MPR News Features are news segments created for various long-form programming, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, amongst others. Features run the gambit of interviews, reports, profiles, and coverage.
February 2, 1997 -
February 3, 1997 - Many children growing up in the sixties assumed that by the time they were adults they would all be travelling in spaceships and making regular trips to the stars. Of course it hasn't quite worked out that way..... but in central Minnesota, the children of some of those wanna-be intergalactic explorers ARE getting a practical lessons in outer space. One teacher in Sauk Rapids has teamed up with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration--NASA--to teach students about space and aeronautics, but also about how to learn. . . . Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann (lay-mun) reports:
February 3, 1997 - In technology news today, Israel as the Middle East's high-tech capital, Compuserve as the beneficiary of AOL's troubles, and Andy Inahtko defines “hacker.”'
February 3, 1997 - The 1997 legislative session will be relatively low-key when it comes to health care. There are no major health reforms in the works...at least not anything on a scale comparable to the 1992 MinnesotaCare legislation. But, there is at least one health care issue brewing this session that could significantly change the way MinnesotaCare is financed. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports: MinnesotaCare is the state's subsized health care insurance plan for the uninsured. It's funded primarily through a 2-percent tax on providers including medical doctors, chiropractors and dentists.
February 3, 1997 - Today, two D-F-L'ers introduced a bill in the House to license naturopathic physicians--those who use on natural remedies to heal the sick. State Representatives Linda Wejcman and Karen Clark are proposing a number of criteria that a naturopath must meet in order to attain licensure, including a four-year degree. At this point, only six practioners in the state are known to meet the requirements. Helen Healy is a naturopathic practioner in St. Paul. Last year, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice sued her for practicing medicine without a license, and reached a settlement laying out what she could and could not do in her practice. She favors the idea of licensing because it would give some legal protection to naturopaths and significantly expand the care they would be allowed to give. Dr. Paul Sanders is the CEO of the Minnesota Medical Association which opposes the licensing. We invited Healey and Sanders into the studio to lay out the pro's and con's of the proposal. Healy told us licensing would give naturopaths more credibility with patients and in the medical establishment:
February 4, 1997 - This session, Congress is expected to tackle the thorny issue of reforming Medicare. Many seniors are worried the reform effort will ultimately translate into fewer benefits. But in Minnesota, seniors are actually hopeful they might come out ahead. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
February 4, 1997 - A new elementary magnet school in Maplewood might be one of the most complex educational operations in the state. The school is supported financially by three districts, yet the school has its own district number and school board. The school is a voluntary desegregation project involving urban and suburban students. The curriculum has a duel focus of multicultural education and environmental studies. On top all this, the school is operating year-round. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire takes a look at what could be a model for the future of elementary schools... The seeds for Tri-District school were planted seven years ago when Saint Paul school district officials began talking to neighboring suburban districts
February 4, 1997 - Minneapolis officials are hoping to increase the state sales tax in the Twin Cities to expand the Minneapolis Convention Center and bolster mass transit. But the proposal faces a tough fight. Governor Carlson's chief of staff, Morrie Anderson, says convention center backers should prepare to compete for state bonding support because Carlson opposes raising the sales tax. In fact, the Governor vetoed an expansion plan last year. John Labosky formerly headed Minneapolis' downtown council, so he's familiar with the fight. Now he's with the capital city partnership in St. Paul.
February 4, 1997 - Democrats in the state House of Representatives are still reeling from the Senate's surprise passage yesterday of mandatory standardized testing for all public schools. House DFLers wanted to take their time with the testing issue, but now they're feeling pressure to meet the Senate's challenge. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports from the Capitol: It's not just the timing of the Senate's action that's caught House DFLers off guard. They're also suprised by how close the Senate's plan is to what Governor ARne Carlson wants. The Senate legislation, introduced by DFL leader Roger Moe, would impose state-wide achievement tests for 3rd, 5th, 8th and 11th graders. The Governor likes the Senate legislation so much, he's offered to sign it immediately -- if and when the House goes
February 4, 1997 - Some Hennepin county public defenders say prosecutors and the courts are discriminating against children of color in applying a law aimed at adding tougher consequences for juvenile offenders. At least two attorneys are challenging a law that's supposed to act as a bridge between the juvenile and adult court systems. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, no one knows how the law has worked because no one has been tracking the cases.