July 2, 2003 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis, on hiring a new police chief. The city of Minneapolis is beginning the process of hiring a police chief to replace Robert Olson. Mayor Rybak says Olson is planning to retire when his term expires in January, and that City Coordinator John Moyer is now taking preliminary steps in the search for a new chief.
July 4, 2003 - The 200th anniversary this year of the Louisiana Purchase is taking a back seat to the Lewis and Clark bicentennial observance. However, the Louisiana Purchase which included part of what would become Minnesota is arguably a bigger deal - literally. In one stroke the size of the country was doubled. And as Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports, behind the transaction lurks a tale of geopolitics and intrigue.
July 4, 2003 - A group of midwest farmers has filed a class action lawsuit over the sale of their corn-processing plant to the agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland. The lawsuit claims ADM paid the corn plant's CEO and other executives millions of dollars in return for a deal that short-changed farmers. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
July 7, 2003 - School districts around the country are bracing for today's release of "the List." The federal government is expected to release its list of public schools that are not making adequate progress in student achievement according to the "No Child Left Behind Act." Minneapolis and St. Paul schools are expected to dominate the list in Minnesota. Joining us on the line is Pat Harvey... superintendent of the St. Paul Public School District. That is St. Paul School Superintendent Pat Harvey.
July 8, 2003 - State officials have identified 259 schools that are falling below performance goals. The Minnesota Department of Education released the preliminary list of underachievers yesterday. And while it was bad news for many schools, some who were on the list last year found out they had been taken off. Ossie Brooks-James is the principal of Lyndale Community School in Minneapolis, and her school was one of those removed from the list. That is Ossie Brooks-James, the principal of Lyndale Community School in Minneapolis. To see a list of the schools on the list go to our web site, Minnesota Public Radio dot org.
July 9, 2003 - A Minneapolis library committee is scheduled to vote tonight (WEDNESDAY) on recommended cuts in the coming year's budget. Public reaction to plans to close several libraries prompted the board to remove that option from consideration. But several popular programs are on the block and hours at most of the system's libraries could be cut back significantly. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
July 9, 2003 - Get ready for a light rail rerun. A controversy similar to the one over building the Hiawatha light rail line is brewing in the southwest suburbs. Proponents will likely recommend today Wednesday that planning proceed on a light rail line from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. Opponents say light rail is too expensive compared to the alternatives. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
July 9, 2003 - Supporters of the Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley are coming out in force this week. They're holding meetings and rallys to get the attention of city leaders who have proposed closing the Nature Center. The city says state cuts to local governments put Fridley's budget in tough shape... so they proposed eliminating the 300-thousand dollars spent on the Center every year. Joining us on the line is Malcolm Mitchell.... one of the leaders of the movement to save the Springbrook Nature Center. That is Malcolm Mitchell, one of the leaders of the movement to save the Springbrook Nature Center.
July 9, 2003 - An Evangelical Lutheran Bishop says the prayers of people throughout the nation were answered following today's release of a St. Paul Hmong American pastor from a Lao jail. Authorities released Rev. Naw-Karl Mua and two journalists following intense diplomatic pressure by the French, Belgian and U.S. governments; and reportedly a payment of nearly $2500 from Mua's wife to Lao authorities.
July 11, 2003 - The first Minnesota native to head the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul died today of heart failure in St. Paul. Retired Archbishop John Roach was 81 years old and had been in failing health. He was ordained in 1946 and Pope Paul the Sixth appointed him archbishop in 1975. He served in that role until 1995. Father Kevin McDonough is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese. He says Roach was a person of action.