September 14, 2000 - This summer the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled new safety requirements for meat distributed through the nation's school lunch program. Additional regulations that target salmonella and ecoli have caused meat packers to revolt and beef prices to soar. While some school districts will save money by limiting the days beef is on the lunch menu, two states have decided to forgo their share of beef from the school lunch program altogether. Wisconsin is one those of rebel states that has opted instead to purchase all of the meat for the current school year on the open market. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this mainstreet report.
September 14, 2000 - Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeye says the wording of the St. Paul schools referedum ballot question violates state law. In a non-binding opinion, she said the referendum's title is illegal because it advocates for its passage. The St. Paul Schools are looking into amending the wording, which now reads St. Paul Schools Referendum for Student Achievement. David Magleby is a political science professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. I asked him what he thought of the referendum's title.
September 14, 2000 - MPR’s Annie Feidt reports that the University of Minnesota men's swimming team will be well represented at the summer Olympics. No U of M swimmers made the United States Olympic team, but five members of the gopher's squad from four nations will represent their home countries in the pool in Sydney.
September 19, 2000 - A Texas education reform organization is offering Minnesota legislators help in setting up a school accountability system. The House K-12 Finance Committee held a hearing yesterday on the work of the nonprofit foundation "Just for the Kids." Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
September 20, 2000 -
September 20, 2000 - The University of Minnesota is sponsoring a summit today to discuss the state's future in a global, technology driven economy. With trade barriers crumbling, Minnesota's businesses are increasingly marketing their products to customers around the world. But just as the number of customers is growing exponentially, so is the number of competitors. . Andrew Haeg has the second and final report on what the state must do to ensure its future economic vitality. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
September 21, 2000 - Just north of Grand Forks, Walsh County North Dakota residents are tired of dealing with flooding along the Red River of the North. The Red is the county's eastern border and over the last decade repeated flooding has left millions of dollars in damage and high levels of frustration. Now some folks are calling for a buy out of up to 26,000 acres of eastern Walsh county to return it to wetlands for flood water storage. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports.
September 25, 2000 - Legislators, adminstrators and teachers from 29 northwest Minnesota school districts gathered in Crookston today (Monday) for a rural education summit. More than 400 people were expected to discuss budget shortfalls, implementation of graduation standards and teacher shortages. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports. {Gary Stegman is usually an art teacher and graduation standards technician for Crookston Public Schools. For the summit he's an improptu tour leader at the high school.
September 26, 2000 - A U.S. District Court judge has thrown out charges against the former University of Minnesota tutor who admitted doing coursework for basketball players. Jan Ganglehoff was expected to plea guilty yesterday to helping former Gopher Bobby Jackson fraudulently obtain a federal grant. In exchange for a light sentence she was expected to testify against former coach Clem Haskins. MPR's Brandt Williams reports.
September 28, 2000 - Rabbi Bernard Raskas has been wrestling with thorny questions of politics and faith for the past fifty years, as a rabbi at St. Paul's Temple of Aaron Congregation, and as a scholar and teacher. A new book entitled "Seasons of the Mind" brings together his collected writings from newspapers around the country. And next month Raskas will be designated "rabbi laureate" by his temple, as only the second rabbi in the country to serve a congregation for fifty years. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.