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June 27 - July 1, 2005
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, June 27, 2005 |
Pawlenty proposes Camp Ripley budget summit
Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants to sequester state budget negotiators to Camp Ripley so they can hammer out an agreement, but there's been no word on whether DFL Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson will join the governor and Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum, who has agreed to go. Negotiators have until Friday to agree on a budget and avert a partial government shutdown. Joining us now is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum.
Hospitals worry shutdown costs will fall to them
As a partial government shutdown looms closer, hospitals and other health care providers are concerned they may be forced to play a greater role in caring for the state's vulnerable. If Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders don't reach agreement on several budget items, a partial government shutdown will begin on Friday. People on state-subsidized insurance will still be able to seek treatment, but it may be more difficult because services that help them navigate the health care system will be mothballed. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Center for Torture Victims speaks out against alleged torture by U.S.
A Minneapolis treatment center that serves torture victims marked its 20th anniversary this weekend by speaking out against the use of torture by the United States. Leaders of the Center for Victims of Torture say the group remains non-partisan, but they say the center will be politically active amid allegations of torture by U.S. representatives in Iraq, Cuba, and Afghanistan. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
Minneapolis teachers pension fund in a deep financial hole
There's been a lot of talk about the possible state government shutdown that could happen on July 1. Most people know that differences over funding for education and health care programs have led to a stalemate. But there are other issues lawmakers are considering. One you may not have heard about involves a multi-million dollar fund designed to pay pensions to retired Minneapolis teachers. The pension fund is in serious financial trouble, and lawmakers disagree over how to fix it and even what caused the problem. The financial future of about 13,000 teachers may be at stake. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Report shows Minnesota schools having harder time with math, reading targets
A new analysis of graduation rates, test scores, and other public school data shows Minnesota schools are having a harder time reaching their reading and math proficiency targets. Those targets are related to the No Child Left Behind Act. The report comes from the University of Minnesota's Office of Educational Accountability, which annually releases an analysis of Minnesota schools. Mark Davison is the director of that office, and he joins us now.
StoryCorps collecting stories of everyday people in Minneapolis
In downtown Minneapolis, next to Peavey Plaza, pairs of people are stepping into a 26-foot silver trailer to talk about their lives. It's part of an oral history project called StoryCorps which is traveling the country in a mobile recording studio, collecting the stories of everyday people. The recordings will eventually end up in the Library of Congress. The project started in New York's Grand Central Terminal and arrived in Minneapolis late last week. While it's here, we'll be playing excerpts from the stories Minnesotans tell each other.
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Tuesday, June 28, 2005 |
No progress in budget talks at governors residence
State officials continue to plan for a partial government shutdown on Friday as legislative leaders continue budget negotiations. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders met late into the night at the governor's residence in St. Paul with the hopes that they could hammer out a budget deal. But the two sides still remain far apart on several key budget items. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Little state parks can do to keep people out during shutdown
As many as 16,000 state workers could get layoff notices and some parts of state government will close if there's no budget agreement by Friday. Negotiators were unable to come to an agreement despite talks held at the governor's residence last night. Among the services that will shut down if there's no deal: State parks. Top officials with the State Park system are preparing for a partial government shutdown. State Parks Director Courtland Nelson says if they close, there will be no staff or services, but visitors will still be allowed into the parks.
Bus service cuts to hit again
The Metropolitan Council is expected to vote Wednesday to cut Twin Cities bus service, but not as much as the council proposed earlier this year. Back in March, the council said it would cut service by 10 percent, but tomorrow's vote is expected to cut it by just 3.5 percent. It's part of a plan to roll out the cuts in stages, in hopes that the state legislature will pass a budget that fills the Met Council's $60 million budget shortfall. But state budget negotiators are still at odds over a final budget. Brian Lamb is the General Manager of Metro Transit. He joins us now.
Harvey resigns as St. Paul superintendent
The St. Paul school district is losing its superintendent, but not to Denver, where Pat Harvey was a finalist for that city's top school job. Harvey lost her bid to lead the Denver public schools, but not her desire for a new challenge. After learning of the decision Monday, Harvey announced her resignation as St. Paul superintendent effective December 31st. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Jury to be chosen in Rocori High School shooting
Jury selection begins Tuesday in a St. Cloud courtroom for the murder trial of Jason McLaughlin. The teenager is accused of shooting and killing two students at Rocori High School in Cold Spring nearly two years ago. McLaughlin has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. It's a plea that experts say will be tough to defend, especially in a school shooting trial. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
Sex offenders find anonymity in state law
When sex offenders are released from a Minnesota prison, they are assigned a risk level. The public is notified when level three offenders, those considered most dangerous, move into a community. But thousands of sex offenders in Minnesota have no risk level assigned. That means even if law enforcement considers them a danger to the public, those offenders must remain anonymous under Minnesota law. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
"Open Ears:" musicians take on other music
Many musicians have voracious listening habits. They expose themselves to an enormous range of music, both in and outside their area of expertise. Today, Morning Edition is launching a new series that taps into musicians' keen listening skills and vast musical knowledge. It's called "Open Ears." Each installment will feature a local musician talking about a favorite piece of music, from a different genre. We'll begin with Minneapolis rocker, Adam Levy.
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Wednesday, June 29, 2005 |
Movement in budget talks but no deal yet
Despite concessions on both sides of an ongoing budget debate, legislative leaders say a final solution remains elusive. Senate Democrats say they're willing to back off their proposal for an income tax increase on the state's wealthiest households -- and House Republicans say they're ready to preserve health care for thousands who would have lost coverage under earlier budget offers. The state is two days away from a partial state government shutdown that could trigger lay-off notices to almost one-in-three state workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has the latest.
First-term lawmakers frustrated over budget talks
The state's top lawmakers are running out of time to reach a budget deal. First-term lawmakers who will have to vote an any budget agreement, but are not invited to the negotiating table, are left to wait. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Melissa Hortman, a DFL representative from Brooklyn Park, and Mike Charron, a Republican representative from Woodbury.
Commentary on school budgets
As lawmakers wrangle over the state budget, teachers and schools are watching closely. The K-12 funding bill still needs to be passed and will affect school budgets across the state. Commentator and teacher Eve Johnson Blackwell has some thoughts about what the state should be paying for. She says she even had a dream about it recently.
Minnesotans wary of Iraq war
President Bush addressed the nation in a speech from Fort Bragg in North Carolina to urge Americans to support the war in Iraq. The president is struggling in opinion polls and Bush made his case last night for staying the course. Polls show Americans are increasing weary about the war. Some members of Congress says it's time for the Bush administration to set a date to begin bringing home U.S. troops. And the percentage of people who think going to war was the right decision has plunged from nearly three quarters of the nation when the invasion took place in the Spring of 2003 to less than half now. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Rocori student wants judge to decide fate not jury
In a St. Cloud courtroom today, Jason McLaughlin waived his right to a trial by jury. Now a judge will hear the testimony and decide on the 16-year-old's future. McLaughlin is charged is the shooting deaths of two schoolmates at a central Minnesota high school in the fall of 2003. The move is expected shorten the trial, but legal experts also say it could be a strategy by the defense in a complicated and emotional case. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has the details.
Shooting begins for "A Prairie Home Companion" movie
A sleepy section of downtown St. Paul will get a dose of Hollywood glitter beginning today when production starts on "A Prairie Home Companion," the movie. The film, directed by Robert Altman and written by Garrison Keillor, is based on Keillor's extremely popular public radio show. Most of the shooting will take place where PHC is performed, The Fitzgerald Theater. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
Another StoryCorp story
The StoryCorps oral history project is in Minneapolis. People from all walks of life are stopping by a mobile recording studio on Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis to talk about their lives. The recordings will eventually end up in the Library of Congress. People tell stories about all sorts of things - everything from wartime love affairs to how the Pope affects local liquor laws. Here's a story from Minnesotan Amy Trojanowski who was living in Poland when Pope John Paul II came to visit.
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Thursday, June 30, 2005 |
Agreement on bill funding DNR, state parks reached
A partial state government shutdown could begin at midnight Thursday, after lawmakers once again failed to reach a budget deal on Wednesday night. Talks are resuming in the governor's office, but the clock is ticking toward tonight's deadline. Without a budget deal in place, some services won't be funded. There is one bright spot in the picture: lawmakers plan to pass a bill to fund state parks, just in time for the holiday weekend. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Canadian ranchers rebuild beef market
The discovery of another case of mad cow disease in the U.S. has Canadian ranchers asking what it will mean to them. Each country has identified confirmed cases of mad cow disease in live animals -- two in the U.S. and three in Canada. Two years ago the United States banned the import of Canadian cattle after that country's first case. The discovery of BSE in the Canadian herd closed the U.S. market. The U.S. ban caused beef prices on both sides of the border to plummet. Now some Canadian ranchers are trying to strengthen their country's livestock market. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Tennessee 2002 shutdown offers lessons for Minnesota
Back in 2002, Tennessee experienced a partial government shutdown. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer talked with Chris Joyner, a political reporter with the Chattanooga Times Free Press who covered story. He says the budget problems there built up over years.
Boeing names 3M chief McNerney as new CEO
One of Minnesota's largest corporations is losing its CEO. 3M Co. Chief Executive W. James McNerney will leave to head Boeing Co. McNerney has been at 3M since 2001. Alfred Marcus is a professor of strategic management at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. He spoke with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.
Rain causing crop damage in northwestern Minnesota
Significant amounts of rain in northwestern Minnesota are causing crop damage and other problems for area farmers, especially in the Red River Valley. Doug Holen is a regional extension educator at the University of Minnesota extension office in Fergus Falls who watches crop production. He joins us now.
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Friday, July 1, 2005 |
Legislators fail to reach deal
Nine thousand state employees are out of work this morning after lawmakers failed to reach agreement on a budget or pass a bill that would keep government running past midnight last night. A shutdown seemed unavoidable when the DFL-controlled Senate adjourned abruptly, minutes after Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced he was hopeful there would be an overall budget agreement. The breakdown left Pawlenty and lawmakers blaming each other over who forced the shutdown. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Shutdown to affect nonprofits
The partial state government shutdown will have an impact beyond state agencies. Many nonprofit organizations, that provide critical social services, rely on state funding. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Marcia Avner, the Public Policy Director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. She says, her organization does not have a comprehensive list yet of the the number of non-profits that will be affected by the shutdown.
Environmentalists angry over changes in ATV law
The Minnesota Legislature has passed a $686 million dollar funding bill that averts a state park shutdown over the busy holiday weekend. But environmentalists are angry over one of the bill's provisions. The bill loosens restrictions on riding all-terrain vehicles in state forests north of Highway 2. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports.
MNSCU turns 10
Today, marks ten years since the Minnesota State College and Universities first formed as a single higher education system. Blending the state universities with community colleges and technical schools aimed to eliminate some needless duplication and streamline opportunities for students. The early efforts brought complaints about trouble transferring credits and poorly defined direction. System administrators have worked aggressively to fix those concerns. But critics remain even after ten years. People involved in all three of the systems that make up MnSCU feel their individual missions are compromised. Others say the administrative structure is top-heavy and no more effective than keeping the systems separate. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes has more.
Helping more minorities own homes
Minnesota has the highest rate of homeownership in the nation. But recent studies show a huge disparity between the number of white and minority homeowners. State officials say they want to change that. Minnesota Public Radio's Bianca Vazquez Toness has the story.
Digitizing patient records at Allina
Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis today launches its new system of electronic medical records. From here on out, the hospital will document a patient's care in one, shared electronic record. It's the latest in a string of Twin Cities hospitals and clinics to go digital. Sarah McKenzie covered the story for this week's edition of The Business Journal. She's come by the studio this morning.
Minnesotans invited to join choir at centennial celebration
About 1,000 Minnesotans are expected to show up at the state capitol on the Fourth of July -- to sing. They'll be part of a volunteer choir, which will kick off a celebration of the capitol building's 100th birthday. People from all over the state have signed up. They'll sing an array of patriotic pieces, including the official Minnesota state song. Philip Brunelle, the founder and artistic director of VocalEssence, will conduct the choir. He's on the line this morning.
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weather comments
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the hot humid weather in Minnesota, and in many other parts of the world like Europe. He also discusses the climate summary for the month just past, June. It was a wet month.
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