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April 18 - 22, 2005
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Monday, April 18, 2005 |
Amy Klobuchar joins Minnesota's U.S. Senate Race
Democrat Amy Klobuchar officially entered the race for U.S. Senate on Sunday. So far only Klobuchar and Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy have formally launched campaigns for the seat DFLer Mark Dayton will leave at the end of next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Testing companies score big profits
Passage by Congress three years ago of the No Child Left Behind law has been nothing short of a windfall for testing companies in this country. This is the peak of testing season. All across Minnesota students are getting ready to take tests required by state and federal mandates. That means more business for the companies that create, publish and score the tests. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
University of Minnesota graduate students vote on joining a union
About 4,500 University of Minnesota graduate students find out today whether they will be represented by a union. This morning state officials will count ballots cast last week. Union advocates say grad students need help to protect their pay and benefits. Critics say a union is unnecessary. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
New Walker Art Center draws a crowd
Supporters of the Walker Art Center are thrilled to have the Minneapolis museum and performance space open again following a 14-month expansion project. After several days of VIP events, regular art lovers and curious neighbors got a look at the new building on its opening day yesterday. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.
Walker Art Center has global impact
This weekend the newly expanded Walker Art Center opened in Minneapolis. Thousands of people attended festivities for the center. Many travelled from across the country, even from around the world, for the event. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports on the global impact of the new Walker Art Center.
Senate Democrats expected to release budget plan this week
Democrats in the Minnesota Senate are expected to release their budget plan this week. That plan should provide a better sense of how far apart House Republican and Senate Democrats are on the amount they want to spend, and where they want to spend it. Lawmakers' biggest challenge this session is to bridge the differences in the face of a projected $466 million shortfall. Laura McCallum is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief. She joins us now to preview the week at the Capitol.
Monday markets with Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, April 19, 2005 |
Legislature considers overhaul of child support
The Minnesota Legislature appears close to overhauling the state's child support system, which affects about 300,000 children in the state. Bills that would base child support on the combined income of both parents are picking up momentum. While nearly everyone involved in the debate agrees that the current system needs reform, there is little consensus on the best way to do that. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Solving homelessness more than building buildings
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is moving forward with his plan to end long-term homelessness by 2010. The governor's new advisory council on the issue met yesterday for the first time. Pawlenty hopes to create 4,000 new housing opportunities, either by building apartments or providing rental assistance for existing units. He stresses that all those units would be supportive housing, meaning a variety of social services would be available for residents as well. About 3,300 Minnesotans are considered chronically homeless. Greg Owen works with the St. Paul-based Wilder Foundation, and is the director of its statewide homeless study, which is conducted every three years.
Effectiveness of required tutor programs not yet clear
One in three eligible Minnesota students has taken advantage of free, after-school tutoring programs this year. The federal education law known as No Child Left Behind requires struggling schools to provide tutors for disadvantaged students. Despite low participation, more than two dozen schools in the state will still spend several million dollars for tutors this year. And some educators and lawmakers are wondering if they are getting their money's worth. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Feds: Assault at Red Lake over in nine minutes
For the first time since the day after they happened, the FBI has spoken about their investigation into the shootings on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. At a news conference yesterday, federal officials presented details about what happened on March 21st, but neither the FBI nor the U.S. Attorney would comment about whether any further arrests or charges are pending related to the shooting. U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger also criticized news organizations for printing what he called "speculation and rumor" and promised to find and prosecute officials leaking information to the press. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
"A Mind of Their Own"
Children can be emotionally volatile at some point in their development, with no particular cause for worry. But at what point do irritability, mood swings, and tantrums constitute a serious mental illness? A new documentary from American RadioWorks called "A Mind of Their Own," explores a fast-growing diagnosis of bi-polar disorder in children. In this excerpt, reporter Karen Brown visits with three parents of bipolar children who are searching for help -- while some in the medical field are warning not to rush to judgment.
Gary Snyder, eco-poet
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder will join Midmorning host Kerri Miller tonight for the last Talking Volumes program of the season. Snyder calls himself a "holistic" poet and blends his interest in the environment, Zen Buddhism and nature into his work. Here's Gary Snyder reading from his poem Winter Almond.
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Wednesday, April 20, 2005 |
Legislative auditor says security of license tab website lax
An investigation has found serious security problems with a state website that allows Minnesotans to renew their license tabs online. A legislative auditor's report released yesterday concludes that hackers could potentially get into the system and steal consumers' private data. State officials have shut down the website until the problems are fixed, and say they're not aware of any security breaches. Some legislators say that reassurance is not good enough. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Red Lake schools returning to normalcy amid tighter security
It is a week of important dates at Red Lake High School. Today is the sixth anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High School. Tomorrow it will be one month since a Red Lake student shot and killed nine people before shooting himself. The anniversaries have sparked rumors and fueled tensions in a community that's already on edge. But as Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports, school officials are determined to move forward.
U of M diversity linked in debate over General College
Plans to close the University of Minnesota's General College are moving forward, despite deep controversy over the proposal. For over 70 years, the U's General College has been a gateway to the U for under-prepared metro-area high school students, many of whom are immigrants and people of color. University officials say even with the proposed changes to General College, they are committed to recruiting and helping students of color succeed. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Pressure on Vikings with No. 7 pick in NFL draft
The Minnesota Vikings are in the final days of preparation for the NFL Draft this weekend. For the first time in years one of the biggest holes in the team is at wide receiver. That's because the Vikings traded All Pro Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders earlier this year. A key to the deal was getting Oakland's first-round pick, number 7 overall and the highest for the Vikings since 2002. Joining us on the line is Sean Jensen who covers the Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
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Thursday, April 21, 2005 |
At Capitol, those against gay marriage rally
Sen. Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, says the Senate will not vote this year on whether the state constitution should be amended to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Thousands of Minnesotans opposed to same-sex marriage converged on the state Capitol lawn yesterday, calling on lawmakers to put a proposed constitutional ban on the 2006 ballot. The rally came two weeks after a similar number of gay-rights advocates gathered to oppose the measure. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Lines drawn for health care debate
The House Health Policy and Finance Committee will continue debate this morning on its omnibus budget bill. During a hearing yesterday, supporters of the plan praised the bill's author for keeping health care costs low while increasing funds for the disabled and the elderly. But critics described the bill as shortsighted. They said the 30,000 people who would lose coverage under the bill will still need treatment. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
A call to recycle more paper
Friday is Earth Day and leaders of a statewide recycling organization are calling on Minnesotans to put more paper in the recycling bin. They say the demand for recycled paper, from manufacturers in and outside the state, outstrips supply. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Paul Gardner, the Executive Director of the Recycling Association of Minnesota.
The megastar no one knows -- yet
A few weeks back, not one, but two stretch limos drew up in front of MPR's St. Paul studios. That's unusual in itself. Yet what really got people talking was no one recognized the man who stepped into building. But that may be about to change. The man was Steven Chow, Asia's hottest film comedy star. This weekend he is making an assault on the U.S. box office with his new film "Kung Fu Hustle." Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr reports.
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Friday, April 22, 2005 |
To battle meth, House bans cold and allergy medications
Many common cold and allergy medications could soon be off-limits to most Minnesotans in an effort to curb the production of the narcotic methamphetamine. The Minnesota House voted overwhelmingly last night to completely ban over-the-counter sales of tablets containing pseudoephedrine, the primary ingredient in meth. The ban would include such popular medications as Sudafed and Claritin-D. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Ecuadorian consulate opens in the Twin Cities
Mexico is opening a consulate this summer in St. Paul to serve Mexicans living around the state. But it will not be the first foreign community with representation here. Places like Malta, Bolivia, and Luxembourg have consuls in the Twin Cities. About 20 countries have local emissaries who either promote trade and tourism or provide services to their countrymen living in Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Bianca Vazquez Toness visited one of the newest consulates in the Twin Cities.
Seminary students watching new pope with anticipation
Pope Benedict XVI will be formally installed on Sunday. The new pope has said he wants to unify all Christians and reach out to other religions during his papacy. But the German-born pontiff is also expected to follow the conservative policies of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II. In the Saint Paul Seminary at the University of St. Thomas, men studying to be priests have been watching the developments in Rome. Deacon Pish is in his fourth year at the seminary. He spoke with MPR's Cathy Wurzer.
Health providers making health records available online
A new tool for doctors and patients to communicate with each other is gaining traction in the Twin Cities. Health providers like Health Partners, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, and Fairview Health Services have recently set up online pilot programs called "mycharts." They give patients internet access to their health records, and the ability to ask doctors questions online. Joining us in the studio is Sarah McKenzie, who wrote about this story in this week's edition of The Business Journal.
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weather comments
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the three tornados that have been reported in Minnesota already this spring, and talks about a new wind turbine that is celebrated on Earth Day. It is expected to provide half the annual energy needs of the University of Minnesota at Morris.
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