December 7, 2001 - In recent years housing developers have turned to niche marketing, building specific residences for specific types of people. Increasingly developers are focusing their attention on college students. They say students are willing to pay top dollar for housing that meets their expectations. Minnesota Public Radio's Kaomi Goetz reports.
December 10, 2001 - Joseph Giannetti painted a mural in the Soudan Underground Iron Mine near Tower, Minnesota. It was in collaboration with the University of Minnesota.
December 10, 2001 - School board members in Osseo will meet tomorrow to discuss options for cutting next year's budget. The Board voted last week to look at a four-day school week as a way to save money. They also voted for several other changes, including increasing the distance secondary students must live from school to receive busing. Dr. Chris Richardson is the superintendent of the Osseo Area Schools. He says the reaction from parents so far has been mixed.
December 12, 2001 - Pipestone School District was the benefactor of a few cases and that will help the school district out in many ways.
December 12, 2001 - Minneapolis isn't the only school district facing budget cuts. Many districts around the state are beginning to talk about how to solve budget deficits. The Osseo school board met last night (TUES) to consider options for cutting 9 million dollars out of next year's budget. And the state's third-largest school district, Anoka-Hennepin, has talked about reducing student busing and making extra-curricular activies self-supporting. John Sylvester is the Director of Management Services at the Minnesota School Boards Association. He's on the line now. That's John Sylvester, the Director of Management Services for the Minnesota School Boards Association.
December 13, 2001 - Elk River is the state's second school district to approve a four-day week for its students. The Osseo school board decided last week to institute a shortened week next year. Officials in both districts say the move will allow schools to save on transportation and energy costs. A handful of smaller districts around the country are currently using the four-day week schedule. The tiny Calhan district in central Colorado shortened its week in 1980. District officials estimate the move cut costs by about 2 percent. District Superentendent Bob Selle (Sel-lee) says he was initially skeptical the savings were worth it. But he says four different studies show the four-day week has no affect on achievement:
December 14, 2001 - Last month 188 school districts had referendums on the ballot. Almost 80 percent of rural districts approved requests. But in the suburbs the number was much lower. Only 30 percent of suburban districts got more money from local taxpayers. As a result some metro schools may have to close their doors. But not in Lyle, Minnesota. One of the state's smallest school districts with only one school gets big support from local residents. Lyle voters recently passed the school referendum by an overwhelming margin. For decades Lyle has bucked the "close and consolidate" trend. Mainstreet Radio's Laurel Druley finds out why.
December 14, 2001 - Mainstreet Radio’s Chris Julin profiles the reigning national champion Bulldogs, University of Minnesota-Duluth women’s hockey team. But they're a bit confused about their identity this season, as the team's roster changes from game to game. Several of the team's stars are taking off a week here and there to train for the Olympics…and they're playing with four different national teams.
December 14, 2001 - MPR sports commentator Jay Weiner speaks on why University of Minnesota merging men's and women's athletic departments is a mistake.
December 14, 2001 - University of Minnesota's Football team wants more money for their buses.