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July 11 - 15, 2005
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, July 11, 2005 |
Legislative work groups rush to hit deadline as state workers return to work
The remaining budget bills that fund K-12 education, health and human service programs, and transportation need to be done by 5:00 p.m. today, or legislative leaders will step in to finish the job. That's part of the agreement, reached over the weekend, that ended the partial state government shutdown and is supposed to end the special session. For an update on what happened over the weekend and what may happen in the days to come, we've called upon our Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum.
A new generation of crash avoidance devices aims to save lives
The human and economic cost of vehicle crashes in this country is shocking. The toll is more than 42,000 people killed every year and nearly $300 billion in property and medical costs, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. State officials say vehicle fatalities in Minnesota remain stubbornly high at about 600 people killed every year. The insurance industry estimates Minnesota's crashes cost more than $2 billion a year. Researchers, including scientists at the University of Minnesota, are working on a new generation of electronic devices that will save lives by helping drivers avoid crashes. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
Canoeists test their endurance and friendship on Mississippi trek
Two graduate students from North Carolina are spending 75 days in a canoe, paddling the length of the Mississippi River. Their journey began at the river's source at Lake Itasca, and will end at the Gulf of Mexico. John Pugh and Jessica Robinson say they're trying to accomplish two goals on their 2,300-mile journey. First, they want to draw attention to the Mississippi's importance as a drainage basin. Second, they're hoping to get out of the canoe in New Orleans still speaking to one another. Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham caught up with the couple during a brief stop on land in Red Wing.
StoryCorps oral history project collecting stories in Minneapolis
It's time again to eavesdrop on the StoryCorps oral history project, which is traveling the country collecting the stories of regular Americans. In Minneapolis, all sorts of people are stopping by a mobile recording studio on Peavey Plaza to talk about their lives. The recordings will eventually end up in the Library of Congress. Here's a story from Linde Getahun, who grew up in Austria during World War II.
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Tuesday, July 12, 2005 |
State workers are wary as they return to piles of work
Fax machines are humming again and computers are emerging from their eight-day slumber, now that Minnesota's nearly 9,000 state employees are back to work. The state's first partial government shutdown locked many workers out of their jobs until yesterday. Their return to work hinges on a temporary "lights on" budget bill that ended the shutdown. A permanent state budget must be passed by Thursday night, or workers could be laid off again. Some workers say they're relieved to be back on the job, but they have to contend with a heavier workload and feelings of resentment over the shutdown. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter reports.
Lawmakers weighing cost of preserving MinnesotaCare
Gov. Pawlenty and legislative leaders plan on spending the bulk of Tuesday counting votes to make sure new budget bills pass when the House and Senate debate them on Wednesday. The bills are based on the budget agreement reached over the weekend that put an end to the partial government shutdown. Legislative working groups have completed most of their work assembling bills relating to taxes, health care, transportation and education. Disagreements over how to fund health care programs were a major factor leading to the shutdown, and the budget agreement has not put an end to the controversy. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Sporting groups celebrate environmental victory
The odds are good that this legislative session will be remembered more for its partisan rancor than its reforms. But as the dust begins to settle on this thorny moment in Minnesota politics, some outdoors groups say the session did produce at least one long overdue environmental reform. During the special session, lawmakers passed a bill that sets the stage for changes in the way the state doles out lottery proceeds for environmental projects. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
Cigarette tax: Can the state afford fewer smokers?
A critical piece of the budget deal that broke a long impasse at the state Capitol may face trouble when put to a vote. Legislative leaders acknowledged that they're scrounging for votes to pass the tobacco taxes required to pay for additional education and health spending. The tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products would raise an estimated $404 million. Gov. Tim Pawlenty refers to the tax as a health-impact fee, but even some fellow Republicans say it's a tax increase that they can't support. But it's not just fiscal hardliners who are having trouble with the proposal. Other critics say the tax will fall too heavily on the poor and isn't a reliable source of revenue. Minnesota Public Radio's Bianca Vazquez Toness reports.
Taped interview with McLaughlin played at his murder trial
90 minutes after the September 2003 school shooting at Rocori High School, Jason McLaughlin spoke with investigators. Prosecutor attorneys played a video of that conversation as his murder trial continued in St. Cloud Monday. Both sides say the statement is a key piece in the case. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has more in this report.
U of M researchers study agriculture's effect on global climate change
Former Vice President Al Gore will be at the Science Museum of Minnesota today, speaking about global climate change. It's an invitation-only event and is sold out. The Science Museum is just one place in Minnesota where researchers and educators are looking at global climate change. At the University of Minnesota, two researchers have spent several years studying the levels of greenhouse gases over agricultural landscapes. They're trying to figure out how planting corn and soybeans affects the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and how we might reduce the amount of carbon dioxide those fields emit. Dr. Tim Griffis is one of the researchers. He's an assistant professor in the department of Soil, Water, and Climate, and he joins us this morning.
Volunteers in northern Minnesota are counting loons
This week, volunteers across northern Minnesota are counting loons. It's part of the annual loon count that's been happening since 1994. The information gathered over the past several years is raising some questions about the health of Minnesota loons. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
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Wednesday, July 13, 2005 |
Stadium proponents to make final push in special session
State lawmakers return to the state capitol today with the hope of passing four budget bills and adjourning the seven-week-old special session. Legislative leaders and Governor Pawlenty have negotiated a budget deal that would increase funding for education, preserve eligibility for MinnesotaCare recipients and raise taxes on cigarettes by 75 cents a pack. But new stadiums for the Twins and the University of Minnesota are absent from the deal. Stadium supporters say they're disappointed. They are encouraging the Governor and legislative leaders to act on stadium bills soon or call another special session. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
NWA and mechanics stake out hard-line positions
It's a question important to almost anyone flying to, from, or through Minnesota in the coming months: Will Northwest Airlines mechanics go on strike? Strikes are a last resort effort in a complex negotiating process designed to prevent a walkout. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich looks at the complicated path to a strike at Northwest.
Both sides wrap up their cases in Rocori school shooting trial
Jason McLaughlin's fate now lies in the hands of a judge. In closing arguments Tuesday at the Rocori shooting trial, prosecuting attorneys described McLaughlin as boy who wanted to pump up his image. They claim that was one reason the teenager planned a school shooting that killed two fellow students in September of 2003. McLaughlin's attorney maintains the boy didn't intend to kill anyone that day, and is suffering from a mental illness. A judge is expected to make a ruling in the case next week. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
Farmers get advice on growing greener from crop consultants
Farming can be a managerial nightmare. Often the same person acts as a CEO, scientist, banker and simple tractor driver. Sometimes a farmer needs help. Enter the crop consultant. For a fee, this plant doctor will walk fields, tracking corn and soybean development with almost paternal pride. Disease and insects are constant threats, but despite the pressure to treat a field with chemicals, a crop consultant's most important contribution may be convincing the farmer not to. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Report: Minnesota abortions fell to 30-year low last year
The number of abortions performed in Minnesota last year fell to the lowest level in 30 years. Also, more than 2- thousand women who sought the procedure apparently did not have one performed after receiving information under an informed consent law. These are the findings in the state's annual report on abortions. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
Comic books go upscale
When you want to buy comic book art - you go to a comic book store, right? Nowadays you might go to a gallery. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports on graphic art's move into the realm of high art.
Open Ears
It's time for another installment of our series "Open Ears." We're asking local musicians to describe a favorite piece of music from a category other than their own genre.
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Thursday, July 14, 2005 |
Legislature passes budget, cigarette fee before heading home
Minnesota lawmakers are returning home after passing a $30.5 billion budget Wednesday night. The House and Senate passed four budget bills and then ended a special session that had resulted in a partial government shutdown. Lawmakers say they're disappointed they were a part of the first shutdown in state history but are urging the public to base their opinions on the final product. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Development of 'green and wild' island causing intense debate
Battle lines are being drawn over a controversial proposal to develop an island between Duluth and Superior. A second zoning hearing will be held in Superior, Wisconsin tonight. Promoters say the project would provide the City of Superior new jobs and badly needed property taxes. But opponents say the island is in the middle of an important flyway and fishery. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
U of M astronomers observing comet for clues to the universe
Several astronomers from the University of Minnesota have just returned from Hawaii, where they were observing a comet that could provide clues to the building blocks of life on Earth. Just over a week ago, NASA slammed a spacecraft the size of a coffee table into that comet. The idea was to uncover pristine material that could help astronomers understand the early days of the solar system. The impact took place about 83 million miles from earth. Dr. Chick Woodward is an astronomy professor at the University of Minnesota. Like many scientists around the world, he observed the comet before, during, and after impact. He joins us now.
NHL lockout ends
Minnesota Wild fans finally have some good news: The NHL lockout is over. The league and the players' association yesterday agreed in principle on a six-year labor deal. If both sides ratify the plan, players could be back on the ice this fall. Doug Johnson is the publisher of "Let's Play Hockey." He joins us now.
It's hot, and that means fewer mosquitoes
It'll be hot out there again today. If you're tired of the temperatures, consider this advantage: Fewer mosquitoes. Jim Stark is with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District. He joins us this morning.
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Friday, July 15, 2005 |
Pawlenty and Johnson hear from angry Minnesotans
DFL Sen. Maj. Leader Dean Johnson and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty flew around the state yesterday offering Minnesotans their assessment of the legislative session. They had a lot of explaining to do since Minnesotans are still complaining about the state’s first government shutdown, which put about 9,000 state employees out of work and halted some government services for eight days. Minnesota Public Radio's Bianca Vazquez Toness reports that many Minnesotans are angry and believe the two political parties share the blame.
Session finally completed, Pawlenty touts K-12 bill
Governor Pawlenty has signed the last budget bills into law, formally ending a months-long stalemate and avoiding another partial government shutdown. One of those bills is an education-funding package that provides a four-percent increase each year for public schools. Overall, it includes $800 million in new spending, but some of that money would come from an increase in property taxes. The bill allows school districts to seek local property tax increases that could raise a total of $139 million. To understand how that will work, we called Alice Seagren, Minnesota's education commissioner.
Political Scientist evaluates Pawlenty's politial outlook
For more on how the legislative session might affect Gov. Tim Pawlenty, both nationally and at home, we have called Lilly Goren. She was formerly a political scientist at the College of St. Catherine, and is now at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Mediators could not reach settlement for NWA and mechanics
Eagan-based Northwest Airlines and its mechanics union are one step closer to a strike. The National Mediation Board has decided it is unable to help the two sides resolve their contract negotiations through mediation. The board has offered Northwest and the mechanics the chance to accept binding arbitration. It's one last, remote chance to stave off the countdown to a strike. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Airline mechanics get laid off before strike decision
The mechanics union at Northwest believes their very existance may be at risk. And for 580 of Northwest's mechanics, today is their last day of work. The airline says those mechanics are no longer needed because of slow growth in business. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Heat wave lacks moisture
Climatologist Mark Seeley's weekly weather comments
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the recent spell of hot weather which has seen the heat index in the Twin Cities hit the mid-90s and the low 100s. He also say some areas of the state need rainfall.
StoryCorps
The StoryCorps oral history project is traveling the country collecting the stories of regular Americans. Project organizers hope to gather 250,000 interviews over the next decade; all of them will eventually end up in the Library of Congress. The StoryCorps mobile recording booth recently made a stop in downtown Minneapolis, where all sorts of people stopped by Peavey Plaza to talk about their lives. Most of those people you have never heard of, but some you might know - like Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who interviewed his mom. One of the first things he asked was about his father.
Joan Allen says 'Yes'
Three time academy award nominee Joan Allen has been in a succession of blockbusters in recent years. There's been "The Bourne Supremacy," "The Notebook," and "The Upside of Anger." But in recent weeks she has been talking about a much smaller film, about some very big issues. It is the latest movie by iconoclastic British director Sally Potter, who also wrote the script. It's simply called "Yes." It opens in the Twin Cities today. Joan Allen spoke to Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr.
Twins loose to Angels, Boone’s debut weak
The debut of new Minnesota Twins second baseman Brett Boone was not enough to get the Twins a win in their first game after the All Star break. The team lost to the Los Angeles Angels 3 - 2 last night at the Metrodome. The loss puts the Twins 10 games behind the division leading Chicago White Sox. Twins coaches and players say they can comeback and win the division if they improve in areas that hampered them in the first half of the season. But last night's game showed they still have a long way to go. MInnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
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