July 11, 2000 - The college of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph is collaborating with Gray Wolf Press to create the Upper Midwest's first ever Literary Arts Institute -- featuring programs for area writers, readers, actors and publishing enthusiasts. All week, the College and Graywolf are hosting a publishing workshop called "Inside Books" to inaugurate the new partnership. Mainstreet Radio's Marisa Helms reports. {AMB 4: press
July 12, 2000 - Joining us with his take on the poll results is Steven Schier, chair of the political science department at Carleton College.
July 13, 2000 - DFL Senate candidate Mark Dayton has started his advertising blitz, spending more than 300-thousand dollars on television ads running statewide this week. Dayton is the third Democrat to buy up large chunks of airtime before the September primary. Attorney Michael Ciresi has had ads on the air for months, and DFL'er Rebecca Yanisch just finished a big television ad buy. In the latest in our series of Ad Watches, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talks with analyst Dean Alger about the Dayton and Yanisch ads...
July 17, 2000 -
July 19, 2000 - The Saint Paul school board has given its final approval to a tax levy question for the November ballot. School leaders are describing the excess levy, which would raise $105-million over five years, as a necessary investment for Saint Paul children. But opponents say the proposed property tax increase is ill-timed and inappropriate. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
July 25, 2000 - Minnesota's rural communities are more diverse, and that means more children are entering the state's schools with limited English. Helping those students learn to read and write in English is difficult if they don't communicate well in their native language. A new Spanish reading program in Long Prairie is trying to strengthen Latino children's love for books so they can make an easier transition into English. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
July 26, 2000 - For the past ten years, a Saint Paul social services agency has operated a preschool program for children traumatized by abuse or family instability. Agency officials say these economically deprived children are too troubled to enroll in Head Start or other programs. This early intervention effort tries to prevent later academic and social problems in school. And the demand is far greater than what the program can accomodate. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
July 27, 2000 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on Minnesotans with disabilities are marking the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In South Minneapolis, nearly a thousand people visited the Anne Sullivan School to take part in a day long celebration of the signing of the legislation. Disability rights activists say the ADA literally opened doors and businesses to millions of Americans, but they say more needs to be done.
July 28, 2000 - State education officials say a private company's mistakes have resulted in 47-thousand inaccurate scores on the Basic Standards Test in mathematics. That means thousands of Minnesota students who were told they failed actually passed, and some seniors were wrongly denied their diplomas. The state's education commissioner says she's outraged by the foul-up but remains committed to the need for basic skills tests.
July 31, 2000 - Recent polls have found more people recognize former State Auditor Mark Dayton than any of the other DFL U.S.Senate candidates. Dayton is a politician who's run in 5 statewide elections, but perhaps more importantly, his name calls to mind the department store his family founded. He came in fourth in the DFL gubernatorial primary two years ago, but this time, many observers think he's got a good shot at winning the Senate primary. In the first of our series of candidate profiles, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at Mark Dayton's career and campaign...