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August 8 - 12, 2005
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Monday, Aug. 8, 2005 |
Minnesota National Guard prepares its largest ever deployment
The head of Minnesota National Guard says the state's largest troop deployment since World War II will take place next year. More than 2,000 Minnesota citizen soldiers will ship out to the Persian Gulf with most headed for Iraq. Since the 9-11 attacks and ensuing war on terrorism, more than 3,200 Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers have been called up for full-time service. Almost 2/3rds of the troops ended up in Iraq. Others have taken up duties in countries from Afghanistan to Honduras and at U.S. military bases, and airports here at home. Guard troops say Department of Defense efforts to keep them better informed and to provide more support for their families are helping to ease the strain of their war-time service. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Stillwater bridge closing brings mixed bag to merchants
It's been a week since the Stillwater lift bridge shut down for repairs. Its temporary closing has eliminated an important passageway linking Minnesota and Wisconsin across the St. Croix River. The bridge is scheduled to reopen in November. Until then, motorists can use an alternate route through Hudson, Wisconsin. Businesses in the Stillwater area are drawing some conclusions about how the bridge closing is affecting them. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter has more.
Boundary Waters blaze continues to grow
Crews from a number of states are in northeastern Minnesota this morning. They're trying to help battle a wildfire that's burning in a portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. No structures have been affected at this point, and the fire is reportedly moving away from the area of the BWCA where millions of trees were blown over by straight-line winds back in 1999. Joining us on the line is Jean Bergerson, with the Interagency Fire Center in northern Minnesota.
Minnesota Twins a long shot for the Wild Card
The Minnesota Twins begin a nine-game road trip tonight in Seattle. Despite winning two out of three games against the World Champion Boston Red Sox at the Dome over the weekend, the Twins are a long shot to make the playoffs this year. The Chicago White Sox are running away with the American League Central Division, and the Twins would have to beat out a bunch of teams to get the Wild Card slot. David Zingler is a contributor to Bleacher Bums, Minnesota Public Radio's Baseball Blog. He also publishes simply-baseball-notebook.com, a monthly, on-line baseball magazine. He joins us now.
Monday Markets with Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005 |
Red Lake school gets new security plan
Red Lake School Superintendent Stuart Dejarlait says liability lawsuits against the school district stemming from a school shooting in March are likely. Despite that possibility, Dejarlait and other officials are moving to increase security at the district. Yesterday, hundreds of teachers and staff got the details on a new security plan. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson was at the meeting and has this report.
Ruling on Wright Co. treatment plant ruling could have impact on other communities
A legal fight over a wastewater treatment plant in Annandale, Minnesota could have an impact on communities all across the state. The small Wright County town sits between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. It's poised for growth, attracting Twin Cities commuters. Because it's nestled among dozens of central Minnesota lakes, it's popular with retirees. But any serious growth is on hold, while the legal fight over the town's new wastewater treatment plant drags on. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
Open Ears: Chris Silver
Open Ears is an ongoing series of audio features that explores how contemporary musicians' listening habits shape their music-making. Each installment features a Twin Cities musician talking about a favorite piece of music from a genre outside his or her own. The series taps musicians' wide-ranging tastes and deep musical knowledge as it explores the surprising and revealing influences that affect today's sounds. Chris Silver used to be a member of the famed bluegrass band Stoney Lonesome. He's now frontman for the Chris Silver Band. Silver says he spends many of his waking hours listening to a broad range of music, but lately,amsite he's been pretty fixated on jazz.
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Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005 |
Gunflint Trail fire may burn for weeks
The U.S. Forest Service says the wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is expected to burn for at least two more weeks before it is put out. State fire officials say they hope to begin lighting smaller fires soon to burn up some of the nearby fuel. Yesterday, rain and light winds helped firefighters battle the blaze, and dozens of people who live and work on the Gunflint Trail nearby also got the chance to meet with fire officials to learn more about the fight. The fire is still burning on the west side of Seagull Lake, just a short distance from resorts, homes and cabins. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America discusses homosexuality issues
A vote will be taken later this week, on whether the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America should officially bless the unions of same sex couples, or whether sexually active gays and lesbians should be ordained as ministers. The ELCA's Churchwide Assembly is meeting in Florida. Before the vote, delegates held a hearing last night on the issue. No one at the hearing directly advocated maintaining the denomination's prohibitions dealing with homosexuality, but some raised questions about the impact of easing the rules. Joining us to discuss the assembly in Florida and the issues facing it., Lowell Erdahl, a retired bishop of the St. Paul ELCA Synod.
Court says state officials violated Clean Water Act
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled the state made a mistake when it gave two central Minnesota towns permission to build a wastewater treatment plant on a polluted river. The decision could have consequences for many growing Minnesota cities considering upgrading their treatment plants. That is because more than half of the state's waterways drain into the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin, a widening in the river that is considered extremely polluted by state environmental officials. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
NWA, mechanics union return to bargaining table
Negotiations between Northwest and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) are set to resume next Monday in Washington, D.C. If the two sides do not resolve their contract disputes, the union could go on strike late in the evening of Friday, August 19. At a rally at the state capitol yesterday, several labor groups from around the state turned out in a show of support for the AMFA. But, as Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter reports, the turnout from other Northwest unions was less robust.
Northwest planning cutbacks if machinists strike
Northwest Airlines says a year-and-a-half of contingency planning should allow it to fly its full schedule even if there is a walkout, but there are indications that the company believes a strike could affect operations. It is even considering rerouting passengers on buses in some cases. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik has that story.
High gas prices affect taxi drivers
Gas prices have hit $2.49 per gallon in some parts of the Twin Cities metro. That is bad news for motorists, especially taxi drivers. In part, that is because cab drivers can not adjust their fares, which are set by municipal governments. Pat White, the general manager for Red and White Taxi in Minneapolis joins us this morning.
Donovan Durham's Fantastic Print Show
One of the perks of being an artist is, sometimes you get to name your own show. Painter and sketch artist Donovan Durham called his, "Donovan Durham's Fantastic Print Show." Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports, his story is just as fantastic as the show itself.
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Thursday, Aug. 11, 2005 |
Study looks for pesticide exposure and brain development
Researchers at the University of North Dakota say they have launched the first study that looks for a possible link between pesticides and the development of children's brains. Half of the kids in the study live on farms, the other half do not. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
BWCA fire forces closure of more campsites
More than 200 firefighters made some progress fighting the alpine forest fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Minnesota Interagency Fire Center spokesperson Cinthia Sage says the firefighters used controlled burns yesterday to slow down the fire.
Minnesota's oldest coop store may close
Minnesota's oldest co-op store is in trouble. The business in the tiny town of Godahl, in the southern part of the state, has survived headline events like world wars and the Great Depression. But it is the slow-motion changes around it that threaten to do the store in: population declines, farming adjustments, the growth of nearby towns. Sales are down, but patrons hope to save the co-op. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Artic Cat to expand in St. Cloud
The Arctic Cat Company, based in Thief River Falls, is set to announce later this morning that it is building a new manufacturing plant in St. Cloud. The company, which makes snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, will build engines for ATVs at the new plant. Governor Tim Pawlenty will join company officials in this morning's announcement. Also attending will be, John Ellenbecker, the mayor of St. Cloud. He says over the past few years, St. Cloud has had its economic ups and downs.
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Friday, Aug. 12, 2005 |
Northwest Airlines says strike will mean more outsourcing
Northwest Airlines says if the company's mechanics go on strike, the walkout will lead to the permanent outsourcing of some of their jobs. That is just part of the plan company executives announced yesterday on how it expects to handle a strike. Executives said they are ready to deploy 1,500 replacement mechanics and managers in the event of a walk-out. Northwest's mechanics union, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), could go on strike a week from today. Northwest's strike plans raise the stakes of a walk out, but the mechanics union says that will not keep it from striking, if necessary. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter has more.
Pilots protests NWA for contracting Champion
While Northwest struggles with its mechanics, it now finds itself in hot water with its pilots union. After a protest from its pilots, Northwest Airlines has stopped using Champion Airlines to operate some of its flights, at least for now. Northwest says too many of its planes are in the shop. So, the company contracted with Champion to operate two flights Wednesday night. The Northwest pilots union wants to stop Northwest from using Champion in the future but Northwest is not making any promises. Minnesota Public Radio's Bianca Vazquez Toness reports.
Kelly proposes St. Paul tax hike
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly is proposing to raise the city's property taxes for the first time in more than a decade. Kelly released a budget proposal last night that includes a three percent property tax increase. Kelly says the money would be used to hire more police officers and firefighters. Kelly is in the middle of a contentious reelection battle, and his political opponents quickly criticized his latest budget. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Reflections on race from a World War II veteran
The Minnesota Historical Society is bringing back the big band sound to observe the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The organization is featuring World War II veteran Charles Beasley and his band in an event on Sunday. Beasley was an Army musician during the war in an all-black unit. Integration of the military at the end of the war helped break down color barriers in this country. The anniversary gives the 80-year-old Beasley an opportunity to reflect on the change in race relations in this country. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
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