Saturday, 10 August 2013
Congressional Republicans targeted; flood forecast gloomy; 'snow bird' taxes; we go 'On the Road'
District 2 Republican Rep. John Kline campaigns during the Strawberry Festival in Cottage Grove, Minn., Saturday June 16, 2012. Kline, a five-term congressman, won reelection in 2012 but some Democrats think he may be vulnerable in 2016. (MPR photo/Mark Zdechlik)by John Wanamaker, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Today on the MPR News Update: Gun sale background checks are again being debated at the Legislature, the latest Red River Valley flood forecast is out, the governor is raising eyebrows with another tax proposal, we talk to the movie director who drove 'On the Road' to the big screen, and more.
BACKGROUND CHECKS REVIVED: House DFLers are crafting a bill to expand background checks to private sales that occur at gun shows, after a key lawmaker on Tuesday abandoned his push for universal background checks for gun buyers. Lawmakers say the revamped bill will also include provisions that are popular with Republicans and more conservative Democrats.
DEMOCRATS ALREADY EYEING REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL SEATS: some Democrats in Washington and Minnesota believe that all three of Minnesota's Republican U.S. House members could be vulnerable to the right challenger in 2016. The Republican who may have the largest target on his back is Minnesota's 2nd District Rep. John Kline, who returned to Congress last November with his narrowest margin of victory in years.
SPCO MAKES NEW OFFER TO MUSICIANS: After St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman intervened, management of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra today sweetened its contract offer to locked-out musicians. In a posting on the SPCO website, orchestra Interim President Dobson West said Coleman intervened to try to prevent the loss of the entire SPCO season to the contract dispute.
DRIVING KEROUAC'S 'ON THE ROAD' TO THE BIG SCREEN: Some people said it couldn't be made, but director Walter Salles argues that themes of seeking identity and liberty resonate as strongly now as they did 56 years ago, when "On the Road," Jack Kerouac's seminal Beat Generation novel, was first published. Salles tells MPR News he spent five years traveling the length and breadth of the U.S. to prepare for the adaptation.
OBAMA HEALTH LAW ANNIVERSARY FINDS TWO AMERICAS: Three years, two elections, and one Supreme Court decision after President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, its promise of health care for the uninsured may be delayed or undercut in much of the country because of entrenched opposition from many Republican state leaders.
MISCLASSIFIED AS CONTRACTORS: In the wake of the Great Recession, some employers are choosing to use independent contractors instead of hiring permanent employees. But that cost savings strategy can result in lawsuits or hefty fines. Federal agencies and private law firms are going after businesses, including FedEx, that misclassify employees as contractors in order to save money.
UNREPORTED HATE CRIMES: Despite growing awareness of hate crimes, the share of those crimes reported to police has fallen in recent years as more victims of violent attacks express doubt that police can or will help. Nearly 2 of 3 hate crimes go unreported to police, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics reported.
MISREPRESENTING VOTES? Minnesota's Democratic Party asked an administrative judge to rule that a veteran Republican lawmaker broke the law with letters to newspapers that say four Democrats had voted for billions in new taxes. The party's complaint against Rep. Greg Davids of Preston was filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings. It claims Davids was conflating routine procedural votes as support for the substance of legislation.
MORE GOOD JOBS NEWS: The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid barely changed last week, while the average over the past month fell to a fresh five-year low. The decline in layoffs is helping strengthen the job market. Weekly unemployment benefit applications rose just 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 336,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.
BINGO: The first electronic linked-bingo games are being rolled out in the north Twin Cities metro Thursday evening, almost a year after the state legalized them to help pay for a Vikings stadium. The first games are at Jimmy's Food and Drink in Vadnais Heights, the Running Aces harness park outside Forest Lake, and Blainebrook Bowl in Blaine.
IRAQ WAR'S MINNESOTA IMPACT: From the moment bombs flew over Baghdad ten years ago, Minnesota's National Guard played a significant role in the War in Iraq. Minnesota Guard troops were already on the ground there by March 2003; it was the largest Minnesota Guard deployment since World War II. The 34th Infantry Red Bulls also served the longest tour of duty of any military unit in Iraq. From early in the war, until the end of 2010, Major Gen. Larry Shellito served as Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard. He retired as Minnesota's top soldier, and Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Shellito as the commissioner of Minnesota's Department of Veterans' Affairs, a position he's been serving for two years now. Shellito spoke with MPR News. And we have a page here on the website that lists military personnel with Minnesota connections who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
FLOOD WARNINGS: A delayed spring melt and late-winter snow has increased the risk of flooding in Fargo, N.D. and Moorhead, Minn., National Weather Service forecasters said. The potential flood risk has steadily increased since January as February and March brought heavy snow in parts of the Red River valley.
'SNOWBIRD TAX': Gov. Mark Dayton is again proposing an income tax on people who spend 60 or more days a year in the state. Changing the law would generate $15 million a year, according to state Department of Revenue Projections. But some say the tax is a horrible idea that stands to drive away long-term visitors and the money they spend in Minnesota.
John Wanamaker is a newscaster for MPR News.
Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.Attacks decline 20 percent in July
Israel Security Agency
Terror Data and Trends
Monthly Summary ? July 2013
http://www.shabak.gov.il/English/EnTerrorData/Reports/Pages/July13report-en.aspx
July 2013 saw a decline in the number of terror attacks: 82 attacks as
opposed to 103 in June. The main decline is noted in Judea, Samaria and
Jerusalem: 50 attacks were carried out in Judea and Samaria as opposed to 60
in June; in Jerusalem 26 attacks were executed in July as opposed to 39 in
June.
On the other hand, a slight increase in the number of attacks is noted in
the Gaza Strip: 5 attacks as opposed to 4 in June. In addition, a rocket
attack was executed from Sinai: two rockets were launched against Eilat.
One Israeli was moderately wounded as a result of a stabbing attack (July
16) near Nablus Gate, Jerusalem.
Data regarding terror attacks in July 2013
Following is a regional distribution of attacks:
5 attack from the Gaza Strip (4 in June); 50 attacks in the Judea and
Samaria (60 in June); 26 attacks in Jerusalem (39 in June); 1 attack from
Sinai.
Jerusalem and the Judea and Samaria area: Most attacks executed in July (60
out of 76) were in the form of firebombs (June: 88 out of 99).
Distribution of attacks according to regions and pattern profile:
Following is a distribution of attacks in July 2013 according to regions:
The Gaza Strip ? 5 attacks: 5 rocket launchings.
Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem ? 76 attacks: 11 IED (7 in Jerusalem); 4 small
arms shootings; 1 stabbing (in Jerusalem); 60 firebombs (18 in Jerusalem).
Sinai ? 1 attack: 2 rocket launchings.
High-trajectory launchings from Gaza Strip and Sinai
Throughout July 2013 7 rockets were launched towards Israel (in 6 attacks):
5 from the Gaza Strip, and 2 from Sinai toward Eilat. Compared to June: 5
rocket launchings (in 3 attacks).
Thursday, 8 August 2013
(Audio) SENIOR OFFICIAL: ISRAEL DOUBTS CAN RELY ON US TO STOP NUCLEAR IRAN
Israel Radio News Broadcast 08:00 6 August 2013
ISRAEL DOUBTS CAN RELY ON US TO STOP NUCLEAR IRAN
[Translation by IMRA]
For audio:
http://youtu.be/b5k9Y0yStAs
Voice of Israel from Jerusalem. Good morning, the hour is 8:00 and the
following is the news from Malachi Chizkiya:
A senior source in Israel doubts the intentions of the American
administration to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.at all costs.
The source told our diplomatic commentator Chico Menashe that the behavior
of the administration towards Syria contradicts the declarations of
President Obama and teaches Israel that it cannot rely on American promises.
The state source added that Israel can carry out a military operation
against Iran also without American military support but such an action would
be of a lower quality than an American action.
Our commentator notes that in Israel there is concern that direct
negotiations will open between Washington and Teheran that will bring to an
easing of sanctions in exchange for Iranian concessions that will not meet
the demands set by Israel.
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
(Audio) Former Jerusalem police chief Aryeh Amit: If leadership had guts the Temple Mount would be shared
(Audio) Former Jerusalem police chief Aryeh Amit: If leadership had guts the
Temple Mount would be shared
Interviewed on IDF Radio 5 August 2013
[IMRA translation]
http://youtu.be/DrwoOwh9mXU
Program host Razi Barkai: With an area of 144 dunam, in contrast to the
very small area of the Western Wall Plaza, where it is be possible to make a
reasonable separation
between men and women, isn?t it possible to divide the area up there (Temple
Mount)?
Former Jerusalem police chief Aryeh Amit: Razi - if the situation was
normal and if the two sides ? both on the Arab side and the Israeli side ?
there was a leadership that was brave and serious, that can make decisions
and is prepared to engage in somewhat revolutionary thinking, then of course
it could be.
More than that. Above Solomon?s Stables ? where years ago a huge mosque was
built underground, it is possible to build a synagogue. But that would be
if the situation was normal and there was someone to talk to.
But when you have leaders on both sides who are timid - they don?t have the
guts to make any significant changes - they only want quiet so that they can
go to sleep and make sure that the day passed quietly - there's nothing to
talk about.
(Audio) SENIOR OFFICIAL: ISRAEL DOUBTS CAN RELY ON US TO STOP NUCLEAR IRAN
Israel Radio News Broadcast 08:00 6 August 2013
ISRAEL DOUBTS CAN RELY ON US TO STOP NUCLEAR IRAN
[Translation by IMRA]
For audio:
http://youtu.be/b5k9Y0yStAs
Voice of Israel from Jerusalem. Good morning, the hour is 8:00 and the
following is the news from Malachi Chizkiya:
A senior source in Israel doubts the intentions of the American
administration to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.at all costs.
The source told our diplomatic commentator Chico Menashe that the behavior
of the administration towards Syria contradicts the declarations of
President Obama and teaches Israel that it cannot rely on American promises.
The state source added that Israel can carry out a military operation
against Iran also without American military support but such an action would
be of a lower quality than an American action.
Our commentator notes that in Israel there is concern that direct
negotiations will open between Washington and Teheran that will bring to an
easing of sanctions in exchange for Iranian concessions that will not meet
the demands set by Israel.
Officer Decker is buried in Collegeville; Gov. Dayton grapples with the deficit
Students from ROCORI school in Cold Spring, Minn. greet a procession of police and safety vehicles following Cold Spring police officer Thomas Decker's funeral Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson)by Phil Picardi, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Today on the MPR News Update we report on Officer Tom Decker's burial in Collegeville attended by thousands of police officers, take measure of how lawmakers plan to deal with Minnesota's budget deficit, look at the state's economic prospects, and more.
COLD SPRING OFFICER BURIED: State officials estimate several thousand people attended a funeral service for slain Cold Spring police officer Tom Decker yesterday in Collegeville, after he was fatally shot last week when he was called to check on a man's welfare. Our Minnesota in Photos gallery captures the emotional day.
NO SPECIFICS: Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders say they plan to deal with the state's just-announced $1.1 billion deficit, but they're not offering any specifics yet on how they plan to do it. All the governor is willing to say right now is that, "We're going to make tough decisions. They're going to be unpopular decisions."
AVOIDING THE CLIFF: The threat of big federal tax increases and spending cuts as part of the "fiscal cliff" has meant great business for the airlines, as politicians and lobbyists make their way to Washington and plead special circumstances. They include Gov. Mark Dayton, who's worried about cuts that could impact health care, medical device innovation and education.
TEPID GROWTH AT BEST: There are two possible scenarios seen for economic growth by the state's top number crunchers. In the optimistic view, they estimate that employers in Minnesota will add about 50,000 jobs -- not many more than they'll likely add this year. In the pessimistic forecast that weak growth of 50,000 jobs would shrink to a flimsy 5,000. Looking further, between now and the end of 2014, the state would lose out on a total of 70,000 new jobs.
TRANSIT BOOST: Public transit advocates and business leaders say Minnesota's Twin Cities area is falling behind other regions that have made funding and building public transit a top priority. Those groups will push for more stable funding for transportation projects when lawmakers resume their work at the Capitol next month.
OKEE DOKEE THEN: The Okee Dokee Brothers' latest album, "Can You Canoe?" has been nominated for a Best Children's Album Grammy. The music springs from a canoe trip musicians and friends Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing took last year from Minneapolis to St. Louis on the Mississippi River. Also nominated: The locked out members of the Minnesota Orchestra, and work by Mumford & Sons.
MEANWHILE: What has to change for Minnesota's major orchestras to break the impasse in their labor disputes with management? Chicago-based arts consultant Drew McManus, who specializes in working with orchestras, joined MPR's Cathy Wurzer to discuss the issue.
ANTI-BULLYING: State Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, says he's "reasonably confident" Minnesota lawmakers will approve a new bullying prevention law for the state next year. He's sponsored similar measures for several years. One version of the legislation did pass in 2009, but was vetoed by then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Dibble told MPR's The Daily Circuit on Thursday he's still crafting the legislation he'll introduce next year.
MAKING 'CONEXIONES': In a study from a few years ago on the growing Latino population in Minnesota cities, one small-town resident likened the situation between whites and Latinos to "parallel play." That's what child development experts call it when you put two toddlers together in a room of toys and they play well -- by themselves but not with each other. Has anything changed? That's what we're asking.
AIR POLLUTION: Several environmental and conservation groups are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over air pollution in Voyageurs National Park and Isle Royale. The suit filed in federal district court in St. Paul claims the pollution comes from Xcel Energy's power plant in Sherburne County. Sherco is the biggest plant in Xcel's fleet; it burns three trainloads of coal a day.
CLIMATE CHANGE: Author and environmental activist Bill McKibben, and former Shell Oil Company president John Hofmeister, discussed the extent and impact of carbon pollution and the science and politics of global warming at the Commonwealth Club. We'll have the audio from that event up this afternoon, so check back. BURN ONE DOWN: The crowds of happy people lighting joints under Seattle's Space Needle early Thursday morning with nary a police officer in sight bespoke the new reality: Marijuana is legal under Washington state law. Hundreds gathered at Seattle Center for a New Year's Eve-style countdown to 12 a.m., when the legalization measure passed by voters last month took effect.
HISTORY OF WEED: On the occasion of Thursday's "Legalization Day" in Washington, here's a look back at the cultural and legal status of the "evil weed" in American history. It starts with this: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp and puzzled over the best ways to process it for clothing and rope.
UNION BAR: A new restaurant with a rooftop patio opens in downtown Minneapolis just in time for below freezing temperatures. Who opens a rooftop in the middle of winter? Tom Horgen from the Star Tribune, who contributes to our "Appetites" feature with news about drinks and nightlife, tells us about it.
Phil Picardi is a newscaster for MPR News, and occasionally fills in as Morning Edition host when Cathy Wurzer is away. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.Dakotas commemorate massacre memorial; Dayton heads into surgery
Peter Lengkeek, right, hugs Perry Little after Lengkeek handed down his staff to Little during the Dakota 38 Memorial Dedication held at Reconciliation Park in Mankato, Minn. It is tradition for the staff to be passed along to a new carrier every four years. (Jackson Forderer)by Phil Picardi, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Today on the MPR News Update, as Gov. Mark Dayton enters the OR, we'll hear about the increasing use of fusion surgery to ease the pain of a bad back. Also, 150 years to the day from a mass execution of Dakota Indians in Mankato, many Dakota returned to city to remember. We'll hear about the collecting and selling of Minneapolis license plate data. And we have a story about a Minnesota farmer who's expanding his operation to Africa.
DAYTON SURGERY: Gov. Mark Dayton will be at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester today for back surgery to deal with a painful condition known as stenosis; his vertebrae have shifted out of alignment and will be fused together. Dr. Christopher DeWald, a Chicago-based orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spine surgery, says most of the time, the surgery Dayton is having is successful.
DAKOTA 38 MEMORIAL: One-hundred-fifty years ago, 38 Dakota men were hanged for crimes allegedly committed in the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War. A Wednesday ceremony marking the event took place at Reconciliation Park, the site of the historic hangings in downtown Mankato. We also have a photo gallery of the ceremony.
LICENSE PLATE DATA: Academics and entrepreneurs nationwide have received copies of a massive database that the Minneapolis police department uses to track the location of cars. Where some see business or research opportunities, the city sees a public safety risk. The data come from the city's network of automatic license plate readers.
OUT OF AFRICA: Red River Valley farmer Willie Hardie is part of a management company investing in a farm operation in Mozambique, hoping that Africa will be a big player in future world food production. The organization has a lease from the Mozambique government on 25,000 acres and expects to have all the land in production within five years.
FOODIE CRED: We have long known that the Twin Cities are great restaurant towns. This year, the rest of the country finally noticed. President Barack Obama visited the Bachelor Farmer, which was subsequently featured in the New York Times, and on Bon Appetit's Best New Restaurants list. Rachel Hutton, senior editor of Minnesota Monthly magazine, helps us trace the evolution of the Twin Cities' foodie "cred." And we have a gallery of photos from foodie heaven at Piccolo in south Minneapolis.
SENSER APPEALS: Amy Senser's attorney has filed an appeal to reverse her conviction on two counts of criminal vehicular homicide. Eric Nelson's appeal says the prosecution did not provide enough evidence at trial earlier this year to prove Senser knew she hit Anousone Phanthavong on a freeway ramp in August 2011.
CLIFF JUMP: Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson says federal lawmakers should allow the current farm bill to lapse in order to get a new farm bill with better provisions for dairy farmers. Peterson, a DFLer, is the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. If the farm bill isn't renewed, Peterson says milk prices at the store will probably take several months to rise.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS: An unexpected $50,000 donation could help the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities hold off cuts to programs and maintain its hours of operation. The organization must first raise $50,000 in matching funds by the end of next week to see the donation come to fruition, said the organization's president, Erin Carlin. A donor came forward after the organization last week said it will furlough nearly 80 employees and close for two weeks.
HUNGER-FREE: A coalition of nonprofits and corporations fighting hunger in Minnesota says it has contributed more than 36 million meals to people in need since its launch in 2011 and is on track to fill what it calls the "meal gap" by 2015. Hunger-Free Minnesota has added meals to the system by signing more eligible Minnesotans up for food stamps, and by obtaining surplus produce from Minnesota farm fields.
Phil Picardi is a newscaster for MPR News, and occasionally fills in as Morning Edition host when Cathy Wurzer is away. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.IF POSSIBLE Xbox Files to PS3 with Reditor? Interested?
It's just gonna be a button. Red for export, green to Import. It saves a spreadsheet for every tab (so you'll have to make a separate folder for all those spreadsheets for each roster you export)
Minnesota same-sex marriage moves: Too soon?
Staff and volunteers for Minnesotans United for All Families celebrate Minnesota becoming the first state in the nation to vote down a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on Election Day 2012. Organizations that helped defeat the measure are now wondering how best to advance their legislative agenda. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel)by Phil Picardi, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Welcome to the MPR News Update, Minnesota's news on your schedule. Today we're reporting about advocates for same-sex marriage gearing up for a fight in the Legislature. We also ask whether Minnesotans care about the fiscal cliff. And, why we be worried about "superbugs."
MARRIAGEMOVES: Same-sex marriage supporters in Minnesota gathered on Saturday to talk about the best ways to translate their defeat of the marriage amendment into ways of advancing their other goals, including making same-sex marriage legal. But there was disagreement on when and how best to proceed.
FISCAL CLIFF: If Congress and President Obama don't reach a deal to resolve the fiscal cliff before the end of the year, a series of tax hikes and federal spending cuts will kick in on Jan. 1, and the fragile economy could tumble back into recession. The cycle of retrenchment that fueled the last recession would then repeat itself, but Minnesotans we spoke to aren't paying much attention to the fiscal cliff.
COLD SPRING KILLING: What 8-year-old Kelly Decker remembers about her dad, more than playing Nintendo Wii together, more than the treehouse he was building for Kelly and his other three children, was how he loved to look out for people. Kelly's dad is Cold Spring-Richmond Police Officer Tom Decker, 31, who was killed late Thursday in what police say was an ambush. His funeral is Wednesday.
THRILL OF THE (GOODWILL) HUNT: "Red Nose" just meant a reindeer named Rudolph to Karen Mallet of Milwaukee, until she bought a print by that name for $12.34 at a Goodwill store. It turned out to be a lithograph by American artist Alexander Calder worth $9,000. "That's kind of part of shopping at Goodwill, the thrill of the hunt," said a Goodwill spokeswoman in. "You never know what you're going to find."
CHARLIE PARR: His music "sounds older than dirt," one music writer said of Charlie Parr. And with his long, stringy hair, small glasses and flannel-and-boots wardrobe, he appears to have packed on the miles, too. So we couldn't wait to get him on the air again to talk about folk music, his newest recording, and his memories of growing up in Duluth.
THREE CUPS OF TEA: Journalist David Oliver Relin was born in Rochester. In his career he was drawn to telling stories about worldwide inequities involving children, and he was assigned to write a book about fellow Rochester native Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber who had an inspiring story about building schools in Afghanistan. "Three Cups of Tea" was the result. Millions of copies were sold. Then it became clear parts of the Mortenson story were not true. Today we got word that Relin had committed suicide.
YOUTH AT WORK: Minnesota teenagers and young adults have stronger employment numbers than most of their peers across the country, according to a new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which tracks youth and work. The "Kids Count" report found that 42 percent of Minnesota residents ages 16 to 19 work, while the national average is 26 percent.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: Minnesota gets an update on its financial health this week when state officials release a new economic forecast. The numbers will help Gov. Mark Dayton put the finishing touches on a two-year budget proposal that he'll unveil in mid-January.
SUPERBUGS: Health officials in Minnesota say they're stepping up their efforts to battle new antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The latest strain of concern are called CRE, a bacteria resistant to a class of antibiotics known as carbapenem. Minnesota has identified 44 cases of infections by the CRE superbug.
RESTORING BENEFITS: U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., said he will push for the lame-duck Congress to pass legislation restoring benefits to military veterans who were discharged because of personality disorders. The bill directs the military to review the cases of more than 30,000 service members who have been discharged since 2001 because of personality disorders. He said that Phil Picardi is a newscaster for MPR News, and occasionally fills in as Morning Edition host when Cathy Wurzer is away.
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One officer is mourned in Collegeville; another makes Minneapolis history
The casket of Cold Spring police officer Thomas Decker is brought into St. John's Abbey and University Church at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson)by Phil Picardi, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Today in the MPR News Update, Officer Tom Decker is buried, Janee Harteau is sworn in as the new top Minneapolis cop, the state faces a $1.1 billion deficit, both Twin Cities orchestras are in the red, too, and St. Paul pulls back the curtain on a massive Union Depot rehab project.
COLD SPRING FUNERAL: Police from around the country attended Officer Tom Decker's service in Collegeville today, even as police released the suspect in Decker's shooting because of a lack of evidence. We have a new timeline of events the night Decker was killed. And we'll have a full report, including a photo gallery, from the funeral later this afternoon.
HARTEE MAKES HISTORY: Janee Harteau, the first female and first openly gay police chief in Minneapolis history, was sworn in Tuesday at a ceremony at City Hall. She took the oath of office near the marble Father of Waters statue in the ornate City Hall rotunda with her daughter by her side. Her longtime partner, Sgt. Holly Keegel, was nearby. For those of you who know us both, she's truly the better half," Harteau said.
RED INK HERE: Minnesota's latest economic forecast is showing a $1.1 billion state government deficit for the next two-year budget cycle. That's challenging enough, but state officials are also cautioning that the forecast has even more uncertainty than usual due to the fiscal cliff scenario that's unfolding in Washington, and Minnesota's unemployment rate could edge up above 7 percent if a deal isn't reached.
RED INK THERE: Meanwhile, the Obama administration and House Republicans have unveiled their opening offers in talks to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. Details are scant but the White House estimates its plan would carve $4.4 trillion from the deficit over the coming decade, while the Republicans say their plan would cut deficits by $2.2 trillion over 10 years. Both draw upon ideas from 2011 talks between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. Here as the details, as far as we know right now.
ALL ABOARD: St. Paul has some impressive spaces. There's the cavernous sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Capitol rotunda that soars over the state's political heart. But the 80-foot arch that spans the Union Depot's football-field sized waiting room was the jewel of the city's commerce when it opened in 1924. On Saturday, the city will pull back the curtain on a $243 million makeover of the facility, aimed at anchoring a public transportation renaissance. We got a sneak peak at the majestic remodel, which you can see here.
OFF THE TRAIN: Canadian Pacific Railway will eliminate some 4,500 employee and contractor positions by 2016, the new chief executive of Canada's second largest railway announced Tuesday. The railroad operates in 13 States and six Canadian provinces, including 15 facilities in Minnesota. The reductions will be achieved through job cuts, attrition and fewer contractors as part of its restructuring plan, the company said.
SOUR NOTES: Minnesota Orchestra musicians have been locked out now for two months and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra players have been out for six weeks. On top of that, both organizations are announcing budget deficits at their annual meetings this week. The SPCO board sees $895,080 in shortfalls for the 2011-2012 season. The Minnesota Orchestra Board is expected to announce a deficit of about $6 million.
HOFFNER IN LIMBO: Minnesota State University Mankato football coach Todd Hoffner is still waiting to see whether he can return to work, after pornography charges against him were dismissed last week. Hoffner was charged with two felony counts for videos he made of his three young children using his university-issued cell phone. But a judge dismissed the charges last Friday.
B&B FIRE: Wrongful death lawsuits have been settled over a New Ulm bed and breakfast fire that killed six people last year. A Brown County judge approved a request Monday to keep the settlement amounts and allocations confidential. The fire at the Bohemian Bed and Breakfast killed the inn's owner, Roberta McCrea, her two daughters and three guests on July 2, 2011. Four others escaped the fire.
DIGGIN' IT: A huge Twin Metals copper-nickel mine proposed for just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has again increased the estimate of minerals at the site. The more we learn about it, the greater the magnitude," says company vice president Bob McFarlin, adding that the deposit is enough to mine for over a century.
ACQUIRED TASTE: "My first experience with lutefisk (was in) in 1995," Olsen Fish Co. boss Chris Dorf tells Minnesota Sounds and Voices. "I went to a lutefisk supper in my hometown, and I think I kind of got the bottom of the barrel or the bottom of the roaster and I wasn't all that impressed. I followed that up later that year with a dinner in Monticello and I was very happy with what I had there. I had my 2-year-old daughter at the time who kept asking for more 'apples.' We kept putting more lutefisk on her plate and she kept asking for more 'apples, more apples.' She won't eat it now at 15 now though, so I don't know if I did something wrong there."
Phil Picardi is a newscaster for MPR News, and occasionally fills in as Morning Edition host when Cathy Wurzer is away. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.Candidates reason with hurricane season
A sign reads "Danger Ocean Closed" at the entrance to the beach because of approaching Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 28, 2012, in Ocean City, N.J. New Jersey is expected to be hit hard by approaching storm sometime on Monday, bringing heavy winds and floodwaters. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)by Matt Sepic, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Today in the MPR News Update, we're keeping a weather eye on Hurricane Sandy, supporters and opponents of the marriage amendment are conducting get-out-the vote efforts, Bill Clinton is planning stops in Minnesota to campaign for fellow Democrats, and the Twin Cities housing market continues to show signs of improvement.
HURRICANE SANDY: The storm has the potential to impact something like 50 million people over the next few days, including residents of the nation's capital and its financial nerve center. We've had a live blog running on Hurricane Sandy since Saturday, pulling in the best stories, photos and video from all over. Our meteorologist, Paul Huttner, is updating the Updraft blog on a regular basis. We also have a tracking map in place, as well as related stories.
CAMPAIGN GROUNDED: One of those stories is the way the hurricane has stymied the 2012 presidential race at a time when the two major candidates are supposed to be flying around the country making their last-minute sales pitches to voters. President Obama has returned to Washington to lead the federal response to the storm's expected damage and Mitt Romney has been forced to cancel appearances.
CLINTON HERE: At the same time, the Obama campaign has confirmed that former President Bill Clinton will campaign for him in Minnesota on Tuesday. And it's calling hints from Republicans that Romney may campaign here - effectively putting the state in play - a lot of bluster.
KLEIN vs. OBERMUELLER DEBATE: Did you miss the debate this morning in our studios between 2nd Congressional District GOP congressman John Klein and DFL challenger Mike Obermueller? We have an archived live blog at this link right now. Audio from the debate will be available later.
KLOBUCHAR vs. BILLS: The conventional wisdom is that DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar's re-election is mostly a formality. Along with her double-digit lead in the polls she has raised millions more for her campaign than GOP opponent Kurt Bills. But Klobuchar is still campaigning hard across the state. Earlier this week, she made a campaign swing through southeastern Minnesota.
'VOTE NO TWICE': Maybe you've seen some of the lawn signs around the Twin Cities and elsewhere urging people to "Vote No Twice" on the state constitutional amendments on the ballot next week. It turns out those signs aren't part of the organized effort to defeat the amendments. They're part of a grass-roots campaign, and the groups that are organized to defeat the amendments say they have no plan to adopt a similar ad campaign.
FINAL PUSH: The race to decide whether Minnesota would add an affirmation of marriage as between a man and woman to the state constitution began more than a year ago. This past weekend, the groups leading the campaigns for and against the amendment began their sprints to the finish. They're using very different methods to get there. The coalition opposing the amendment, led by Minnesotans United for All Families, is still seeking to sway undecided voters. Minnesota for Marriage's goal is to call 100,000 people every day until the election. The group has phone banks set up throughout the state.
EXCEPTIONALISM OR EXCEPTIONAL PROBLEM? Why can't politicians give Americans the facts? Why can't the presidential candidates tell it like it is? These are the questions New York Times reporter Scott Shane asks in his recent opinion piece, "The Opiate of Exceptionalism." We had him on The Daily Circuit and took your calls.
PIPELINE: Four years after federal authorities in the Twin Cities began investigating homegrown recruitment for the terrorist group al-Shabab, at least two additional men slipped away to Somalia as recently as July. The FBI's confirmation this week that a terrorist conduit continues to flow from Minnesota to Somalia perplexes members of Minnesota's Somali community, who have watched with dismay as young men have disappeared.
HIT AND RUN: The Minneapolis police are looking for help finding a suspect in a deadly hit-and-run accident over the weekend. The police said they were called to the Warehouse District about 2:40 a.m. Saturday after a hit-and-run crash. They found a 20-year-old man had been gravely injured by a vehicle that left the scene at Third Street North and First Avenue.
ROAD RAGE: A woman was shot early Sunday in an apparent road rage incident on a metro area highway. Eagan police say the 26-year-old woman was one of eight people in a Volkswagen Jetta that was being tailgated by a dark sport utility vehicle on an Interstate 35E entrance ramp in Eagan shortly before 2:30 a.m.
HOUSING TICKS UP: The presidential race is said to be hinging on the economy. The national S&P/Case-Shiller index for home prices in the Twin Cities has been on the rise since March. According to the Twin Cities' Realtors group, the overall median sales price was $174,000 in September, 12 percent higher than a year ago. But Cari Linn, president of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors, said some sellers are still waiting to put their homes on the market.
WOLF HUNT: When it comes to wolves, Minnesota and Wisconsin have a lot in common -- in fact, Wisconsin's wolves probably migrated from Minnesota. But differences in the hunts point up divergent approaches to wolf management. And some observers worry about whether both hunts will disrupt wolf packs enough to cause more problems than before. The big question is: How many wolves can people kill before they start to put the overall population at risk?
PRAIRIE SEEDS: Remember the on-field soccer brawl between members of Prairie Seeds Academy and Totino-Grace? A Hennepin County judge ruled Friday afternoon that Prairie Seeds Academy will not be allowed to compete in the state soccer tournament - but not because of the brawl. It turns out that Prairie Seeds had played the entire season with an ineligible player.
Matt Sepic is a newscaster and general assignment reporter for MPR News. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.NBA Today Synchronizing Message Freezing
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Some good economic signals; health care via webcam; photos of January in Minnesota
Wall Street in front of the New York Stock Exchange building in Manhattan, in a file photo from 2011. (STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)by John Wanamaker, Minnesota Public Radio,Melanie Sommer, Minnesota Public Radio
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Today on the MPR News Update: Some better economic news coming from Wall Street and the job market; some pharmacists are now consulting with patients via webcam; we ride along on a train trip through Mexico with Central American immigrants; and your photos of Minnesota in January.
STOCK MARKET HITS A NEW/OLD HIGH: The Dow Jones industrial average briefly topped 14,000 on Friday morning, a milestone not seen since before the financial crisis rocked the markets and the world economy.
BETTER JOBS OUTLOOK: U.S. employers added 157,000 jobs in January, and hiring was stronger at the end of last year than previously thought, providing reassurance that the job market held steady even as economic growth sputtered. A downside is that the unemployment rate rose slightly, to 7.9 percent.
MORE TIME FOR BEST BUY DEAL: Best Buy founder Richard Schulze has more time beginning today to make a bid for the struggling retailer. Schulze has been trying to buy the company and take it private since last summer. Best Buy agreed to allow Schulze to review the company's holiday performance before making a sales pitch anytime during the month of February.
ONLINE PHARMACISTS: For some seniors, getting out to see a pharmacist can be difficult in good weather, and treacherous during Minnesota winters. Some health systems are offering an alternative -- virtual visits with pharmacists.
PART-TIME COLLEGE STUDENTS WANT HELP: The phrase "Work doesn't pay" is a complaint you'll hear a lot from many part-time higher education students in Minnesota. They say the State Grant -- the state's main financial aid program -- penalizes them for holding a job while studying. They're asking lawmakers to reconsider the formula.
THE BLACK GOLD BOOM IN NORTH DAKOTA: The oil boom in North Dakota can be seen from space. Recent satellite images have captureD the light at night from the oil fields. Journalist and North Dakota native Todd Melby has moved back to Williston, N.D., to document what he calls the black gold boom. He spoke with MPR's Tom Crann about what he's been seeing.
THE HARROWING TRIP THROUGH MEXICO FOR IMMIGRANTS: Much of the debate over immigration in the U.S. focuses on the southern border with Mexico. For people in the United States, the story appears to start there. But for migrants from Central America, the U.S. border comes after a long traverse through Mexico. A local human rights advocate has been documenting their harrowing journey.
WHAT IS PAINTING? The people behind a new show of abstracts at the Walker Art Center called "Painter, Painter" are quick to admit it asks more questions than it answers. MPR's Euan Kerr talked to three of the artists in the show, about how they struggle with the question "what is painting?"
YOUR PHOTOS HERE: MPR News is looking for general interest photos of all kinds: wildlife, landscapes, festivals -- pretty much anything that you think reflects life in Minnesota. Here you'll find our picks from our audience for January.
John Wanamaker is a newscaster for MPR News.
• Managing Editor, Online NewsMelanie Sommer is the managing editor of online for MPR News.More details on the Little Falls shootings; light rail plans get a rough ride
A light rail train pulls into the Target Field station as a commuter walks by earlier this year. Some Golden Valley residents oppose a light rail line planned for their suburb. (Alex Kolyer for MPR)by Phil Picardi, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Will Golden Valley go for a light rail line connecting Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park? Are we still in a foreclosure crisis in Minnesota? Will Janee Harteau be the next top cop in Minneapolis? Those questions, some answers and more on today's MPR News Update.
ON THE RAILS: As Hennepin County pushes forward with what could be the fourth light rail spoke in the Twin Cities, Golden Valley is the only one of five cities touching the so-called Bottineau route preferred by planners to take an official stance against it. Now there are hints that some city officials may back away from their opposition, and some residents are not happy at all.
NEAR THE RAILS: City officials have approved a plan to expand affordable housing along the Central Corridor line. With the new light rail line scheduled to open in 2014, St. Paul City Councilman Russ Stark said low- and moderate-income people should not be forced out of their homes if property values rise.
GLIDE PATH: Acting Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau appears to be on a smooth path toward confirmation for the job. A City Council committee Wednesday afternoon unanimously approved her nomination to become the city's next top cop.
MORE FROM LITTLE FALLS: Byron Smith, the Little Falls man who authorities say admitted killing two teenagers because they broke into his home, was a highly trained State Department security engineer responsible for protecting U.S. embassies from terrorism and espionage. He worked for the State Department as recently as 2006 and served in Bangkok, Cairo, Beijing and other foreign cities.
WHEN AMERICAN DREAMS GO BAD: John Chun has lived the American dream. After escaping from North Korea to South Korea in 1957, he moved to the United States, learned to speak English and went to college. Eventually, Chun became an engineer and car designer for Ford Motor Co. But Chun's dream is turning into a nightmare. At 84, he and his wife Helen, who also is from Korea, may lose the home they have owned since the 1970s to foreclosure, even though they have plenty of equity.
KNEE HIGH: Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio has been cleared to practice with the team, after ending his rookie season March 9 with a knee injury. Meantime, the Timberwolves were beaten last night in Los Angeles by the Clippers, who fielded their own key player returning from injury. Chauncey Billups, now in his 16th NBA season, gave the Clippers the spark they needed to beat Minnesota 101-95.
SALES SLUMP: Superstorm Sandy depressed traffic and sales at Target stores for the four weeks ending last Saturday. The nation's second-largest discount chain posted a 1-percent decline in same-store sales. The company's share price dropped as much as 3 percent in trading shortly after the announcement.
ABORTION RIGHTS: A conservative legal group claims in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that Minnesota taxpayers have been wrongfully charged for more than 37,000 elective abortions for indigent women since 1999. The Alliance Defending Freedom argues that state government is allowed to pay for abortions for indigent women only for ``therapeutic reasons,'' including when the life or health of the woman is in danger or in cases of rape or incest.
FROM BREW TO BEEF: When you make beer, one of the byproducts is the leftover grain you have used in the brewing process. When you run Fitger's Brewhouse in Duluth, that comes to 3,000 pounds a week of "spent grain." So the Fitger's folks bought some highland cattle, to whom they plan to feed those leftovers. Come spring, they hope, you'll be able to drink their locally made beer and eat a steak from their locally made and beer-grain-fed steer.
SPEAKING OF BEVERAGES: The revolution in local food has a potable component -- craft brewing and locally roasted coffee are rising in popularity, not just in the Twin Cities, but also in other parts of the state, such as Duluth. James Norton from the Heavy Table joined All Things Considered to talk about both.
CLIFF DIVE? Is the country headed off the fiscal cliff? DFL Rep. Tim Walz tells us he wants "compromises. Get a balanced approach" to cutting spending and raising taxes. GOP Rep. John Kline says he wants to raise revenue without raising taxes, and wants to reign in Medicare and Medicaid.
TOO HARD: Minnesota high school seniors are required to pass one final reading, writing and math exam before they get their diplomas. It's called the GRAD test. But a significant number of students are not passing the math portion of the test, and some state educators and lawmakers want to eliminate it as a requirement.
Phil Picardi is a newscaster for MPR News, and occasionally fills in as Morning Edition host when Cathy Wurzer is away. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.The White House race hogs the spotlight, but there's also a fight for the Legislature
The grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul in July 2011. With all 201 legislative seats in play on Election Day, the candidates and independent groups that support and oppose them are spending millions of dollars to try to sway voters. (MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel)by Phil Picardi, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Can Democrats wrestle away control from one or both houses of the state Legislature? Also, was a Mankato coach engaged in "innocent family fun" or pornography? And, Minnesota tribes say no to a wolf hunt on tribal land. That and much more today on the MPR News Update.
CONTROL: The presidential and congressional races tend to generate the most headlines ahead of Election Day. But under the radar is another fierce battle, one for control of the Minnesota Legislature. With all 201 legislative seats in play, the candidates and independent groups that support and oppose them are spending millions of dollars to try to sway voters.
MAP THAT: Redistricting, controversial constitutional amendments and a presidential election have put many Minnesota House and Senate races in flux. MPR News political reporter Tom Scheck shares his insights on key races, with the help of this really useful interactive map.
CRAVAACK vs. NOLAN: Speaking of Congress, Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack and his DFL challenger, former Rep. Rick Nolan, met for their final debate Wednesday afternoon at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia. We've got the story and audio here.
BACHMANN vs. GRAVES: With Election Day five days away, Kerri Miller is moderating a final debate on The Daily Circuit Thursday with the candidates for Minnesota's 6th District. Check back here for the story and audio later today.
AD WARS: Mitt Romney came under withering criticism Wednesday over his depiction of President Barack Obama's auto industry bailout, with Chrysler and General Motors protesting the ads for being untrue and Vice President Joe Biden accusing the Republican of perpetuating an "outrageous lie."
BEING PRESIDENT: Barack Obama soberly toured the destruction wrought by superstorm Sandy on Wednesday in the company of New Jersey's Republican governor and assured victims "we will not quit" until cleanup and recovery are complete. Six days before their hard-fought election, Romney muted criticism of Obama as he barnstormed battleground Florida.
MORE MARRIAGE CASH: Minnesota for Marriage, the main group working to pass the marriage amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman in the state constitution, raised $3.6 million in cash from Jan. 1, 2012 to Oct. 22, 2012. About $1.6 million, or 43 percent of that amount, came from outside the state.
WHO'S REALITY? It's Nate Silver v. The Baseball Crank! Baseball stat-freaks-turned-political-poll-freaks have been among the most interesting changes in elections in the last few years. Silver, who started as a baseball projector and now runs FiveThirtyEight, is insisting President Obama has about a 77% chance of winning re-election, based on his magical calculations of daily polls. The Crank calls that bosh.
UNDERSTANDING THE ELECTION PROCESS: What, with all the hoopla and news media coverage of the upcoming general election, it's easy to forget that the process of actually casting a vote is unfamiliar or confusing to some folks. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie recently sat down with The Daily Circuit to answer your questions about the voting process.
UNDERSTANDING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE: University of Minnesota Political Science Professor Kathryn Pearson talked with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer about how the Electoral College could factor into the upcoming Presidential election.
WOLF HUNT BAN: Minnesota's inaugural regulated wolf hunt, set to begin Saturday, is being received with sadness by many Ojibwe people. The wolf plays a central role in the Ojibwe, or Anishinaabe creation story, and wolves are often described as family members. That's why they're banning on the hunt on lands that they control.
WHO GOT THE PERMITS? When Minnesota's wolf-hunt season opens, many of the permitted hunters will likely have seen a wolf before. Some have even felt the impact of the growing number of wolves. That's because wolves and most of the hunters with wolf permits call the northern half of the state home.
LUTSEN WINS: In other environmental news, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says a planned water system to deliver water from Lake Superior to the Lutsen Mountains ski area and nearby businesses will not have significant environmental effects, which means that a nearly $5 million project to apply for permits and begin construction can begin in the spring.
CLIAMTE CHANGE AND SANDY: Superstorm sandy did something no other tropical system has done in the past: Make a sharp left turn in the Atlantic and plow headfirst into New Jersey, above, and New York in late October. What happened? On Updraft, we connect the dots.
HOFFER GETS DAY IN COURT: A Blue Earth County judge heard arguments Wednesday afternoon over a defense request to drop pornography charges again Todd Hoffner, the football coach at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
COLLAPSE: The family of a Minneapolis biology teacher is waiting to find out why she collapsed in front of her class and died on Monday. Lori Blomme taught at Menlo Park Academy in northeast Minneapolis.
HALLOWEEN RACISM: Halloween is time for traditions like pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating and, to hear some tell it, all-too-predictable displays of racism. Costume shops offer getups with names like "Shanghai Delight Geisha" and "Mexican Tequila Party Guy."
Phil Picardi is a newscaster for MPR News, and occasionally fills in as Morning Edition host when Cathy Wurzer is away. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.Best Buy takes a licking, promises to keep on ticking
Better times: Crowds of 2011 Black Friday shoppers attempt to push their way through security staff moments after the doors opened outside of Best Buy at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. (AP Photo/The Minnesota Daily, Mark Vancleave)by Phil Picardi, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
Today on the MPR News Update we report on another bad earnings report from Best Buy, ill winds for Austin-based Hormel, the ethics of using unmanned aerial drones, how the classical music drought in the Twin Cities is impacting teachers and students, and more.
BEST BUY BATTERED: Best Buy officials had warned investors that its quarterly report would be disappointing, and Tuesday's stock sell-off indicates investors found the actual numbers far more dire than the warning. Best Buy's stock took a pounding, plummeting 13 percent to just under $12 a share.
HIGHER FOOD PRICES: Minnesota-based Hormel is warning shoppers to expect to higher prices in the coming year, thanks to the rising cost of livestock feed driven by the drought. And despite a predicted 13-percent growth in fourth quarter earnings, investors weren't happy.
SCORCHED TURKEY (DAY): Like many extended families across the country, Andrew Marshall's includes Democrats and Republicans, conservatives, liberals and independents. And so, like many families that count both red and blue voters in their ranks, they're expecting fireworks.
DRONE PRIVACY: In the first effort of its kind in the nation, University of North Dakota researchers will examine the ethics of using unmanned aircraft, in conjunction with the Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department. The idea is to help law enforcement groups avoid being challenged in court by privacy advocates.
SOUR NOTE: While the cancellation of concerts is the most public result of the lockout of musicians at both the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, music educators are concerned about another kind of fallout: The impact on their students.
TAKEOVER BID: The Alliance for a Better Minnesota spent at least $1.1 million targeting 32 races this year, many that the DFL narrowly lost in 2010. It lost only 6, and the DFL re-took control of both the Minnesota House and Senate. Here's what went on behind the scenes.
HOUSING STARTS: Nationally, housing starts are on the rise. Compared with October 2011, they were up 41.9 percent. It marked the largest increase in more than four years. Regionally, the Minnesota Association of Realtors reports that October closings were up 8 percent over last year.
BIG DONOR: Last holiday season, an anonymous donor left 23 envelopes containing $1,000 each at Salvation Army kettles across the Twin Cities. When the bell-ringing season started on Nov. 10 of this year, some volunteers are wondering if whether the philanthropist would return.
HEALING ARTS: With the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan winding down, more attention than ever is focusing on how to treat America's wounded warriors. Dr. Jon Hallberg, MPR's medical analyst, recently spoke on initiatives in the military to use the arts to help soldiers heal.
TRUCKER HEALTH, CONT. Yesterday we talked about how truck drivers are trying to meet new health regulations. Today we have a story on University of Minnesota-Morris research that show severely obese truckers have about a 50 percent higher accident rate in their first two years than not-obese colleagues.
HEALTH AND PRIVACY: As workers weigh their health insurance options, more are being offered financial incentives to participate in wellness programs. And that's raised concerns about workers' privacy rights. Worried? Here's what you need to know.
ERDRICH AND BOO ON THE DAILY CIRCUIT: The National Book Awards were announced last week and we're rebroadcasting conversations with two of the winners. Louise Erdrich won the fiction award for her novel "The Round House." Katherine Boo won the non-fiction award for "Behind the Beautiful Flowers."
T-DAY STAND-BY: Thanksgiving is a time of long-standing food traditions for many families, and each of us contributes our signature dish. Elderly aunts bring the green-bean casserole. Bachelor uncles bring deer sausage and crackers. But what if you don't have a go-to Thanksgiving bring-along? Help is on the way.
PILLS, PLEASE: The nation's largest group of obstetricians and gynecologists says birth control pills should be sold over the counter, like condoms. Tuesday's surprise opinion from these gatekeepers of contraception could boost longtime efforts by women's advocates to make the pill more accessible.
FEWER UNEMPLOYED AGAIN: The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell sharply last week to a seasonally adjusted 410,000, though the figure was elevated for the second straight week by Superstorm Sandy. It's another sign the job market is improving.
FLOWERS IN YOUR HAIR, CLOTHES ON YOUR BACK: Casting aside complaints that forcing people to cover up would undermine San Francisco's reputation as a city without inhibitions, the Board of Supervisors voted 6-5 on Tuesday in favor of an ordinance that prohibits exposed genitals in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transit. Which sort of begs the question: This was legal before?
Phil Picardi is a newscaster for MPR News, and occasionally fills in as Morning Edition host when Cathy Wurzer is away. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.Aftermath: Who won, who lost, why, and what do we do now?
Grace and Bethany Monson, 3, watch a DVD player while their father, Karl, fills out his ballot Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Rochester. Minnesotans went to the polls Tuesday in record numbers, but their experience wasn't always ideal. (Alex Kolyer for MPR)by Phil Picardi, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Today on the MPR News Update, DFLers elect new leaders of their now-in-the-majority state House and Senate caucuses. The battle over same-sex marriage may just be beginning. Hennepin County talks about what went wrong with some voting machines. And Minnesota job seekers, employers and health reformers talk about the impact of Tuesday's vote.
POLL POSITION: Voters across Minnesota turned out in record numbers on Election Day -- more than 2.9 million people. For the most part, the voting process worked fine. But in Minneapolis, there were long lines and balky ballot-counting machines that city officials say they're going to upgrade.
MORE WORK: The theme of the "United for Our Future" post-election rally in St. Paul yesterday was gratitude for Minnesotans who voted to defeat a state constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage. Speakers there said the results show society is changing, but cautioned that there is still more work to do for gay-rights activists.
CHANGING MINDS: For weeks, Bud Johnston, of Pipestone, waffled between his belief that voters should provide government identification at the polls and his question about whether altering the state's constitution permanently in that regard was a good idea. Like many others, he eventually voted against the voter ID ballot question. Here's why.
NO REPEAL:This week's election eliminated the possibility of a Mitt Romney-led repeal of the Affordable Care Act. And staunch Republican opponents of the law, who refused to work on an insurance exchange, no longer control the Minnesota Legislature. The DFLers now in charge will likely remove GOP roadblocks to completing a cornerstone of the law, a state-managed marketplace for private insurers. But it won't be such smooth sailing in other states.
STILL JITTERY: We heard a lot before Election Day about how businesses were reluctant to ramp up activity, despite the recovering economy, because they were unsure about the political direction of the country. So with the election over and Democrats in control of the Minnesota Legislature and the White House, the business community is ready to forge ahead, right? Well - it's complicated.
BUZZ KILL: Wall Street reacted to President Obama's decisive win with a sell-off. Markets closed down more than 2 percent, with the Dow plunging more than 300 points. The president's re-election wasn't responsible for all the turmoil today, but Wall Street was definitely rooting for Romney. Marketplace reports that his donations from finance, insurance and real estate nearly tripled President Obama's.
FISCAL CLIFF In his victory speech Tuesday night in Chicago, Obama signaled his desire to find a compromise over the looming 'fiscal cliff' budget battle. He said the priorities for his second term include deficit reduction. Eighteen hours later at the Capitol, House Speaker John Boehner offered the president a tentative olive branch.
STAYING FOCUSED: Regardless of the Wall Street support disparities, Obama won re-election exactly the way his campaign had predicted: running up big margins with women and minorities, mobilizing a sophisticated registration and get-out-the-vote operation, and focusing narrowly on the battleground states that would determine the election. It wasn't always exciting. But it worked.
DEMOGRAPHIC GAP: According to initial exit polls, Romney, who backed hard-line immigration measures, came away with 27 percent Hispanic support, less than any presidential candidate in 16 years and a sharp drop from the 44 percent claimed by President George W. Bush in 2004 after he embraced immigration reform. Now, the GOP's continued relevancy hinges on whether it can figure out a way to win some of those voters.
DIVIDED NATION: After the most ideologically polarized election in years, Obama's assertion Wednesday morning that America is "more than a collection of red states and blue states" was more of an aspiration than a snapshot of where the country stands.
MNGOP LESSONS: Marty Seifert, a former Republican state representative, minority leader in the Minnesota House and one-time candidate for governor talked about the lessons the party should learn from the election with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.
OPEN DOOR: Anyone looking for a real winner from Tuesday's legislative elections in Minnesota need only look to the administration of Gov. Mark Dayton, which for two years has called for new taxes on the state's highest earners without much success. DFL control of the Legislature opens the door to Dayton's agenda.
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: Soon, we will have to return to our lives, start speaking to our neighbors again, and go back to posting cat videos on the Internet. The sweating and shakes and dry heaves you may be experiencing are normal. Still hitting F5 at fivethirtyeight.com? Fight through it! It takes time and this process cannot be rushed. It's dangerous to come to the surface quickly.
Trouble is, when you extricate yourself from the election's grasp, there's this:
DYING MUSIC: Management of the Minnesota Orchestra today cancelled all concerts through Dec. 23. In a release Orchestra Board Chair Jon Campbell cited lack of progress in contract negotiations with musicians who management locked out on October 1st. Management cancelled all concerts through Thanksgiving at that time.
But then, there's this:
SOCIALLY SAVED: Last week, a Reddit user posted a comic she made, after a male friend took a home-pregnancy test and it turned up positive. Funny stuff, indeed. That's when some other Reddit users -- including medical students -- told her that her friend should get checked for testicular cancer. He did. It was. She drew another comic (language warning).
Phil Picardi is a newscaster for MPR News, and occasionally fills in as Morning Edition host when Cathy Wurzer is away. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.Darkness, chaos and death follow a raging storm
Lower Manhattan goes dark during hurricane Sandy, on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, as seen from Brooklyn, N.Y. Sandy continued on its path Monday, as the storm forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain. (Bebeto Matthews/AP)by Matt Sepic, Minnesota Public Radio,Hart Van Denburg, Minnesota Public Radio
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Today on the MPR News Update, we have the latest on superstorm Sandy. Also, the Hennepin County Attorney's office has charged 10 people in a complex case of witness tampering. A new study shows how just how deeply homelessness hurts the academic performance of students in Minneapolis. And opponents of the marriage amendment stage a big rally and report their latest fundraising totals.
CRIPPLING STORM: The massive storm that started out as Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast overnight has morphed into a huge and problematic system. It put more than 7.6 million homes and businesses in the dark and causing at least 20 deaths. Our live update page is still going strong, the Updraft blog is adding weather analysis, we have a full report from the AP along with a state-by-state assessment of the damage, a tracking map and a growing slideshow of storm photography.
'VOTE NO' REPORTS FUNDRAISING: Supporters of the marriage amendment have not released their most recent fundraising data, but Minnesotans United for All Families -- the largest group opposed to the amendment -- says it raised $2.75 million since its last report in late September. That brings its total fundraising to almost $10 million for the entire campaign. The news comes the day after the organization held a rally on the University of Minnesota campus that included Democratic senators Al Franken and Amy Klobouchar, as well as Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, and actress and Minnesota-native Rachel Leigh Cook.
'NON-VOTE' MEANS 'NO': Did you know that, since 1898, voter ratification of proposed amendments requires not just more "yes" votes than "no" votes, but a majority of "yes" votes from all ballots cast in the state; non-votes on a ballot measure effectively count as "no" votes. And, since 1954, non-votes have never amounted to more than 20.19 percent of the total. What could all this mean this year? Find out here.
PRESIDENTIAL POLL: The latest and last NPR Battleground Poll for 2012 shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holding the narrowest of leads in the national sample, but trailing President Obama in the dozen states that will actually decide the election.
BATTLEGROUND: Until this week, the campaigns of President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney had treated Minnesota as if Obama would win the state. But that may be changing. Former president Bill Clinton will campaign in Minnesota for the president on Tuesday and Republicans say Romney or vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan may also be considering a campaign visit.
PAULSEN vs BARNES: We're continuing our series of debates on The Daily Circuit between congressional candidates with Minnesota's 3rd District Tuesday. Republican incumbent Rep. Erik Paulsen is being challenged by Brian Barnes, a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve and a sales and marketing professional. Visit this page later today to hear audio from the debate.
SYMPATHY PLOY? An autism advocate accused Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack on Monday of revealing his son's autism to get sympathy as he faces questions about his Minnesota ties in a tight congressional race.
HOMELESS KIDS, LOWER TEST SCORES: Of the many academic risk factors that students face, homelessness may be one of the worst according to a study released today. Researchers looked at Minneapolis public school students over a six-year span and found that homelessness and high mobility had a greater effect on grades than other poverty-based measure. Even the most basic elements of school like homework and studying can be tough to sort out for homeless students, or those considered highly mobile because they move more than three times in a year.
MASSIVE ACADEMICS: A little or no cost to students, Stanford, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and other campuses are offering easy access to online classes -- and they're doing it on a gigantic scale, with massive open online courses in which tens of thousands of students commonly take a class at the same time. One University of Michigan finance course has drawn upwards of 130,000 people.
REVOKED: Authorities say the driver of a minivan that caused a fatal accident on Interstate 494 Monday morning was driving with a revoked license.
HARASSED: Hennepin County prosecutors allege that a convicted murderer ordered the beatings of witnesses so they would recant their trial testimony against him. They also say 24-year-old gang member Lamonte Rydell Martin and his alleged accomplices, including his own mother, tried to bribe the witnesses in exchange for their signed affidavits.
Matt Sepic is a newscaster and general assignment reporter for MPR News. Hart is the morning online editor at MPR News.
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