September 19, 1997 - A new non profit organization has been formed to promote conservation on Minnesota’s rivers and streams. The Rivers Council of Minnesota meets this weekend at the Moorhead State University Regional Science Center to plot strategy. The goals of the organization include more water quality monitoring, and a stronger voice for rivers in environmental policy discussions. Minnesota Public Radio’s Dan Gunderson reports.
September 30, 1997 - Student Aishah Jackson, external president of the Black Liberation Affairs Committee at Macalester College, comments on Macalester administration's reaction to racial incident on campus.
September 30, 1997 - The small campus of Macalester College in St. Paul is reeling from an alleged racist incident and its aftermath. A couple of weekends ago, a black female student reported that someone wrote on her dorm room door's message board: "We hate you, we hate you. Hugs and kisses. The KKK." A nearby poster of Tiger Woods was similarly defaced. In response, there were dorm meetings, a letter to all students from the college president condemning the attack, and a convocation yesterday attended by 450 students. Roberto Ifell is special assistant for Diversity and Campus Community at Macalester.
October 2, 1997 - The accounts of torture and murder being heard by South Africa's Reconciliation Commision are a grim reminder of past life under the country's white minority government. The end of apartheit brings hope, but also a new set of problems. A South African singing group called "The Christian Explainers" is on a U.S. tour to call attention to the rise of drug violence that is afflicting the country. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more ANNCR TAG: The Christian Explainers' first Twin Cities performance is Thursday evening (tonight) in St. Paul at the Minnesota History Center auditorium. Eddie Jacobs is alternately hopeful and fearful about the future fo
October 13, 1997 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with Neil Witikko, Minnesota's teacher of the year. Witikko teaches English, German, and television production at Hermantown High School. Listeners call in with questions.
October 14, 1997 - Midday discusses qualifications of school board members and issues they must be prepared to address with guests Jan Rhode, director of board training and development for the Minnesota School Boards Association; and State Representative Mindy Greiling, who was a member of the Roseville School Board for many years. Listeners also call in with questions.
October 16, 1997 - Midday looks at the University of Minnesota and its future. The first part of the program features a discussion with Mark Yudof, University of Minnesota president, on the eve of his installation as the University of Minnesota's 14th president.
January 9, 1998 - As the annual flood of tax mailings enters the mailstream...state education officials are spreading the word about the state's new tax credit and deduction law. The new law allows low income families to take a dollar-for-dollar credit for educational expences incurred this year...and increases the deductions available for all families. They'll actually see the money in next year's tax refunds...but education choice advocates who helped pass the controversial law say they now want to make sure people are using it now. Businesses providing some of the services eligible for the tax breaks are also gearing up for the law's potential impact.
January 12, 1998 - The president of the state Board of Education concedes there's little hope of saving the controversial diversity rule for Minnesota schools. Board members are expected to kill the rule at a meeting today. The proposed rule aims to improve test scores of minority students in schools where they've fallen behind their white classmates. But opponents say the rule tries to do too much and would impose cumbersome mandates on schools. Governor Carlson opposes the rule, and his recent appointment of three new board members appears to ensure its death.
January 14, 1998 - State legislators are considering ways to even the spread of funding available to school districts. Officials in suburban and rural districts with low property values say they're falling further behind the property-rich districts. Some lawmakers and educators say the state's budget surplus makes this a good year to try to fix the problem.