August 18, 2000 - About 10-thousand Al Gore supporters showed up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin this morning, where the Democratic presidential nominee and his running mate Joseph Lieberman embarked on a four-day riverboat trip to kick off the post-convention phase of their campaign. The candidates spiced their speeches with Midwestern references in their bid to both keep up the momentum from the convention, and to bolster lagging support in states that Democrats used to be able to rely on. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes has the first of two reports from LaCrosse.
August 22, 2000 - People in the tiny Northern Minnesota community of Meadowlands held a memorial service today - for their school. The Toivola-Meadowlands Charter School, one of the first in the state, is closing after seven years. Like many rural schools, it's a casualty of declining enrollment. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. { sfx: hymn (fades under):
August 22, 2000 - A report from the Legislative Auditor's Office says the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is still struggling to succeed and needs better defined roles for its leaders. The evaluation of the five-year-old merger of three higher education systems comes as the system's board is searching for a new chancellor. Legislators say the report will likely generate a lot of discussion about higher education issues in next year's session. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
August 23, 2000 - With less than two weeks before the first day of school, Minnesota teachers and school officials are busy getting ready for the new year. Many districts are still handling the fallout from grading mistakes on the basic skills tests, and some are scrambling to hire enough teachers before students return on September 5th. St. Paul Superintendent Pat Harvey joins us now, to discuss preparations in that district.
August 24, 2000 - The Clinton Administration gave its approval to guidelines that will allow scientists to use federal money in doing research with stem cells from human embryos. The National Institutes of Health issued the guidelines hoping for breakthroughs in treating diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes. Opponents say it's ethically wrong to use human embryos for such research. But in making his announcement, President Clinton said there could be "potentially staggering benefits" from stem cell research. Joining us on the line to talk about that potential is Catherine Versaillie (ver-SIGH), director of the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Minnesota.
August 24, 2000 - A state study shows that half of Minnesota's low-income children in medical assistance programs aren't recieving primary or preventative care from their H-M-O's. Federal law requires certain developmental checkups for the kids, too, yet only 6-percent of the children and teens in these publicly funded programs are recieving such treatment. Mary Kennedy is assistant commissioner with the Department of Human Services. She says the children enrolled in these programs tend to be the ones who need preventative care most:
August 24, 2000 - State education officials have delayed the scheduled launch of three new school tests by at least a year. The decision comes in the wake of a test-scoring fiasco that affected 47-thousand Minnesota students. The Department of Children, Families and Learning says it needs more time to strengthen quality control for existing tests before adding more. But some educators are concerned about the delay's impact on some students. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
August 25, 2000 - It used to be that schools only had to concern themselves with the three "R's." But academics have made way for a list of new 'subjects;' and avoiding school violence is now a standard instruction area. In northwest Minnesota a coalition of educators, law enforcement, and health and human service providers have come together to ensure their schools are safe and students healthy. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports that the coalition believes there are indications that preventive action is needed.
August 28, 2000 - When Minnesota's Reform Party broke away to become the Independence party last spring, self-employed software developer and political newcomer Jim Gibson seemed assured of being its lone candidate for U.S. Senate. But in the meantime a more competitive primary race materialized within the party. Environmental activist Leslie Davis has joined the fray, as has Buford Johnson, a former party official and military veteran. And while the candidates in the D-F-L have similar views on many of the issues, the Independence party candidates have run more idiosyncratic -- if low-profile -- campaigns. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this report.
August 28, 2000 - Minnesota voters say education is the most important issue facing the state, but they generally feel public schools are already on the right track. Results of a new Minnesota Public Radio, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, KARE-TV poll also show mixed feelings about statewide testing and graduation standards. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...