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February 21 - 25, 2005
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Monday, Feb. 21, 2005 |
WELY changes ownership
A new chapter is opening for one of Minnesota's quirkier radio stations. WELY is known as End of the Road Radio, serving the small town of Ely, at the edge of the Boundary Waters. WELY was owned a few years ago by Charles Kuralt, and it is soon to be owned by a local band of Ojibway Indians. Band officials say they will keep the station pretty much as it is. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
ARC in the spotlight helping tsunami victims
A Twin Cities-based charitable group gained international attention this weekend for its effort to help fishing villages in Thailand recover from December's tsunami. During their tour of the region, former Presidents Bush and Clinton visited with the American Refugee Committee's Thailand director about the group's "Fishing Boat Project." The ARC's Gary Dahl says the attention may help fuel a rebuilding effort that is off to a good start. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
Federated still pursing May Department Stores
It appears the Federated Department Store Company is still trying to purchase the May Department Store Company. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the two companies resumed negotiations last week, but still have not been able to agree on a purchase price. May outbid Federated last year to purchase Marshall Fields from the Target Corporation. Joining us on the line is Dave Brennan, a professor at St. Thomas University where he is also co-director of Institute for Retailing Excellence.
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Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005 |
3M chemicals topic of new documentary
Five years ago, 3M announced it would stop making its very popular Scotchgard fabric protector, because the chemicals did not break down in the environment. 3M's announcement led to a major investigation by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. After 3M's announcement, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency let two years pass before it began any inquiries. That is one of the findings included in the new investigative documentary by Minnesota Public Radio and American RadioWorks called "Toxic Traces." It tells the story of the chemicals, the politics of investigating them, and the concerns of residents who live near places the chemicals were produced and disposed of. Minnesota Public Radio's Mike Edgerly produced the documentary and spoke with MPR's Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.
Previewing the week ahead at the Capitol
This morning, a Minnesota house committee takes up a bill that would raise the tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack. Another house committee takes up a bill that toughen penalties on people who sell illegal performance enhancing drugs. Those are just a couple of developments that Minnesota Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum will be monitoring this week. She spoke with MPR Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer to preview the week ahead.
Advice on identity theft
The personal database company ChoicePoint has notified 2,340 Minnesotans that their personal information may have been stolen. ChoicePoint says thieves gained access to the personal information of about 145,00 people nationwide. The company discovered the problem last fall and says the thieves had access to names, addresses, and even social security numbers. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Bruce Gordon, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, about what consumers can do about identity theft.
Iowa brain drain takes toll on small town
Iowa is not having much luck keeping twenty-somethings in the state. In fact more young people are leaving Iowa then just about anywhere in the country, except North Dakota. Iowa lawmakers recently debated and abandoned a plan to exempt people under 30 from paying state incomes taxes. In small Iowa towns, the problem is being felt firsthand as Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally found when she visited Decorah.
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Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005 |
Three Minnesotans killed in Iraq on same day
There has been no official word yet from the Defense Department or the National Guard, but relatives say three Minnesota soldiers died in Iraq on Monday. Jason Timmerman, David Day and Jesse Lhotka all served with the 151st Field Artillery Unit based in Montevideo. For the soldier's relatives and friends, the news brought shock and sorrow. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
House passes bonding bill
The Minnesota House has overwhelmingly passed an $816 million package of public works projects. And as part of the legislation the House has, for the first time, approved some seed money for the proposed Northstar commuter rail line between Minneapolis and Big Lake. Northstar supporters are confident that the bipartisan vote means the project will finally receive state bonding money this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
New laws proposed for personal information industry
Legislation to be introduced at the state Capitol would require a business to tell Minnesota consumers if the security of their sensitive personal information has been compromised. The legislation follows revelations by Georgia-based ChoicePoint of a security breach affecting the personal information of as many as 145,000 people, including more than 2,300 in Minnesota. But as Bill Catlin reports, some experts question the value of broad requirements to notify consumers of security lapses.
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Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005 |
Ramsey County Sheriff deputy shot
A Ramsey County Sheriffs deputy is in stable condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul this morning after being treated for a gun shot wound. Chris Tayson, who has been with the department for 12 years, was shot after trying to apprehend a major gang figure on St. Paul's east side. Officials say they have arrested three suspects in the shooting. The manhunt alarmed some residents and forced several schools to lockdown. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Vikings trade Moss to Oakland
Controversial Vikings star Randy Moss is leaving Minnesota. Moss' agent says the Vikings have agreed to trade the receiver to the Oakland Raiders. In exchange for Moss, the Vikings will get linebacker Napoleon Harris, the seventh overall selection in this year's draft, and a later round draft pick. Neither team has confirmed the deal, which can not be officially announced until March 2 because of league rules. This story was first reported by Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He spoke with MPR's Cathy Wurzer.
Texas Hold'em bill advances
A bill that would legalize Texas hold'em tournaments in Minnesota cleared its first legislative hurdle yesterday. The proposal was featured on the front page of the New York Times this week, but as gambling legislation goes, it is relatively small stakes. The bigger question is how lawmakers will respond to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal for a new state-tribal casino. That proposal will be ready for legislative scrutiny shortly. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Minnesota poultry industry prepares for avian flu
International health experts said this week they are still worried avian influenza could spark a global flu pandemic among humans. A lethal strain of the virus has killed at least 42 people in the past year in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. That is out of 55 cases officially confirmed by the World Health Organization. Avian influenza has taken an even bigger toll on birds in Southeast Asia. Since the start of the outbreak in 2003, over 120 million birds have died or been culled from infected flocks. It is by far the most severe avian influenza outbreak ever tracked by health experts. The situation is literally half a world away from Minnesota. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, it hits close to home for the state's poultry industry.
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Friday, Feb. 25, 2005 |
Making the U of M a top three research university
University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks says now is the best -- and worst -- time for the university to pursue its ambitions to be among the top three public research universities in the world. Bruininks made his comments during his annual State of the University speech yesterday.
The president used the time to focus primarily on the U's strategic planning process. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Burning wood for electricity
Most of the state's electrical power is generated in coal fired power plants. But coal has its critics. Many consider coal a dirty fuel. A new project on the Iron Range will produce a significant amount of electricity from wood. Proponents say the wood burns cleaner than coal, and it is a better fuel for the region's economy. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weather comments
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the National Weather Service's User Survey. In the past the National Weather Service has conducted user surveys for specific products such as aviation or marine forecasts. For the first time they are conducting a survey of the general public concerning all of their products. Plus, he talks about the heavy dose of winter in Europe and Asia this year.
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