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November 7 - 11, 2005
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Monday, Nov. 7, 2005 |
Minneapolis: A reporter's notebook
People in the state's two largest cities -- Minneapolis and St. Paul -- will vote for a mayor on Tuesday. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has been covering the Minneapolis mayor's race and has been talking to citizens for a couple of months about the city's future. We asked him to open up his reporter's notebook and give us a sense of what some of the voters have been saying about their city. Here's his report.
Preparing for the deer hunt in Wisconsin
There's a new message on some Wisconsin radio stations this fall, asking hunters to be courteous and respectful. Last year, a dispute over a trespass escalated to a shooting that left six hunters dead. A jury convicted Chai Soua Vang of first-degree murder. He'll be sentenced tomorrow. Authorities say the incident was an anomaly, but they say there's been a trend of less land open to hunting, and rapidly changing property lines that can lead to confusion - and conflicts. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
New ad campaign targets people at risk for sexually abusing children
Beginning today, you may see or hear ads targeted at people at risk for sexually abusing children. The ads are part of a campaign in the Twin Cities by Stop It Now! Minnesota, a group working to prevent the sexual abuse of children. They're designed to reach potential offenders and are based on research into what makes it easier for possible offenders to seek help. Dr. Mic Hunter is a psychologist and author who works with survivors of child sex abuse and adults at risk for sexually abusing a child. He saw the new ads in a focus group organized by Stop It Now! Minnesota, and he joins us now.
Gov. Pawlenty to lead China trade mission later this week
Later this week, Gov. Pawlenty will leave for China, on a trade mission designed to help Minnesota companies take advantage of China's growing economy. More than 200 people will accompany the governor to the world's most populous nation. That's a much larger state delegation than the one Gov. Ventura spearheaded to China a few years ago. In fact, state officials say the majority of those companies on the six-day trip have had no experience in China, but hope to establish relations. Right now, China is Minnesota's 4th largest trading partner. One of the people making the trip with the governor is Charlie Cole, director of international sales for American Polywater Corporation, which is based in Stillwater. He joins us now.
Markets with Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 |
Despite airline woes, many people still studying to become pilots
Northwest Airlines has asked a bankruptcy judge to temporarily impose a 19 percent pay cut for the company's customer service employees and ground workers. The move yesterday would save the airline almost $115 million. The flight attendants union and the pilots union have recently agreed to temporary pay cuts. The airline and its unions are trying to work out long-term deals at a time when Northwest wants to slash its payroll while operating in bankruptcy. Despite tough times for Northwest and the airline industry, there are still plenty of people who want to become pilots. One of the country's largest aviation schools is at the University of North Dakota Aerospace center. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Reaching out to Hmong hunters
Wisconsin hunting officials are renewing their efforts to reach out to thousands of hunters from the state's Hmong communities. This comes in the wake of the confrontation between Chai Vang and a group of Rice Lake hunters, which left six people dead. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Showdown over mining rock in Minnesota River Valley expected soon
A showdown over mining rock in the Minnesota River Valley is expected to come to a head soon. Environmental groups have sparred with construction interests in the past year over the issue. Environmentalists say the rock mining ruins the beauty of the valley. But construction companies that use the rock say the it's needed to build roads. The mining company at the center of the debate will ask Renville County to extend its mining permit. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Hazelden to open women's recovery center
The Hazelden Foundation is building a new recovery center that will serve only women. The renowned drug and alcohol treatment facility plans to open the new program on its main campus in Center City in late 2006. It will specifically address the unique circumstances faced by women who are fighting addiction. Ellen Breyer is the CEO of the Hazelden Foundation, and she joins us now.
New exhibit at Bell Museum looks through eccentric man's eyes
A new exhibit at the Bell Museum of Natural History takes an artistic look at the natural world through an eccentric man's eyes. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports.
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Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005 |
Rybak cruises to victory in Minneapolis
Voters in Minneapolis are sending incumbent Mayor R.T. Rybak back to office for a second term. Rybak defeated Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin by 25 percentage points. Rybak says the voters want a mayor who has a positive vision for the city and is independent of special interests. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Coleman ousts Kelly from St. Paul mayor's office
St. Paul voters punished incumbent Mayor Randy Kelly for supporting Republican President Bush last year, handing him a stinging defeat. Challenger Chris Coleman won the race handily and early with 69 percent of the vote, beating Kelly by more than a 2-to-1 margin. Opinion polls repeatedly showed voters in the heavily DFL city were angry over Kelly's endorsement of President Bush last year. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Minneapolis city council will get five new faces
In St. Paul, Mayor Randy Kelly has been soundly rejected by voters. Former City Council member Chris Coleman got 69 percent of the vote to defeat Kelly. In Minneapolis, Mayor R.T. Rybak was easily re-elected. He got 61 percent of the vote, defeating Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. In his next term, Rybak will be working with five newcomers on the 13-member Minneapolis city council. Several incumbents decided not to run again which led to most of the turnover. Plus, changes to the ward boundaries pitted two sets of incumbents against each other. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Vang sentenced to life in prison
A Wisconsin judge has sentenced a St. Paul man to six consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole, in the shooting deaths of six hunters last fall. Chai Soua Vang, a Hmong immigrant, says the hunters -- all white -- confronted him with racial epithets and threats when he wandered onto their property. Survivors of the shooting say there were no threats. Several of the victims were shot in the back. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill attended the sentencing hearing in Hayward and filed this report.
Analysts consider what mayoral results mean
Minneapolis voters have elected Mayor Rybak to a second term, and St. Paul voters have elected a new mayor: Chris Coleman. In Minneapolis, Rybak defeated challenger Peter McLaughlin, 62 to 37 percent. In St. Paul, Chris Coleman beat incumbent Randy Kelly 69 to 31 percent. Larry Jacobs is a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, and he's been watching both of the races. He joins us now.
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Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005 |
China trip on despite terrorism warnings
Gov. Tim Pawlenty says his trade mission to China is still on, despite warnings of possible terrorist activity near Chinese hotels. The U.S. embassy in Beijing said yesterday that Chinese police have advised hotels that terrorists may be planning attacks for sometime in the next week. Pawlenty says he takes the warnings seriously, but is confident officials in China are taking precautions. The governor and a delegation of more than 200 Minnesotans leave tomorrow night. Trade trips are popular with politicians, and heavily covered by the news media. But are they also helpful for the state's economy? Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich has the first in our four reports on Governor Pawlenty's trade mission.
Web site compares clinics' performance
A new survey shows the region's health care clinics are making diagnostic and treatment improvements. The organization Minnesota Community Measurement has been analyzing the data for four years. For the first time, it's presenting its results in the form of side-by-side comparisons that allow clinics and consumers to measure quality. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Crow Wing county might restrict ATV use
The number of all terrain vehicles in Minnesota is increasing. More ATVs on the landscape are creating more conflict over where they can drive. Crow Wing County is considering new restrictions on ATV use in response to landowner complaints, and environmental damage. Officials say other counties are watching what happens in Crow Wing County. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
Edmund Fitzgerald sunk thirty years ago today
Many people across the Northland will remember where they were 30 years ago tonight, when they heard about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. She was plowing through a fierce storm on Lake Superior when she disappeared from radar, sinking to the bottom of the big lake, with all crew members aboard. Despite a number of reports and many theories, the sinking of the Fitz is still a mystery. Michael Schumacher is the author of a new book, "Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald." He says the crew never thought the big ship would go down.
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Friday, Nov. 11, 2005 |
Students, school district leaders on state trade mission to China
Seven high school seniors are heading to China as part of Gov. Pawlenty's six-day, four-city trade mission. These hand-picked student ambassadors will produce daily reports about their experiences and the activities of the state delegation. A special Web site will offer lessons about China to students back home. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Friends remember a fallen soldier
The nation honors its veterans on Friday, but patriotic markers such as flags and hand-made signs have flourished for several days along Eleventh Street in Hudson, Wisc., about 20 miles east of St. Paul. Eleventh Street was home to a 21-year-old Army specialist killed in Iraq last week. Ben Smith and two other soldiers died when a bomb exploded near their Humvee outside of Baghdad. Funeral services for Smith are being held Friday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter spoke with some of Smith's acquaintances and has this report.
Pawlenty leaves for China
Gov. Pawlenty is leaving for China today, where he'll lead a trade delegation of more than 200 Minnesotans. That's twice as many as accompanied Gov. Ventura on a similar trip in 2002. The trade mission is designed to help Minnesota take advantage of China's fast-growing economy. China is currently the world's most populous nation and Minnesota's 4th-largest trading partner. Matt Kramer is commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, which did much of the planning for the Minnesota mission. He joins us now.
Historical Society makes it easier to learn about state's deceased war vets
The Minnesota Historical Society is using the occasion of Veteran's Day to launch a new tool that makes it easier to learn about the state's deceased war veterans. It's a Web site, which allows users to search for information about veterans, which wars they served in, and where they're buried. It was put together, in part, by Duane Swanson, the government records archivist at the Minnesota Historical Society. Swanson says the new site is an index that offers users a variety of information.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley talks about Minnesota weather history, and looks ahead to the weekend weather.
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