NewsNight - still going strong after 5 years. And they said we'd never last....

Tuesday, May 4

Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink'

Scientists at the University of Minnesota are doing genetic research on that most native of crops, wild rice. In itself, not a dramatic or surprising development, but it has members of some Chippewa tribes up in arms over what they consider inappropriate meddling with a sacred natural gift. Ken Stone has been on assignment recently and brought back a report on this story, one you won't find anywhere but here.

Putting a Face to the Profile

Mary Lahammer will be reporting live from the capitol this evening, giving us the latest on the contentious Profile of Learning - the Governor's for it, the House is against it and the Senate would like it re-shaped, at the very least. Students today brought examples of their Profile work for the Governor to see and we'll show 'em to you, too. Also - which legislator showed up for work in a too-small helmet? Tune in and see.

Guitarist Extraordinaire

Not only is the NewsNight Spotlight quickly becoming a favorite with viewers; some of our guests like it so much, they come back for more. That's the case with tonight's guest - French guitar master Pierre Bensusan is making his encore appearance with us prior to his performance at the Cedar Cultural Center this week.

Plus...

Headlines, Ann Bancroft vs. Antarctica, the MCLU vs. the Boy Scouts of America, Ontario vs. Minnesota, bulls vs. bears and the weather vs. everybody.

Related Link:
Bancroft Arnesen Antarctica Expedition

NewsNight - all this and more in an easy to swallow format.

Wednesday, May 5

Guess Who's Coming to Classes?

KTCA's "Don't Believe the Hype" crew tonight brings us a look at an innovative experiment in education - a metro-area student exchange. A Woodbury student travels to North High in Minneapolis (and vice-versa) while Sibley High and Minnehaha Academy kids also trade places. We'll see just what happens when students cross the public/private and urban/suburban boundaries that keep communities divided and isolated.

Here Comes the Sun

Well, maybe not today, but, in spite of the weather, University of Minnesota engineering students today unveiled this year's solar racer, the Aurora 4. What are they doing building hot rods? Well, this car is the University's official entrant for next month's Solar Vehicle Project, a solar-powered race from Washington D.C. to Florida. Lou Harvin brings us a report on a winning U of M team we can all be proud of.

Can I Get an 'Amen' From Somebody?

Never let it be said that the Spotlight is getting stale; this week we've already been treated to performances of country rock and French guitar, so tonight seemed like a good opportunity for some gospel sounds from the Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir prior to their Mother's Day concert at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium.

Plus...

Headlines, a big-deal meeting at the Governor's mansion, the future of Coney Island, school layoffs up north, a celebration of Cinco de Mayo, our soggy weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - the best thing to happen to your TV since the remote.

Thursday, May 6

Assigning Blame

After the tragedy in Littleton, Americans are searching for answers, reasons and someone to blame. In recent days, the finger has been pointed at slack parenting, inadequate discipline in homes and schools, the NRA and the glorification of guns, peer pressure and more. Tonight, we're taking a look at one of the most suggested influences - violence in the media. Pioneer Press columnist Ruben Rosario and David Walsh of the National Institute on Media & the Family will talk live with Lou Harvin about the impact of increasingly graphic and intense depictions of violence on television and in movies, music and video games.

Arts for All

The Ordway Music Theatre in St. Paul has started an experimental video conferencing project designed to expand its "Arts Dialogue" program to students around the state. Our Greater Minnesota correspondent Jim Neumann attended the inaugural performance of this project and will bring us a report.

Plus...

Headlines, a conversation with the man expected to be the next IRRRB commissioner, the Jesse action figures hit the stores, a legislative reversal on feedlots, the latest on calls for an investigation into Northwest Airlines, a tour of architect Ralph Rapson's unbelieveable vacation home, the return of "Dr. Who" to Channel 2, our one-of-a-kind weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - just try to find this kind of stuff on one of those other channels...

Monday, May 10

A Dirty Little Secret

In an effort to combat incest in the Native American community, author Juanita Blackhawk (an incest survivor herself) has written a new play addressing this sensitive and little-discussed issue. Ken Stone will bring us a report on this production and just what the author hopes it will do to promote healing within the community.

Not Everything Old is New Again

The Stillwater Bridge. Minneapolis' Ivy Tower. Coney Island in St. Paul. These are among the sites to be found in the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota's recently released list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites/Buildings in the state. George Edwards, Executive Director of the Alliance will join us to explain what his organization is doing to help save these imperiled landmarks from our state's past.

One School's Efforts

Tonight, we present the second installment of "Don't Believe The Hype"'s four-part look at education. This evening, they report on Rosemount High's innovative diversity program.

Plus...

Headlines, budget cuts in the Lake Superior School District, Mary Lahammer's report on the tax cut battles, artist Warren McKenzie gets a grant, a live performance from Big Sky, our damp forecast and more!

NewsNight - Minnesota's most unusual newscast.

Tuesday, May 11

Countdown to the Count

It happens every ten years. You get this survey-like form in the mail, or, maybe, someone comes to your door and asks you a bunch of questions. Don't worry - it's just the national census folks trying to get a head count. This time, extra effort is being made to make sure that minorities, the homeless and other traditionally under-reported segments of the population get included. Tonight, Lou Harvin will lead a live discussion of the measures being taken to get as accurate portrait as possible of America in the year 2000.

A Three-way Tie-up

Minnesota's three-party government is going through its first real test of workability as the legislature struggles to create a system of tax cuts that will satisfy (or at least not enrage) all concerned. Mary Lahammer reports tonight on today's legislative budget debates and the possible summit meeting at the Governor's mansion this evening, Then, Mary will have a one-on-one chat with Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe about all things budgetary at the Capitol.

The NewsNight Spotlight Shines On...

...a live performance by members of the Mdewakanton Sioux Community who will be performing at the Native American Music Festival.

Plus...

Headlines, Governor Ventura's goal of on-line government services, Ken Stone's look at the U of M union that couldn't, ALF's spokesman appears before a federal grand jury today, our in-a-wink weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - if we don't do it, who will?

Wednesday, May 12

A One Hour Special

Tonight, in association with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, we're presenting an extra-long show devoted to the issue of teen drinking. First, reporter Dave Peterson brings us a look at the problems facing kids and parents in small towns, then we'll offer up our exclusive quiz on the subject. Look on page 16A of today's Star Tribune for your score sheet and test your knowledge. Throughout the show, we'll be speaking live with parents, teens, chemical dependency professionals, police and others from around the state both in the studio and via video conferencing. It's an important subject and we urge you to join us for this one-of-a-kind show.

NewsNight - This is the one you don't want to miss.

Thursday, May 13

Another One-Hour NewsNight!

Our series of Citizens' Forums continues... tonight we focus on the legislative session which wraps up next Monday, May 17. Live on our set - Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum, Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe and Gov. Ventura's budget expert, Finance Commissioner Pam Wheelock. In addition, we will have live video links with citizens in Mankato and Bemidji - they will weigh in with comments and questions directed to our capitol heavyweights. Find out when you'll get your tax rebate, the size of your tax cut and the state of a metro light rail system... all tonight! The Citizens' Forums are presented in collaboration with MPR and the Star Tribune.

Monday, May 17

The Clock is Running...

...during what is supposed to be the last day of the state legislature. We've got no guarantees they'll wrap it all up before the clock strikes 12, but our Mary Lahammer has spent the day at the Capitol and will bring us her report on all the day's events, reporting live from her perch in the balcony and chatting with lawmakers.

Have They Finally Found the Answer to the AIDS Puzzle?

Two years ago, President Clinton challenged researchers to come up with an AIDS vaccine by 2007 and tomorrow, the anniversary of that speech, is the 2nd Annual AIDS Vaccine Day. To recognize this effort, NewsNight executive producer Fred de Sam Lazaro has brought us a story about AIDSvax, the first AIDS vaccine to make it to Phase III clinical trials. Begun last year, the trial hopes to involve 5,000 volunteers across the United States, 300 of them from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. Fred's report looks at both the practical difficulties of encouraging people to be guinea pigs, as well as the moral and ethical dilemmas posed by such a trial.

Plus...

Headlines, US West's $37 billion merger with Global Crossings, 3 citizens to join the IRRRB, the Phoenix Market's struggle to rise from the ashes, our quick-as-a-bunny weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - your news, our way.

Tuesday, May 18

It's a Wrap!

Last night, at the stroke of midnight, the State Legislature concluded their scheduled business for the year, sparing us another special session. Tonight, political reporter Mary Lahammer brings us her recap of the final session as well as the spin-laden, self-congratulatory aftermath. Later in the show, we'll bring you excerpts from Mary's exclusive interview with Governor Ventura about his reaction to his first legislative season.

But What Will It Mean For the Rest of Us?

As is our tradition, we've invited representatives from the state's Councils of Color to analyze the just-completed legislative session. Panel members will include Edwina Garcia of the Chicano Latino Affairs Council, the Minnesota American Indian Affairs Council's Joe Day, Lester Collins of the Council on Black Minnesotans and Ilean Her of the Council on Asian/Pacific Minnesotans.

Tonight, the Spotlight Shines On...

...a live performance by songwriter/guitarist Chris Smither. Catch a sample of his work before his appearance this week at the Fine Line Music Cafe.

Plus...

Headlines, ethnic niche marketing, millions for Itasca State Park, the Guthrie puts the Loring Cafe in its' sights, our short 'n snappy weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - supplying your minimum daily requirement of news, arts and information.

Wednesday, May 19

Statewide Reaction to Lawmakers

Last night, we heard the Councils of Color's reaction to the just-ended legislative session; tonight we've got a panel of Greater Minnesota newspaper editors to discuss the same topic. Joining us will be Bill Hanna from the Mesabi Daily News, the Winona Post's Fran Edstrom and Pia Lopez of the St. Cloud Times.

How to Choose a School

Join us as we present part 3 of our series of reports from the "Don't Believe the Hype" crew. Tonight, the mother of one of the crew talks about how she sorted through all the possibilities in selecting a school for her daughter and came to what some would consider a controversial decision.

Drumming Up Interest

If you know what Taiko drumming is, you won't need encouragement to catch our Spotlight segment tonight. If, however, you're one of the unaware, we strongly recommend this Asian musical speciality we'll be featuring this evening. And, if you like 'em here, you'll want to catch them during their performance at this weekend's Asian/American Festival.

Plus...

Headlines, more IRRRB controversy, the economics of selling steel, the U of M and the Guthrie join forces, new digs for Patrick's Cabaret, the Governor stumps for MNSCU, a new home for an old beast, our one-of-a-kind weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - the best thing to happen to your TV since the remote.

Thursday, May 20

Tonight on Newsnight

Mary Lahammer checks in with State Capitol political reporters from the Fargo Forum, MPR and Pioneer Press.... and a live performance from North Dakota blues wunderkind Shannon Curfman.

Plus...

Headlines, DWIs on the rise, our one-of-a-kind weather forecast and more!

Monday, May 24

Lights! Camera!! Action!!!

At today's annual Minnesota Film Board meeting, it was announced that, as a direct result of Governor Ventura's Hollywood sojurn earlier this year, the state will soon be playing host to two feature films and a new TV series. There hasn't been this much interest in Minnesota as a filming location since the early 90's and local businesses and crewpeople can only benefit from this flurry of activity. Mary Lahammer was at the meeting and will bring us her report on this newest wave of production activity.

Reaping What They've Sown?

Every year, a certain percentage of America's farmers receive money from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to let fields lie fallow. This year, dozens of farmers in 3 NW Minnesota counties have been denied their payments, endangering their farms and livelihoods. Jim Neumann, our Greater Minnesota editor, has been investigating this story and will bring us a report, followed by a live discussion with Tracy Beckman of the Farm Service Agency.

Mired in a

The NATO attacks on Kosovo continue as Americans try to sort out the 'rightness' or 'wrongness' of our involvement. The waters of morals and ethics get pretty deep and murky here, so we've invited a panel including Imam Matthew Ramadan, Steve Hunegs of the Jewish Relations Council and Professor of Christian Ethics Bernard Brady to help sort out the tangled and sometimes misleading principles involved in a "just war".

Plus...

Headlines, reaction from the Governor to last weekend's pro wrestling death, NSP wants to connect Duluth to Wisconsin, Cretin's baseball team heads for a record, a live performance by jazz artist Charmin Michelle, our bite-sized weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - if we don't do it, who will?

Tuesday, May 25

HOPE Springs Eternal

Once upon a time, a local developer called the Phillips neighborhood "the worst in Minneapolis". Since 1993, property values in Minneapolis have risen 24%, while in Phillips, they've dropped 1%. Sounds pretty bad, eh? Well, tonight, have a look at a new Phillips. Ken Stone reports on HOPE, an organization determined to turn around both the neighborhood and everybody's assumptions about it. The best part is, they seem to be succeeding.

The Mergers of All Media

These days, one can't help notice the flurry of corporate mergers going on. Perhaps the most immediately significant are those joinings of telecom companies with cable operators. Join us for a live discussion featuring the Carlson School of Management's Alfred Marcus and David Morris of the Institute for Local self-Reliance as they outline the public impact of these looming communications megaliths.

Plus...

Headlines, Luverne MN's plans for tourism, today's Citizens Forum at Lucille's turns prickly, a class action suit against West Publishing, a school bus drivers' union vote, our short 'n sweet weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - Where else are you gonna find a show like this?

Wednesday, May 26

Where Have All the Students Gone?

There's a disturbing statistic coming out of Dayton's Bluff, MN - fewer than half the number of students at the beginning of the school year are still enrolled in that community's schools. The problem isn't necessarily the schools; Dayton's Bluff simply has a problem with a high turnover of residents. Ken Stone has filed a report on the efforts being made to maintain high standards of education for a student population in flux.

Plus...

Headlines, a live discussion of the distribution of $70 million in farm relief funds, Mary Lahammer's report on the fate of the state's non-profit agencies in this last legislative session, the fourth and final installment from the "Don't Believe the Hype" crew, updates on the Governor's vetoes and book tour, our feisty little weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - your news, our way.

Thursday, May 27

It's That Time of Year Again

There's an old joke that says there's only two seasons in Minnesota: winter and road construction. Well, winter's over and the new season's upon us. While the reconfiguration of Hennepin and Lyndale Aves. in Minneapolis may be the biggest headache of the year, it's hardly the only one. MNDoT's Kent Barnard will join us this evening to give us the lowdown on this year's state-wide slate of repair, construction and reconstruction.

On the Air

Compared to television, radio has been considered something of a poor relation for a long time now. Well, we happen to like radio, so we've invited K102 Program Director Greg Swedberg and David McKay, KFAI General Manager to sit with us and talk about the status of our fellow broadcasters in the Twin Cities.

Tonight's Spotlight Shines On...

...a live performance by R & B singer Mick Sterling as he offers up a taste of his new album.

Plus...

Headlines, what really happened at today's U of M Regents meeting, the Governor's appearance on The Tonight Show , a new fuel from Koch, our one-of-a-kind weather forecast and more!

NewsNight Minnesota is a TPT production.

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