August 6, 2003 - This weekend 19 year old Private First Class Michelle Loftus will be the subject of celebration at her family farm near Rochester. Loftus was seriously injured in an attack near Baghdad two weeks ago July 23rd. Loftus is lucky to be alive. She's now on the mend and recovering well. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik visited her this week.
August 6, 2003 - Some business owners and policy makers are back home this morning after three days in Mankato discussing entrepreneurship. The participants were part of 6th Annual Minnesota Rural Summit, which focused on entrepreneurship as a rural economic development strategy. Jane Leonard is the acting director of the Minnesota Rural Partners, which organized the event. She's on the line now. That is Jane Leonard, the acting director of the Minnesota Rural Partners.
August 7, 2003 - Today is Healthy Hemp Bread Day in Minneapolis. Mayor R.T. Rybak is making that declaration this afternoon at French Meadow Bakery... the only bakery in the country that makes bread out of hemp seeds. MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Lynn Gordon, founder of the bakery.
August 12, 2003 - The Republican landslide in November's election left Democrats with little leverage at the state Capitol. Only the Senate remained in DFL control, and by the slimmest DFL margin since the state began partisan elections in the early 70s. The result was predictable -- although they managed to blunt the impact of some of the proposed Republican budget cuts, no major DFL initiatives succeeded in the last session. In part four of our Right Turn series, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the challenges facing DFL leadership in the Legislature.
August 12, 2003 - A new study finds some Web sites advertising products containing Ephedra fail to disclose potential adverse effects of the supplement, and some make misleading statements about its safety and efficacy. The study is published in the August issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Millions of Americans use dietary supplements containing ephedra to lose weight, build muscle and boost energy. It has been linked to some well-publicized cases, including the death of a 23-year-old Baltimore Orioles pitcher who died this year after taking an over-the-counter drug that contains ephedra as its primary ingredient. Dr. Bimal Ashar is a physician and assistant professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He's the senior author of the study, and he joins us on the line now.
August 13, 2003 - Minnesota's new budget has been law for barely a month, too soon for nonprofits, local government officials and health care professionals to know its full impact. In May, led by Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Republican-controlled House, the Legislature passed a two year budget that erased a $4.2 billion deficit without raising taxes. Critics warned that approach would threaten Minnesota's high quality of life. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports the impact on the state's quality of life may not be known for some time.
August 14, 2003 - The two largest state employees unions are recommending that their members reject a new contract proposal that state officials say is their best offer. Talks broke off early this morning when the state and union negotiators failed to find agreement on how to structure health benefits. Union leaders say the plan will drive up out-of-pocket health care expenses. State officials say the increases will be modest given rising costs and the state's budget pinch. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
August 14, 2003 - Four members of the Bush Administration were in St. Paul today to urge Congress to pass a Medicare prescription drug package. Administration officials, including the U.S. Surgeon General and the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are touring the nation to put pressure on the House and Senate to reconcile their differences. Critics say both bills are flawed and will do little to address the rising cost of prescription drugs. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
August 15, 2003 - Dear all, I included two items for consideration tomorrow......one is a promo announcement for the State Fair Midday broadcast next Thursday ...the other is a promo for the Flood Summit coming up on August 27th in Bloomington (requested by Homeland Security, FEMA, and the DNR).......I realize this will put pressure on our available time to chat, but I will be speedy with it if you like.... I will not be in town on Friday, August 28th (traveling to
August 18, 2003 - Though the Democratic presidential nominating convention isn't until next summer, several of the nine candidates vying for George Bushs' job have been making Minnesota a must-stop-state on the campaign trail. Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich Helms reports.