February 26, 1998 - The central figure in Minnesota's high-profile tobacco trial is Ramsey County District Judge Kenneth Fitzpatrick, who determines the trial's pace and the evidence jurors will see. Observers now have a good sense of what effect his judicial style is having on the trial. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
February 26, 1998 - Childhood dilemmas and adult dramas are fodder for the autobiographical essays in Jo Ann Beard's new book "The Boys of My Youth." The title is a bit misleading, suggesting tales of wild, passionate antics. But this collection of essays actually probes how relationships and experiences shape a young woman. Beard wrote most of these essays as class assignments for the University of Iowa Writing Program. She told Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cuningham the essays are proported to be fiction, but they all contain a nugget of truth.
February 26, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. State Senator Doug Johnson has not formally entered the race yet, but for all practical purposes, he's running. He's set up a campaign fund and he's lining up some of the DFL's savviest strategists to help him make up for his late start. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has this profile: Doug Johnson is a consummate insider -- he's served in the Legislature since 1970, and he's held one of the most powerful positions -- Senate Tax Committee chairman -- since 1980. But he's also an Iron Range political insider, which means he's always sure to keep a populist touch:
February 27, 1998 - MPR’s Cara Hetland reports on 25th anniversary of Wounded Knee, a 72 day stand-off between members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the tribal and federal governments. Some regard the incident at Wounded Knee in western South Dakota as the beginning of an era of increased Indian activism; others see it as the end to progress on the reservation.
February 27, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. State politics reporter Eric Jansen interviewed DFL candidate John Marty, a fourth-term state senator who lost a bid for governor four years ago. John Marty says a key difference between him and most (other) politicians is his refusal to take money from lobbyists and political action committees. He says that's why he can, as he puts it, fight the tough fights, like defeating plans to publicly finance a new ball park for the Mi
February 27, 1998 - The Minnesotas Senate has passed a supplemental education funding bill that kicks an additional $163 million dollars into local public schools. Passage of the bill was nearly unanimous, but there was considerable debate over graduation standards. From the Capitol, Minnesota Public Radios Eric Jansen reports.
February 27, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. This afternoon, political reporter Eric Jansen profiles a Republican candidate who has not held any political office before, Waverly businessman Dick Borrell. St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman is not the only GOP governors candidate w
February 27, 1998 - Minnesota convicts are about to make a six million dollar difference in the state's schools by breaking up old computers. Inmates at the state prisons in Lino Lakes and Stillwater are cannibalising, rebuilding and upgrading thousands of used, computers which will end up at schools throughout Minnesota. Statewide, there are now about seven students for each computer in the schools. Organizers of the Computers For Schools project say they hope to lower that ratio to five to one. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... 4197 (Sound) A remodeled industrial classroom at the Minnesota Correctional Faci
February 27, 1998 - In the art world, sometimes the story behind an artist is just as important and capitivating as his or her work. Such is the case with Minneapolis artist Dennis Behr (Bear), who's having his drawings shown for the first time at Bloomington City Hall, as part of the Bloomington Art Center's Art in Public Spaces program. Behr is 52-years old and lives in a nursing home, because he's severely schizophrenic. He says he creates art to break out of the isolation imposed by his living quarters, and to do battle with the dark forces of his mental illness. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 5123 | TIME: 11:55 | OUTCUE: "...SOC ---------------------------------------------------------
February 27, 1998 - The state has wrapped up a week of explaining to jurors how it came up with the 1-point-77 billion dollars it's seeking from tobacco companies in the Minnesota tobacco trial. Defense attorneys say it's seriously flawed. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... The bulk of this week's testimony could easily be called the LEAST riveting of the trial - it included no intriguing industry documents, no discussion of what tobacco companies knew about health risks and when they knew it. But the minutia of statistical calculations is a vital com