to charity may not be an attractive tax deduction. A change in federal law means that people who donate their cars will probably not be able to deduct as much after Jan. 1. Congress made the change because it was concerned that people were taking advantage of car donation programs. Several charities worry that the changes may lower donations and in turn reduce money to their organizations. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Minneapolis plan means fewer middle schools, more K-8 schools
The Minneapolis school district is on the verge of phasing out more of its middle schools and placing those students in the same buildings with elementary grade children. Kindergarten-through-eighth-grade schools are rare in Minnesota, but they're dominating the landscape in Minneapolis. District officials say the K-8 configuration is a a popular choice among many parents. But others question the benefits of mixing younger and older kids. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
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Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004 |
Hmong community reacts to Wisconsin shooting
The shooting deaths of six hunters in northwestern Wisconsin this week has prompted a complex set of reactions, perhaps nowhere more than in the Twin Cities Hmong community. The alleged shooter - Chai Vang - is a Hmong immigrant who lives in St. Paul. When the first reports of the incident came out, local Hmong leaders cautioned against making Vang's ethnicity an issue. But officials have since released Vang's statement in which he claims he fired on the other hunters after they taunted him with racial slurs and shot at him first. That version of events has diminished hopes of dismissing racial aspects of the case and its impact. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Crime scene expert discusses Wisconsin shooting case
The Wisconsin state attorney general says she doesn't expect to file charges in the Sawyer County fatal shootings until Monday at the earliest. 36-year-old Chai Vang is accused of killing six Wisconsin hunters and wounding two others after some of them confronted him about trespassing. But what happened in the Wisconsin woods last Sunday is still uncertain. One of the survivors says Vang turned around after a verbal exchange and started shooting his rifle from 40 yards away. Vang says he was shot at first, after he was called racially derogatory names. Gary Rini is a crime scene expert and consultant based in Cleveland, Ohio.
Return to Juliet Avenue
It's been almost a month since Election Day. For some, one of the most bitterly fought presidential campaigns in American history is already a distant memory. Others are still struggling to decipher its meaning. Before the election, we reported on a St. Paul street where neighbors were engaged in a silent political sign war. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts returned to Juliet Avenue to find out what neighbors are thinking now.
Anoka County History Center considers history of pie
If you're planning to eat a Thanksgiving meal later today, chances are, you're going to have some pie. Pumpkin, apple, and other varieties have become a traditional part of the holiday for many American families. Vickie Wendel is the program manager for the Anoka County History Center. Yesterday, the center invited the public to come learn about the history of pie... and taste a few pieces, too.
Mary Jo Copeland featured in new book
In the early 1980s, Mary Jo Copeland needed something to do. She opened a storefront that handed out free clothes to the poor. Her tiny storefront is long gone. Now she has multiple buildings that offer transitional housing, food, cash, medical and dental services and clothing to the poor people of Minneapolis. A new book by two Twin Cities women hopes to teach us all to be a little more like Mary Jo. Stephanie Curtis reports.
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Friday, Nov. 26, 2004 |
Salvation Army worries it won't make holiday fundraising goal
It's going to be a little quieter outside of Target stores this holiday season. The company isn't allowing the Salvation Army bell ringers outside its stores. Target says it made the decision so its "no solicitation" policy is consistent. The Salvation Army says it's worried the move will make it more difficult to reach its holiday fundraising goal and could jeopardize some programs for the less fortunate. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Art at Hiawatha Light Rail kiosks amusing riders
A public art project is providing a new way for riders of the Hiawatha light-rail line to kill time while waiting for the next train. A few interactive art kiosks have been installed on each station platform between downtown Minneapolis and Fort Snelling. There are a total of 39 kiosks, all with speakers attached, and some with video screens to show short videos. Most of them look like metal boxes with a handle, crank, or some other way to activate the audio or video. Users hear and see poems, essays, music, and even comedy skits. Minnesota artists did all the audio and video art around two themes: the weather and the idea of "Minnesota nice." Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer went to check out the new project.
No Child Left Behind Act creates business opportunities
The federal No Child Left Behind Act is creating a business opportunity for companies across the country. The law brings tough new accountability measures to schools and expands student testing requirements. To comply with the law, states are hiring educational testing companies to create and score tests. Scott Smith writes about that issue -- and one Minnesota company that's competing for some of that business -- in this week's edition of The Business Journal.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.
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