Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
August 15, 2000 -
August 15, 2000 - State education officials now say only about 50 high school seniors were wrongly denied diplomas this spring due to test scoring errors, and only a few were kept out of graduation ceremonies. Representatives of the Department of Children, Families and Learning revised the number during testimony before the House Education Policy Committee. Legislators are looking for ways to prevent future test mistakes and to make sure taxpayers don't end up paying the bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
August 15, 2000 - Anthrax has killed 56 cattle and four horses in North Dakota since late July, and in Clay County, Minnesota, officials say the bacterial disease has infected livestock there for the first time in 100 years. Anthrax occurs in nearly all species worldwide. Jim Collins, doctor of veterinary medicine and Director of the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, says it is very deadly and kills animals quickly. The bacteria releases toxins that destroy the infected animals' cells.
August 15, 2000 - Today (TUESDAY) is the deadline for Minnesota school districts to report to the state about how they'll change the Profile of Learning in their schools. The profile is the show-what-you-know system that requires students to complete 24 projects to graduate. At the end of last session, the state legislature gave districts the power to temporarily reduce the number of standards students are required to complete. The Department of Children, Families, and Learning will produce a report of each district's plan at the end of the month. Jessie Montano (mon-TAHN-yoh) is Assistant Commissioner for Teaching and Learning. She's on the line now.
August 15, 2000 - As Democrats present their platform at their national convention in Los Angeles, Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, who co-chaired the platform committee, offers her assessment to delegates.
August 16, 2000 - While coverage of the Democratic National Convention focuses on the nightly speeches, as much if not more of the action is occurring off-stage. Last night , Minnesota delegates attended a private reception at the Santa Monica Beach Club -- just one of dozens of sideshows to the prime time events. And as Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, some observers are concerned the sponsors of the extra-curricular activities are buying influence.
August 16, 2000 - Natural gas prices are on the rise, and some Minnesotans are already getting bigger bills. Customers on Minnegasco's budget plan are seeing increased rates this month. The budget plan lets people spread winter heating costs throughout the year. Minnegasco officials say that on average, budget plan customers can expect to pay about twenty dollars more a month than last year. Linda Taylor is an assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Commerce and is in charge of the Energy Division. She joins us now.
August 16, 2000 - Canadian grain farmers may grow the same varieties of wheat and barley as their US neighbors, but the countries market their crop in different ways. Canada's grain growers are required to sell their crop through a government-sponsored Wheat Board - a system that agriculture officials in North Dakota have been considering. While North Dakota contemplates a voluntary version of Canada's Wheat Board, farmers across the boarder are itching for its abolishment. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this Mainstreet report. {Art Anse still has a few neighbors along his packed dirt road miles from the nearest town - farms in southern Manitoba are becoming increasingly rare. In 1936 half of Canada's population made their living off of the land. Today, that number has dwindled to fewer than 3%. Surrounded by fields of wheat, beans and yellow canola, Anse wonders how much longer his neighbors will stay on the farm. He argues the problem is the Canadian Wheat Board, a government agency started during World War II which he believes has lost its purpose. Swatting misquotes away, Anse says the board stifles innovation forcing more and more farmers to leave their fields behind.
August 16, 2000 - Members of a group called Minnesotans for Major League baseball will make the trip to Houston, Texas later today. They're going to visit Houston's new baseball stadium called Enron Field. Minnesotans for Major Leage Baseball is sponsored by the Minnesota Twins, and the group is looking for ways to keep the team in Minnesota. The group in Houston will tour Enron field and meet with Houston Astros officials. Joining us to talk about Houston's experience in building a new ballpark is Eric Berger, a reporter with the Houston Chronicle. He's on the line now.
August 16, 2000 - The big event on the agenda tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles is the nomination and speech by Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Lieberman. Lieberman is more conservative than many members of the Minnesota delegation...but any policy differences are being overshadowed by the fact that Lieberman will be the first Jew to ever appear on a major party presidential ticket. Minnesota Public Radio's Mike Mulcahy joins us from the convention center in Los Angeles. --Mike, what are the Minnesotans saying about Lieberman ? Well Lorna, the delegates seem to be paying more attention to what Lieberman represents than to his positions on issues. Dick Cohen is a DFl state