Thursday, July 2, 1998

The Fight Over a Scrap of History

During the Battle of Gettysburg, members of the First Minnesota Regiment captured a flag from the 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment. It hasn't been seen for some years now, but current plans by the Minnesota Historical Society to display it as part of the 135th anniversary commemoration of the battle has some Virginians up in arms. To help clear the air, we've invited representatives from both sides of this fight to sit down with us and hash this thing out.

"Portraits from the Cloth"

We'll be presenting a sneak preview of Sunday night's broadcast of "Portraits from the Cloth", the dramatic story of a Hmong family's escape from Laos and their subsequent struggle to preserve their heritage in the Western world.

An Academic Look at the Governor's Race

Two professors of Political Science from local colleges will visit the show this evening to analyze, prophesy and maybe just guess a little about this year's wide field of gubernatorial candidates

Plus...

Headlines, Northwest's dismal ranking, the new light rail stops, a potential new Vikings owner, viewer calls and our handy, pocket-sized weather forecast. NewsNight - the news you want, without all that flashy stuff.

Monday, July 6, 1998

And Then There Were Seven...

Today, State Senator John Marty abandoned his second campaign for Governor of Minnesota. Tonight, he'll join us live on the set to tell us why he did it and what he's planning for the future.

A Grim Anniversary

Two years ago this week, Unisys laid off hundreds of employees, many of whom had been there for decades. Where did they go? Did they go back to school? What kinds of jobs did they find? Over an 18-month period, NewsNight's Ken Stone visited with some of the affected workers and created an extraordinary chronicle of people forced to reinvent themselves. Join us for a special look back at the award-winning series, "Life After Unisys".

Plus...

...our usual mix of headlines, news from around the state and our exclusive now-you-see-it, now-you-don't weather forecast. NewsNight - you won't find this stuff anywhere else.

Tuesday, July 7, 1998

Eyes of the Media Turn Inward

Every now and again, the folks here at NewsNight like to take a look at some other media outlets, so we've invited three local pundits - Ruben Rosario of the Pioneer Press, MPR's Bill Buzenberg and KSTP's Scott Libin - to give us their take on how the other guys are doing. Tonight's topics will include open juvenile courts and recent charges of inaccurate reporting.

Turning Back the Tide of Hunger

They say hunger knows no season and, for local food banks, that's never more true than in the summer months. Mary Lahammer visited the St. Paul Second Harvest food bank and brought back a report on the seasonal decline in donations. Following that, Mary talks one-on-one with Dian Mack, Executive Director of the Minnesota Food Bank Network about their recent Jam Against Hunger at the Mall of America.

Related Links:
Second Harvest

Just Stringing Us Along

World-renowned violinist Gil Shaham will be appearing at the MN Orchestra's Viennese Sommerfest, but not before he stops by the set to close out tonight's show with a live performance.

Related Links:
Minnesota Orchestra

Plus...

Headlines, Red McComb meets the press, a possible jet ski ban, the Gilbert OHV park, Pillsbury's divestiture and, as always, the most succinct weather forecast in town. NewsNight - news, arts and information for viewers who expect better from their TV sets.

Wednesday, July 8, 1998

Here, Smell This....

Feedlots - as contentious an issue as you'll find. The look of them; the smell; the risk of disease. Farmers call them necessary, neighbors call them disgusting. Last night, Rochester held a public meeting on the subject and another is scheduled for tomorrow night in St. Cloud. Before it all hits the fan, tune in to tonight's live discussion on the pros and cons of feedlots, featuring representatives from the Minnesota Farmers' Union, the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation and the Environmental Quality Board.

Related Links:
Minnesota Farmers Union

The Shifting Front in the Battle Against AIDS

The "AIDS cocktail" was touted by some as the breakthrough treatment everyone was waiting for, but many can't tolerate the drugs; still more are unable to afford its' significant cost. Now comes word of a new AIDS strain that's resistant to even this treatment regimen. To get the latest information we've invited Clinic 42's Dr. Frank Rhame, Lorraine Teel of the Minnesota AIDS Project and Eduardo Parra of the Hennepin County Community Health Department to join us for an in-depth discussion on the state of AIDS services and treatment in Minnesota.

Related Links:
The Minnesota AIDS Project

Zing! Went the Strings

People have told us that our musical guests are their favorite part of the show (we're kinda fond of 'em, too), so, tonight, we happily present a string quartet from the U of M's Bravo! Institute to help us close out the show in the manner we like best.

Plus...

Headlines, a new YWCA, a potential new library, a new charter terminal at the airport, new plans for Block E and new lions at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. NewsNight - why do you think they call it news?

Thursday, July 9, 1998

A Crime-Fighting Tool or Police Harassment?

The Minneapolis Police Department has received both praise and brickbats for its' implementation of the CODEFOR program, an approach to law enforcement that increases the police presence in targeted neighborhoods. Lou Harvin took to the streets to talk with residents of these neighborhoods and came back with a report that just might surprise you.

Laux, Berryman, McAfee and You

Following Lou's report, we'll have a live discussion about CODEFOR featuring Al Berryman, President of the Minneapolis Police Officers Federation, former Minneapolis Police Chief John Laux, the Reverend Jerry McAfee and live calls from viewers. Here's your chance to air your thoughts on this controversial program.

Bringin' it On Home

Former Gear Daddy Martin Zellar has a new CD coming out, a scheduled gig at this weekend's Basilica Block Party and a date to help us close out tonight's show with a live performance that'll bring down the house (figuratively speaking, of course...).

Plus...

Headlines, Falcon Heights residents perturbed, light rail approved, two new additions for the Duluth area and the state's only 15-second weather forecast. NewsNight - the newscast that tastes good and is good for you.

Monday, July 13, 1998

What Number Please?

Yesterday marked the introduction of the new Minnesota area code - 651. Cell phone owner, Internet surfer or just plain phone caller; like it or not it's here to stay - and it probably won't be the last one, either. Joining us on tonight's show will be Mary Hisley from US West and Augsburg College's Milda Hedblom to tell us why we're gonna have to dial all those digits.

An Uplifting Anniversary

It's been fifty years since the start of the Berlin Airlift and, tonight, a former flight engineer from the effort will share his memories (and his scrapbook) with us.

A Taste of Vienna?

From the Minnesota Orchestra's Viennese Sommerfest comes flutist Marina Piccinini to treat us to a live performance as we close out tonight's show

Related Links:
Minnesota Orchestra

Plus...

Headlines, the Medicare convention, Flying Fortresses on the skies and buses on the ground, viewer comments on the Civil War flag and, of course, the Twin Cities most frugal and succinct weathercast. NewsNight - your news, our way.

Tuesday, July 14, 1998

The Lowdown on Those Housing Scams

Sunday's St. Paul Pioneer Press featured an investigation into some recent scams designed to bilk money out of home buyers, so, tonight, we've invited the reporter who broke the case, along with representatives from the Northside Residents' Redevelopment Council and the Commerce Department, to join us for a live discussion of the surrounding issues in this story.

African Exhibit at the MIA

The Minneapolis Institute of Art recently opened a new gallery to showcase its' extensive collection of African art. NewsNight's Patty Hegman met with the Institute's director, Evan Mauer, who'll take us on a guided tour of the displays.

Related Links:
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Just Singin' and Dancin' to Beat the Band

As we do from time to time (and nearly every night for the last few weeks), we've got a musical treat to finish off tonight's show. Members of the band 'Sabor Tropical' will be appearing live to give us some music commensurate with the steamy weather we've been having.

Related Links:
First Avenue: Salsa Inferno featuring Sabor Tropical every Thursday in July

Plus...

Headlines, Mondale, Wellstone, person-on-the-street comments and our briefest of weather forecasts. NewsNight - it's one way to keep cool these days.

Wednesday, July 15, 1998

Wellstone One-on-One

Live via satellite from Washington D.C., Sen. Paul Wellstone joins us tonight to talk about a looming crisis for Minnesota farmers and what can be done to lessen its' impact on family farms.

Charter-ing a New Educational Course

Lou Harvin today visited one of the state's newly-approved Charter Schools and brought back a report on this growing educational trend. Following that story, Lou will sit down with the Humphrey Institute's Joe Nathan to find out just how these schools compare with their more traditional counterparts.

The Bridge on the River Mississippi

It's been a long two years, but the new Wabasha bridge finally held its' grand opening today, complete with traditional Native American blessings, pomp, speechifying and celebration. We'll show you what it was like and then we'll sit down with Kevin Nelson, engineer of the Wabasha Bridge Project, who'll tell us just how one actually goes about building a bridge.

Le Jazz Hot

Tonight's musical guest will be jazz pianist Laura Caviani, serenading us, prior to her gig at the Dakota, with music from her new CD. Who knows? Maybe Lou will dance for us again...

Plus...

...our usual mix of headlines, information, maybe a little humor and our very little weather forecast. NewsNight - it doesn't get any eclectic-er than this.

Thursday, July 16, 1998

Feeling a Little Down on the Farm

Last night on NewsNight, Sen. Paul Wellstone indicated that about 20% of Minnesota's farmers are in deep trouble. What's the problem? Well, for starters, there's a bad case of scab infesting wheat crops. And then, there's the bumper crops of corn that can't get to Asia because of the deepening economic crisis there. To find out what can be done, Lou Harvin will be sitting down with the State Commissioner of Agriculture and a U of M extension educator from the Red River Valley for an extended discussion of the subject.

The Latest on Today's Latest Thing

The Federal Government has asserted that Viagra should be covered by HMOs, but others argue that infertility is not necessarily worthy of such coverage. How do we determine medical priorities? What constitutes a disability? How do we make these decisions, anyway? Jeff Kahn, Director of the U of M's Center of Bioethics and Professor Carol Tauer of the College of St. Catherine will join us this evening for a look into the ethics of medicine.

African Art at the MIA

Tonight we present the second installment in producer Patty Hegman's series of reports on The Minneapolis Institute of Art's new gallery of spectacular African art.

Plus...

Headlines, the Metropolitan Sports Commission's offer to the Twins, outstate news and our now-you-see-it, now-you-don't weather forecast. NewsNight - news, arts and information for the discriminating viewer.

Monday, July 20, 1998

Shine On, Shine On, Royal Zeno

You'll want to check out the shine on Ken Stone's shoes tonight - this afternoon, he sat down with the airport's controversial shoeshiner as well as attended a meeting during which everyone from airport officials to civil rights activists offered their thoughts on the fate of the 80-year-old entrepreneur's stand.

Mille Lacs Deals Itself In

The Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa has now assumed direct control over Grand Casino in Mille Lacs and will, next May, take over their Hinkley branch. These two are among the 10 most-profitable casinos in the country, so why the change? Jill Barshay, author of today's Star Tribune article on the casino shake-up, will join us to discuss where things stand now, and what's to be expected in the next year or so.

Art Behind Bars

The Minneapolis College of Art & Design is currently holding its' 2nd annual AMICUS Prison Art Exhibition; a panorama of art, poetry and drama from prisoners around the country. NewsNight's Patty Hegman will bring us a look at the exhibition, and then we'll follow up with a discussion featuring AMICUS president Louise Wolfgramm and Department of Corrections Commissioner Fred LaFleur.

Plus...

Headlines, the Twins' lease, Humphrey files, our ever-popular mini weathercast and a live performance from Sommerfest pianist Andreas Haeffliger. NewsNight - more arts and information than you ever realized you wanted to know.

Tuesday, July 21, 1998

Ventura's Gubernatorial Venture

Today, Jesse Ventura officially filed as a candidate for Governor of Minnesota. Broadcast fairness rules say he has to give up his KFAN radio show, but he claims he'll be on the air tomorrow as usual. Who's right? Well, for some answers, tune in to tonight's live discussion as Mary Lahammer talks with a media analyst and a media law attorney about the implications of this for local politics.

Inside the Academy for the Deaf

A lot of Minnesotans don't know what happens there. Some don't even know that it exists. Others argue that in an age of mainstreaming the differently-abled, it stands as an anachronism. What do you know about it? Join us tonight as Ken Stone sits down for a one-on-one with Linda Mitchell, Superintendent of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault (this discussion will be interpreted for the hearing-impaired).

African Art at the MIA

Tonight, NewsNight producer Patty Hegman offers up part 3 of her eye-catching series on the recently-opened African art exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Plus...

Northwest's woes, the latest on the Stillwater bridge and Minneapolis' parkways, the last gubernatorial candidate filing, viewer calls and our bite-sized weather forecast. NewsNight - news, arts and information for viewers who don't really care about hemlines, box office returns and gossip.

Wednesday, July 22, 1998

"The Body" Politic

Reform party gubernatorial candidate Jesse Ventura never did get on the air this morning at KFAN, but he will be live in our studio tonight to talk with Mary Lahammer about his already-controversial run for governor.

Coppage Coverage

Closing arguments begin Monday in the Coppage firebombing trial and the jury has been dismissed until then. Fortunately for us, this recess gives us the opportunity to talk with the Star Tribune's Paul Gustafson who's been following this story and will give us a first-hand account of the trial so far.

After the Convention...

This year's NAACP national convention in Atlanta is history, but, tonight, we'll be joined by representatives of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth branches who were there, and will give us a look at some of the issues that were raised.

Plus...

Koch Refinery, the latest tobacco lawsuit, new fish, our inimitable weather forecast and a live performance by the Sensational Joint Chiefs before their appearance at the Lake Street Cultural Festival. NewsNight - news, arts and information for people who expect better from their television set.

Related Link:
The Sensational Joint Chiefs

Thursday, July 23, 1998

Suburbia

The Metropolitan Council has released population and growth estimates for the seven core metro counties. Woodbury has gained the most people and households while Scott County has become the decades fastest growing county. What does this mean for urban sprawl? Are suburbs becoming too crowded? Curt Johnson from the Met Council will be here to sort things out.

Early Warning

An unusual summer has produced a high level of mosquitoes which spread La Crosse encephalitis...also, the mosquitoes are showing up a month early. What do you do? How do you prevent the potentially fatal disease? Jim Stark of the Metro Mosquito Control District is here to tell you.

The Passing of an Artist

Garland Wright has died. The former Guthrie director had a long tenure as the most powerful director the Guthrie had ever seen. Richard Ooms, an actor and colleague joins us in the studio to talk about Wright.

Plus...

More 3M woes, the DNR retreats, flipping and a live phone discussion from Duluth as the city prepares for Rev. Phelps. Joins us for weather in a flash...NewsNight Minnesota, tonight.

Monday, July 27, 1998

Lieutenant Governor Forum

Tonight, we devote most of the show to discussions with candidates for Lieutenant Governor. First, Mae Schunk, Reform Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor, will talk with Lou Harvin. Then, all five DFL candidates for LG sit down with Ken Stone. Can you name them?

Plus...

Headlines from around the state, a peek at the weather and the most dynamic duo in all of news...NewsNight MN, please join us.

Tuesday, July 28, 1998

Investigative Retreat

Our Media Panel talks about the pros and cons of investigative journalism, the role ratings play and the ways investigative reporting differs from print to radio to tv. Last week, Jay Kohls' investigative piece on the DNR aired on KSTP-that will be a jumping off point.

AIM for 30 Years

The American Indian Movement is thirty years old and the question is: where has it been in the past few years? The organization has splintered in to several different camps as of late. Ken Stone looks to the past and to the future with Clyde Bellecourt.

Related Link:
American Indian Movement

Guitars...

Jeff Arundel and Billy McGlaughlin with a little bit of live guitar music.

Plus...

Headlines from around the state, a Reading Rainbow Grand Prize winner, the drug czar and weather in a flash. NewsNight Minnesota...please join us.

Wednesday, July 29, 1998

Union Flux

Northwest Airlines is in the midst of difficult or stalled contract negotiations with three unions-the IAM, Teamsters Local 2000 and ALPA. Northwests' largest union, the International Association of Machinists, holds a member vote today-at issue, whether to accept the tentative contract agreement or not. Results will not be in until next week but Mary Lahammer was at the polls and also got a chance to interview Billie Davenport, President of Teamsters Local 2000, which represents flight attendants for Northwest. Then in studio, John Fossum, U of MN, and Peter Rachleff, Macalester College, will talk about labor issues surrounding Northwest and GM.

Figaro...Figaro...Figaro...

Olaf Bar joins us to sing a selection from The Marriage of Figaro, part of our continuing look at Sommerfest at the Minnesota Orchestra.

Problems at Piper

Charges of fraud in a derivatives case at Piper Capital have already led to a purge of some top-level management. Gail MarksJarvis, of the Pioneer Press, joins us in studio to bring us up to speed.

Plus...

Feedlots, the U.S.N. Samuel Eliot Morison, a quick weather check and headlines from around the state. NewsNight MN...please join us.

Thursday, July 30, 1998

Impasse

The National Mediation Board has declared an impasse in contract talks between Northwest and the Air Line Pilots Association. A thirty day cooling off period begins immediately, after that ALPA can strike. What will happen? We will have the latest.

26 Seconds

The Zapruder home movie of JFK's assassination has been digitally enhanced and released publicly on video for the first time. Does anybody really need to see this footage again? Does it reveal new evidence? Jack Tunheim, a federal judge in US District Court and the man in charge of much of the assassination archives will join us in the studio.

"...But I was Goofy"

Betsy Baytos is both an eccentric dancer and a practitioner of eccentric dance. Betsy sums it all up this way; "In their past life everybody else was an Egyptian princess but I was goofy." What does all this mean? Tune in tonight and find out.

The Cargill Family

Duncan MacMillan, the great-grandson of Cargill founder William Wallace Cargill and former director of the company, has just published a book about the family and their role in the largest private company in the world. Ken Stone spent some time at Duncan's house this week-we will show the interview tonight.

Plus...

Affordable housing, a car ban on Harriet Island and weather around the state. NewsNight MN...please join us.

NewsNight Minnesota is a TPT production.

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