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February 6 - 10, 2006
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, Feb. 6, 2006 |
Josephine's mounting debt
An exceptionally mild January has eased the shock of high energy bills for many Minnesotans. And yet most will still shell out more money than ever this year to pay for heat. For people with limited incomes, that extra expense can quickly add up to an overwhelming debt. Last October we introduced you to Josephine Ruiz, 72, who was worried that she wouldn't be able to keep up with her heating bill this winter. So she planned to get by with as little heat as possible by turning her thermostat way down and by using lots of blankets, a heating pad and her dog for warmth. We checked in with Ruiz recently to find out how her plan is going. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
State's largest dairy planned for Swift County
West central Minnesota could soon be home to the state's biggest dairy. In the next few days the Swift County Board will consider plans for the 6600-head East Dublin Dairy. Some local residents are concerned the huge dairy will harm the environment and create an odor that would spread to nearby towns. Supporters of the farm say it will be environmentally safe and boost the region's economy. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
Trial for alleged cop killers to go back in time
The murder trial in the killing of St. Paul police officer James Sackett gets underway Monday. In 1970, Sackett was lured to a house by a fake 911 call, and then shot by a sniper. Two black men, Larry Clark and Ronald Reed, are accused in the shooting death of the officer, who was white. The judge in the case has said he only wants to hear about the crime, not the times. But the two may be difficult to separate. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports.
Markets with Chris Farrell
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006 |
Judge rules Twins can leave Metrodome after this season
A Hennepin County judge has ruled that the Minnesota Twins don't have to play in the Metrodome beyond the 2006 season. The ruling gives Twins owner Carl Pohlad greater flexibility to move his team even though no other city is courting them. While Twins officials say they want to stay in Minnesota, the court's decision increases pressure on state lawmakers to approve funding for a new stadium for the team. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Judge's ruling adds pressure in Hennepin County
For more on the developments involving the Twins, we turn to Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, who helped broker last year's ballpark deal between the county and the team.
To fence or not to fence the Shakopee women's prison
The warden of Minnesota's only women's prison will go before the Shakopee city council Tuesday night to describe plans to expand the prison. The Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee houses 500 women, whose crimes range from murder to theft to prostitution. There's no fence around the prison, and corrections officials want to build a fence and add 92 beds to the facility. Gov. Pawlenty included the plan in his bonding proposal, but many neighbors don't like the idea. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Researchers hunt beach-contaminating bacteria
For three years the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has been warning swimmers and kayakers in Lake Superior when bacteria levels are dangerously high. The agency repeatedly posted a few Duluth beaches as being unsafe. A team of researchers has been trying to track down possible sources of the bacteria. What they've found so far is surprising, and it raises a big question about the standard way of testing for beach contamination. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
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Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006 |
Supporters of Shubert Theater hope for bonding money
It's been six years since the Shubert Theater was hoisted on dollies and moved to a new location in downtown Minneapolis. A group called Artspace has been trying to transform the turn-of-the-century theater into the state's premier venue for dance. Up until now the group's efforts to rally citywide support and receive state bonding money haven't been successful. But some say this could be the year the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center becomes a reality. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
34 Minnesotans in Turin as part of U.S. Olympic team
Italian officials are ramping up security in advance of the winter Olympic Games. Opening ceremonies will take place Friday evening in Turin. 34 Minnesotans are on the U.S. team, spread across a variety of sports. Longtime Olympic observer Jay Weiner is in Turin, covering the games for the Star Tribune, and he joins us now.
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Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 |
New money changes ethanol industry
The bulls on Wall Street have developed a taste for midwest corn. They're investing in corn-based ethanol. That's both good and bad for Minnesota farmers. The state is a leader in building farmer-owned ethanol plants. But now that model is feeling pressure from the corporate world. Farmers are concerned it means a good share of future ethanol profits will leave the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
Bush budget proposal holds arts funding stable
When President Bush unveiled his $2.7 trillion budget plan earlier this week, interest groups all over the country were watching to see how they would fare. Among them were arts organizations. The budget calls for stable funding for cultural entities such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. To tell us what that means for the arts world, we have in studio Dominic Papatola, Minnesota Public Radio arts commentator and theater critic for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
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Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 |
Bemidji curlers dominate U.S. Olympic team
If there was any doubt about the city of Bemidji's dominance in the winter sport of curling, the composition doubt has been all but swept away. Over the past two decades, Bemidji has produced more than 20 national championship curling teams. Four years ago, a pair of Bemidji sisters competed for Olympic gold in Salt Lake City. This time around, there are five Bemidji curlers participating in the winter games in Turin, Italy. Those Bemidji athletes make up half of the U.S. men's and women's curling teams. As Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports, curling has long been a way of life for many in Bemidji.
The fight over Ripley Dairy
Residents of a small southeastern township are demanding to know why they may lose part of their town to an outside developer's dairy. The town of Claremont has proposed annexing parts of Ripley Township, about two miles away. If it's successful the land would be used for a large dairy. Minnesota Public Radio's Sea Stachura reports.
Local muslims airing views on Muhammad cartoons
Earlier this week, we heard from one Muslim living in Minnesota about his reaction to the cartoons published in European newspapers of the prophet Muhammad and the subsequent violent reaction. Here's another perspective. Imani Jaafar-Mohammad is also Muslim, and she's lived in the Twin Cities since 1998.
Weather comments from Climatologist Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the recent spell of cold weather to hit the state, and he answers listener questions in his weekly weather talk.
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