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January 30 - February 3, 2006
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, Jan. 30, 2006 |
300 turn out in Worthington to talk immigration
Nearly 300 people turned out in Worthington Sunday to talk about immigration. The subject has been a major topic of discussion in the southwest Minnesota city since Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed new measures earlier this month to deal with undocumented workers. Worthington has a large immigrant population. Some are fearful they're being targeted. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
It's not too late to get a flu shot
If you haven't yet gotten a flu shot this year, you still can. The Mall of America is hosting a "last chance flu clinic" from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today in the rotunda on the east side of the mall. Meanwhile, health officials all over the country are monitoring the flu season. Over in North Dakota, one official says the mild winter may be keeping cases down in that state. To find out what's happening here in Minnesota, we've called Kris Ehresman, chief of the Vaccine Preventable Disease and Tuberculosis Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health.
Gopher men's basketball team finally wins one
In sports, it was a busy and day at Williams Arena yesterday where the the Gopher men's basketball team upset 11th-ranked Indiana 61-42. It was the Gophers first conference win. A few hours later, the Gopher women's team defeated Penn State 77-72. Tonight at Target Center, the Timberwolves play the Boston Celtics just five days after the two teams completed a major trade. Joining us now with more on local sports is Morning Edition sports commentator Steve Rudolph.
Saving the last salute
A Duluth veteran recently accomplished something that doesn't happen often. John Marshall bucked Army bureaucracy and won. Marshall complained that Army rules were making it difficult to field a full honor guard at veteran's funerals. His concerns went nationwide, and forced the Army to make a change that will help provide a final salute for thousands of veterans a year. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
Extra dollars from the harvest
Farmers are searching for ways to make money from what has long been considered waste: the stalks, stems and leaves of harvested plants. One approach is to turn the plant matter into boards. The boards are strong and durable, but so far the idea has seen little success in the marketplace. A more lucrative use of the harvest leftovers, however, may be in sight. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Financial markets with Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 |
Prosecutor: Dozens knew school shooter's plans
At least 39 people at Red Lake may have known about gunman Jeff Weise's plan to attack Red Lake High School before it happened. That's what family members of the shooting victims learned Monday in an emotional meeting in Bemidji. About 40 people attended the two-and-a-half hour closed session with U. S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger. The families heard details about what happened during the shootings that left 10 people dead. Many family members left the meeting angry and frustrated. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports.
"Brokeback Mountain" lands eight Oscar nominations
The nominations for the 78th annual Academy Awards were announced this morning. The critically-acclaimed film "Brokeback Mountain" led the field with eight nominations, including Best Picture. "Brokeback Mountain" is based on Annie Proulx's story about two cowboys who fall in love. It was produced by River Road Entertainment, and the executive producer of the film was Bill Pohlad, son of Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad. Bill Pohlad joins us now by phone.
Art lessons from China
Even as American businesses are trying to forge business links in China, so are children in the Red River Valley. For the past three years, elementary school children in Fargo, through a unique exchange program, have broken through some of the barriers between the U.S. And China. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports.
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Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006 |
Lack of details on health care in Bush speech disappoints
The skyrocketing costs of health care have been in the national spotlight a lot lately, but President Bush spent little time on the issue in his State of the Union address last night. News reports leading up to the speech suggested the president would spotlight Health Savings Accounts. Those are tax-free savings plans that accompany high deductible health care policies. Bush has trumpeted their merits in the past, but he only brushed over Health Savings Accounts in his speech last night. That left experts and business owners wanting more. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter has a closer look.
House prepares to vote on budget bill
College students, county administrators and advocates for low-income people are lobbying Minnesota's congressional delegation to help defeat a budget reconciliation bill. The U.S. House is expected to vote on the bill later today. The bill cuts funding for student loans, Medicaid and other programs over the next five years to reduce the budget deficit. Supporters say the bill slows growth in government, while the critics contend it harms those who need government help the most. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Well-known St. Paul business to close
Today marks the end of an era for the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul. Grand Avenue Hardware, an institution in the neighborhood for decades, will be closing its doors for good this afternoon. Minnesota Public Radio's Sanden Totten has more.
Minnesota writer launches program to fight childhood obesity
A Minnesota writer and adventurer who has traveled the world searching for the secrets of a long life is now working to fight childhood obesity. In partnership with MPR's Sound Learning, Dan Buettner is launching the Blue Zones Challenge. It is named for so-called blue zones, places in the world where people live longer than the rest of us. Buettner is the author of "Secrets of Long Life" which was the cover story in November's National Geographic magazine. Dan Buettner joins me this morning in the studio.
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Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 |
Bush to visit 3M in Maplewood President Bush is scheduled to be in Minnesota
President Bush will visit 3M headquarters in Maplewood to promote his innovation and technology initiatives on Thursday. Democrats will mark the visit with a protest of what they say are failures of the Bush administration. Minnesota Republicans say these presidential visits fire-up the faithful and will help their candidates in the mid-term elections later this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) faces scrutiny
President Bush has faced a lot of criticism over his administration's domestic spying activities. The chief complaint is that it never sought warrants through the so-called FISA court. But the FISA system itself has faced other criticisms, particularly from defense attorneys whose clients are accused of working with suspected terrorists. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Theatre de la Jeune Lune takes on Kafka
Theatergoers tend to show up for plays with certain expectations. There will be actors, there will be a set. There will be a story, with a beginning, a middle and an end. But Theatre de la Jeune Lune's most recent production is challenging one of those assumptions. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs has this look at the theater's adaptation of a novel by 20th-century Czech writer Franz Kafka.
"Swan Lake" coming to Minneapolis
When Matthew Bourne's version of "Swan Lake" opened on Broadway in 1996, it took the worlds of both classical dance and theater by storm. The ballet arrives in Minneapolis next week for a week's worth of performances. The production is causing a quite a stir in the Twin Cities dance community according to St. Paul Pioneer Press Theater Critic and Morning Edition Arts Commentator Dominic Papatola.
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Friday, Feb. 3, 2006 |
Pawlenty urged to quit radio show
When is a candidate for governor not a candidate for governor? Gov. Tim Pawlenty and several of his potential opponents disagree on the answer. The governor's rivals say Pawlenty is clearly running for re-election so he should cancel his weekly radio show. But the governor and the station that airs the program say legally Pawlenty is not a candidate, and his opponents should not expect to get equal airtime. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Celebrating a very modern playwright who died 100 years ago
For nearly a decade the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro has made the most of February's dreariness with its Ibsen festival. Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is best known for works including "A Doll's House" and "Hedda Gabler." This year is the centennial of the playwright's death. The Commonweal is marking the anniversary with a production of his final play. Minnesota Public Radio's Sea Stachura has more.
Professional lacrosse building fan base in Minnesota
Professional lacrosse is building a fan base in Minnesota, but it's a different demographic than expected. Last year, the Minnesota Swarm lacrosse franchise was brought to St. Paul by the Minnesota Wild, who thought the game would appeal to hockey fans. But the people who have been showing up to see the Swarm play at the Xcel Energy Center are much younger than the fans of professional hockey. John Vomhof Jr. writes about the Swarm in today's edition of the Business Journal, and he joins me now.
The Gardening Guru takes questions
It's the first Friday in February, and fans of Midmorning may expect to hear the Garden Guru, Deb Brown, later this morning. But we're taking a break from the hour-long call-ins with Deb over the winter months. Instead, we are delighted to have her answer a few questions that you have called in or e-mailed to us here on Morning Edition.
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