|
March 14 - 18, 2005
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
|
Monday, March 14, 2005 |
A double dose of March Madness
Many Gopher basketball fans are facing a tough choice this morning. Both the women's and men's teams have made their respective NCAA tournaments for the first time since 1994. Some fans will stay home next weekend to watch the Gopher women open the tournament at Williams arena against the St. Francis Red Flash. The Gopher women got a number three seed, the highest in team history. Other fans are making plans to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, to watch the men's team play in the NCAA for the first time since 1999. That is when head coach Dan Monson took over the team in the wake of an academic fraud scandal that has dogged the program ever since. They will take on the Iowa State Cyclones. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with University of Minnesota Athletic Director Joel Maturi.
Previewing the week ahead at the Capitol
Minnesota lawmakers are halfway through the 2005 legislative session, with plenty of work left to do. Their main challenge this session is to balance the state budget, in the face of a projected $466 million shortfall. Both chambers have passed a bonding bill, which would borrow money to pay for capital improvement projects around the state. A conference committee meets this week to try to reach agreement on a final bill. Joining us now for a look at that, and what else is happening this week at the legislature is Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum.
No locals going for metro casino yet
Gov. Tim Pawlenty says the metro area casino he is proposing in partnership with three indian tribes could bolster the economy of the community where it is located. Still, despite the promise of millions of dollars in incentives, and thousands of jobs, no towns or city has stepped forward in hopes of becoming the site for the casino. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Questioning coal gasification as renewable energy source
An Iron Range power plant's much vaunted technology is getting panned by some environmental groups and some state lawmakers. They are unhappy that Excelsior Energy's proposed coal-gasification power plant is getting money from a state fund for renewable energy projects. Coal, they say, is not renewable. Now there's a bill to rescind Excelsior's ability to tap the renewable fund. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher report.
Little known Minneapolis software maker now a hot property
Two giants, who are bitter rivals in the software industry, are battling to buy a Twin Cities firm that is tiny by comparison. Both SAP of Germany and California-based Oracle are offering around half a billion dollars to buy Retek of Minneapolis. Retek develops software for the retail industry. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has this look at why Retek is now such a hot property.
Harlem kids in famous works of art
What if you could pick a famous painting, and insert yourself in it as the main character? Who would you be? How would it feel to see yourself hanging on a wall in a museum? A group of young men from Harlem had that experience in a new exhibit that is now open at Franklin Art Works in Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports.
|
|
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 |
Simple test to detect women's heart disease
Promising news for women at risk for heart disease is in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. A new study finds a simple and inexpensive test for elevated white blood cell counts could be used to predict heart disease. The lead researcher on the study Dr. Karen Margolis spoke with MPR's Cathy Wurzer.
Metro Transit route cuts, fare increases proposed
Metro Transit bus and rail customers face another round of fare increases and service cuts unless lawmakers and the governor agree on a way to fix a funding problem. The agency says it will be short $60 million over the next two years. Officials say the funding shortfall is because of sagging revenues and rising costs. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
Environmentalists upset with new E.P.A plan
The Environmental Protection Agency will announce its plan today to reduce mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants. It is the first time the government will put a limit on mercury emissions from such plants. A draft of the plan, leaked to National Public Radio, indicates that power plants should be able to use existing pollution control equipment to reduce emissions 20 percent by the year 2010. The second phase of the plan, which takes effect in 2018, will utilize an incentive program to reduce emissions by 70 percent. It is that part of the plan that concerns some environmental activists. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
Health care pool for small business not working
Small businesses have big health insurance bills. A few years ago there was optimism that companies could band together to get better rates. The idea is being tried in western Minnesota, but so far it has found little success. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Helping Sri Lanka: Minnesotans return home
A third group of Minnesota volunteers is being formed to go to Sri Lanka, to help rebuild tsunami-ravaged areas of the tiny country. The effort is being organized by a local Sri Lankan businessman, who hopes to send new volunteers every six weeks for the rest of the year. The first group recently returned home. It included nurses, builders, and teachers. In Sri Lanka, they focused their efforts on a village called Moratuw, just south of Columbo. They provided medical care, rebuilt homes, helped construct a community center, and taught in schools. One of the volunteers, Lavina Pattee, is a retired schoolteacher who lives in Big Lake, Minnesota. She brought along a tape recorder to document the experience as it was happening, and we have been playing excerpts on Morning Edition. In this final report, Pattee describes a village gathering held just before the volunteers left, to celebrate their accomplishments.
Talking Volumes: Odell's next book
Twin Cities author Jonathan Odell joins Kerri Miller at the Fitzgerald Theater tonight for Talking Volumes. His first novel, "The View from Delphi." is set during the civil rights era in a rural Mississippi town, similar to the one in which Odell grew up. He says he tore up the usual "scripts" you find in stories from the civil rights movement. But his characters were so authentic and familiar that Jonathan Odell wondered what his friends and family would think when they read what he had written. Minnesota Public Radio's Kerri Miller reports.
|
|
Wednesday, March 16, 2005 |
Group plans suit against Minnesota faith-based intiative
Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants to create a faith-based initiative for Minnesota, similar to President Bush's program at the federal level. Pawlenty is proposing that the state hire a coordinator to work with faith-based groups seeking state grants to provide social services. Twenty governors have established similar offices, but the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation says the initiatives violate the constitutional separation of church and state. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Casino alternative: video lottery in bars
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan for a new casino gets a hearing in a House committee on Wednesday. The committee will also consider a bill that offers an alternative gambling plan. It would allow up to five slot machines in every bar. DFL Rep. Tom Rukavina is the author of that bill. He spoke with MPR's Cathy Wurzer.
History of Minnesota popularized in new book
If you're curious about Minnesota history, but do not want to slog through dry accounts of the state's past, there is a new book that might help. "A Popular History of Minnesota" covers everything from the glacial formation of the land to the reform politics that helped define the state in the late 90s. And it is designed to be fast-paced and readable. The book is written by Norman Risjord, professor emeritus of history at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and the author of a similar book about Wisconsin. He says it made sense to start the book with early geography.
|
|
Thursday, March 17, 2005 |
More job cuts at NWA
Northwest Airlines says it is going to stop using 30 older airplanes in its fleet and lay off up to 900 mechanics who maintain them by the end of the year. The job cuts are expected to begin this spring. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Northwest spokesman Thomas Becher.
Gambling bill heard at Capitol
From a new Twin Cities casino to slot machines in bars statewide, a key House committee has begun its work sorting through this year's proposed gambling initiatives. There is new emphasis on generating state revenue through gambling due in part to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's support for a state-tribal partnership on a new casino in the metropolitan area. But the line-up of competing proposals has led opponents to argue that approving anything would only open the door to an unchecked expansion of gambling. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Conflict heats up in Crosby-Ironton teacher strike
After another failed negotiating session in the Crosby-Ironton teachers' strike, both sides made legal moves yesterday. First the school board declared an impasse in the negotiations, a strategy that could allow a contract to be forced on the teachers. But the teachers claim the school board does not have the right to declare an impasse. Then the teachers announced they are suing the district for actions they claim are illegal. It made for a confusing day in a community that is already feeling a lot of pressure from the five week old labor disagreement. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
House committee kills atrazine ban
A House Agriculture Committee rejected three bills yesterday that would have banned or restricted use of the farm herbicide atrazine. Critics of the weed killer had argued that new scientific studies show the chemical causes reproductive deformities in frogs and is linked to low sperm counts and some cancers in humans. Atrazine supporters challenged those findings and said if the chemical is banned, Minnesota farmers won't be able to compete with growers in other states. Similar bills have been proposed in the Senate, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, the debate over banning atrazine is probably over for this Legislative session.
Conference pushes business ethics from top down
One day after the former CEO of WorldCom was convicted and regulators charged the former CEO of Qwest with fraud, business leaders and business students met in Minneapolis to talk corporate ethics. The panel at the University of St. Thomas was scheduled long before this week's news, but the latest headlines were a reminder the topic is still a troubling one for the business world. Speakers emphasized though, that ethics is an issue for every employee -- not just wayward CEOs. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
|
|
Friday, March 18, 2005 |
Gay marriage debate hits the road
The legislative debate over marriage and gay and lesbian rights goes on the road today. A House committee is traveling to Grand Rapids to consider a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Recent court cases have opened the door for same-sex unions in other states and opponents say that means Minnesota needs to establish a ban in the state constitution. Others say the location and the timing of the hearing smack more of politics than public policy. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Environmentalists push eco-friendly palm leaves
Christian Holy Week celebrations begin this weekend with Palm Sunday. Church-goers around the world will commemorate the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem, where it is said palm branches were strewn on the ground in front of him. As part of the celebration, many churches will give worshipers cut palm leaves. Now a group of environmental advocates is encouraging churches to use palm leaves that are harvested in a way that doesn't kill the trees. Dean Current is program director at the University of Minnesota's Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management, which is heading up the project. He says about 45 million palm branches are used each Palm Sunday.
Guthrie's "As You Like It" set in 1960s
When William Shakespeare wrote his comedy "As You Like It" he set much of the play in the forest of Arden, a place where life is simple and pastoral and people spend their days singing, dancing and writing poetry. In the Guthrie Theatre's new of production of the play, this world is transported to the 1960s. Director Joe Dowling says this take on "As You Like It" is a nice change of pace for the Guthrie.
Vince Grier leads Gopher men's basketball into NCAA
Later this morning, the University of Minnesota men's basketball team will make its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1999. They will meet the Iowa State Cyclones in opening round play in Charlotte, North Carolina. One of the main reasons for the Gophers return to the big dance is the play of junior Vincent Grier. Grier is a skilled shooter and ball handler who plays guard and forward. He is also a native of Charlotte and is looking forward to playing in front of his family and friends. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams has this report.
Rochester weather observer on the storm
One of Minnesota Public Radio's weather observers in Rochester, Bill Blackburn, talks about a big winter storm that's raging in the southern part of the state. More than a foot of snow is expected in the southern part of Minnesota today and tomorrow. Blackburn said about 5 inches had already fallen in Rochester.
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weather comments
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses a big reason why Minnesotans associate big winter storms with the week of the boys state basketball tournament. Big, memorable, storms hit the state in 1951 and 1966. But the coincidence of a big storm with the tournament is actually a myth. It does not occur that often. Seeley also discusses this weekend's winter storm that will dump more than a foot of snow in many parts of southern Minnesota.
|
| Morning Edition Archive |
|
|
|
© 2024 | Home : Terms of Use : Your Privacy Rights