Tuesday, January 4

BWCA Fire Threat Gets Folks Hot Under the Collar

The DNR says the risk is being regarded in a timely and responsible manner. Local wood producers are predicting a holocaust. NewsNight's Mary Lahammer takes us behind this firestorm of words to find out just what's being done in the wake of last July's devastating blowdown.

Gallons vs. Miles

DFL Rep. Bernie Lieder will join us on the set to talk about his proposal to tax state motorists based on their mileage, rather than on gallons of gas, as high-mileage, fuel-efficient cars are starting to affect the amount of tax money available for road improvements.

Yes, She's Still the Mayor

Lou Harvin recently went on a city-wide tour with Minneapolis' somewhat low-profile mayor Sharon Sayles Belton to find out just what she's been accomplishing these days.

Plus...

Headlines, St. Thomas' baseball team heads to Cuba, the Guthrie is still looking for a new home, the latest from Duluth, a whistleblower in the news, our signature weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - making TVs look good all across the state.

Thursday, January 6

Governor Addresses Health Summit

Governor Ventura spoke at today's Health Summit, addressing the issue of more affordable health care. Mary Lahammer was there and will bring us a report on the day's activities, as well as what the Governor had to say about his recent visit with boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

The Decalog

The Walker Art Center is presenting a highly-anticipated 10-part film series on the Ten Commandments and, tonight, we'll be joined by the Center's Sheryl Mousley and Cathy Stepanek from the Basilica of St. Mary to talk about this ambitious production.

In the Spotlight Tonight...

...a live performance from the group Buffalo gals.

Plus...

Headlines, a profile of the works of a documentary photographer, an obelisk at the U of M going up, a Salvation Army facility shutting down, the Shubert move makes it into the record books, the Press Release of the Week and more!

NewsNight - just try to find stuff like this on one of those other newscasts.

Monday, January 10

The Capitol Stirs to Life

With the opening of the 2000 legislative session just weeks away, Mary Lahammer discovered a beehive of activity there today, including: the Governor's ambitious 10-year, $2.3 billion transportation initiative, a rally for a new battered women's shelter, the Republican crime bill and a rural technology initiative championed by Senators Wellstone and Moe.

An Ordway By Any Other Name

A press conference this morning announced a name change for the St. Paul theatre, but the Ordway has more up its' sleeve than just a new moniker. Tonight, we'll be joined in the studio by Ordway CEO Kevin McCollum to talk about future plans for this theatrical venue.

In the Spotlight Tonight

A live performance from members of the Minnesota Opera's production of "Der Rosenkevalier", being staged at the above-mentioned Ordway Theatre.

Plus...

Headlines, the Guthrie investigates a moving to a proposed riverfront site, Mankato's mayoral primary, more on the fire risk in the BWCA, our signature weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - the Twin Cities most offbeat newscast.

Tuesday, January 11

No Holiday at the Inn

Holiday Inn Express' firing of union-organizing, illegal-alien workers in its' employ has generated a fair amount of controversy recently, so we've invited Jorge Saavaedra, council for the discharged workers, and INS District Director Curtis Aljets (Holiday Inn management declined to join us) for a discussion of the case and the Federal Court's ruling.

The Case That Won't Go Away

Donald Blom, accused of kidnapping and murdering Katie Poirer, was sentenced this morning to 19 1/2 years in prison on weapons charges. Tonight, Assistant State Public Defender Scott Swanson will join us to talk about the recent change of venue and acceptance of Blom's now-recanted testimony.

Plus...

Headlines; a $200 million bipartisan environmental initiative; Governor Ventura's town meeting in Willmar as part of his 2-day, 13-city state tour; retirees try to block the US West/Qwest merger; a look at the latest concept cars on display at the Detroit Auto Show; our short-n-snappy weather and more!

NewsNight - you won't find stuff like this on one of those other channels.

Wednesday, January 12

On the Road Again

Mary Lahammer files a report on day two of the Governor's tour of the state, this time reporting on his visit to Albert Lea.

They Must Get Up Awfully Early

Tonight, we'll be joined by the executive producers of all four local morning TV shows to talk about the challenges of producing live television when everybody else is just waking up.

Plus...

Headlines, yesterday's Mankato mayoral primary, Chip Wadena throws his hat back in the ring, a live performance by vocalist Bruce Henry, our signature weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - you'll love what it does for your TV set.

Thursday, January 13

Is It Moving Up or Just Moving On?

These days, there's a lot of talk about the quality of our children's education and one of the touchiest subjects is the promotion of students to the next grade level regardless of their skills or abilities. Tonight, St. Paul Public Schools' Patrick Fitzgerald will join us to talk about this "social promotion" concept and it's impact on students and the school system.

Have You Ever Heard an Oud*?

Well, you will tonight, as oud master Hamza El Din offers up a live performance in our Spotlight segment.

(*a lute-type stringed instrument)

Plus...

Headlines, Tim Penny joins the Senate race, the Governor's poll numbers on the upswing, a live discussion on the Attorney General's privacy campaign, the former Dutchess of York comes to town, dancing kids, the Press Release of the Week and more!

NewsNight - who else is gonna give you a show like this?

Monday, January 17

Dr. Martin Luther King Day Special

We'll spend the entire show talking about Dr. King and race relations today. Duluth correspondent Jim Neuman visits a revived St. Mark AME church. Conservative Harvard Professor Shelby Steele explains why affirmative action doesn't work. KTCA's Hype crew has a vibin' session on who Dr. King was and his meaning to today's youth. Metro State University's Chuck McDew looks back on the voter registration movement and his work with Dr. King. Judge Noah Rosenbloom from Redwood Falls, MN looks back on a cruel hoax played on low-income blacks in 1962.

Tuesday, January 18

A Special One-Hour Show

As part of our continuing "Citizens' Forum" partnership with the Star Tribune and WCCO radio, we'll be presenting a one-hour special addressing the Unicameral issue. Governor Ventura and an assortment of state legislators will join us live in the studio, fielding questions from hosts Mary Lahammer and Eric Eskola as well as from the citizens of Duluth, Mankato and the Twin Cities.

Please join us for this hour of live debate on the future of Minnesota's state government. It matters more than you might think...

Wednesday, January 19

Dutcher One-on-One

State Auditor Judi Dutcher's recent switch to the DFL party (the second major defection in as many weeks) has pundits of all stripes questioning Dutcher's motives and the viability of Minnesota's Republican Party. Tonight, we'll present Mary Lahammer's conversation with the woman at the center of the controversy as she talks about her reasons for such a dramatic mid-stream change.

There's Nothing Like a Good Political Science Chat...

...so, tonight, we'll host poli-sci professors from Hamline University and St. Olaf & Gustavus Adolphus colleges to talk about the increasing momentum of the presidential campaigns and the push for a Unicameral Minnesota.

Plus...

Headlines, Koch found not guilty, Continental Air wants a change, Anoka-Hennepin's future in doubt, a plan to cut farmers' taxes and spur the rural economy, our itsy-bitsy forecast and more!

NewsNight - if you're tired of newscasts that treat a snowy day in Minnesota as if it's honest-to-god news, have we got a show for you!

Thursday, January 20

A Winning Season

Greater Minnesota reporter Jim Neumann has brought us a report on the U of M Duluth women's hockey team, a phenomenal 16-0 rookie organization ranked 3rd nationally and boasting Jenny Schmidgall, the nation's number one ranked scorer.

Keeping All Their Balls in the Air

NewsNight's Butch Bowring will introduce us to a traveling family of jugglers that lets even the youngest get into the act (and wait 'till you see the big finale featuring a canoe!).

Plus...

Headlines, a local bookstore changes its' Mind, "Martin Guerre" won't be heading to Broadway, behind the scenes with a dance company, a live performance from jazz trio Happy Apple, the Press Release of the Week, our nippy forecast & more!

NewsNight - you'll love what it does for your television.

Monday, January 24

The Kondirator is Coming

After a protracted, years-long legal struggle, American Iron & Supplies' plans for a metal shredder in Minneapolis are about to come to fruition. The residents of the surrounding neighborhood are less than thrilled, however. To put the issue in perspective, we'll be joined this evening by City Council representative Joe Biernat and American Iron's Cyndy Brucato to discuss the long-simmering differences between these two parties.

Accessability For All?

Tonight, we'll be featuring a live, on-set conversation with the Minnesota State Council on Disability's Don Westergard and attorney Bud Rosenfeld from the Minnesota Disability Law Center, with topics including the Americans with Disabilities Act and its' enforcement.

Plus...

Headlines, a new gift for the University of Minnesota, UMD's Bulldogs are on a roll, live music from trumpeter David Baldwin, our signature weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - Minnesota's most uncommon newscast.

Tuesday, January 25

O, Brave New World!

Recently, the FDA shut down gene therapy experiments at the University of Pennsylvania after the death of a patient. Similar research is continuing unimpeded at the University of Minnesota and Ken Stone has filed a report on this somewhat-controversial form of treatment. Then, we'll be joined by medical ethicists Carol Tauer and Jeffrey Kahn to discuss the implications of ground-breaking medicine.

Plus...

Headlines, Mary Lahammer's look at the progress of the 60-month welfare reform limit at its' mid-point, the DFL offers new initiatives for rural Minnesota, Mike Hatch's take on the Duluth-Wausau power line, live music from Big George Jackson, our signature weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - this ain't your father's newscast.

Wednesday, January 26

By Merit Alone

Yesterday, the Saint Paul school board voted to end social promotion, the process by which students could be promoted to the next grade in spite of poor performance. Tonight, we'll talk about the implications of the decision with James Patterson, member of the St. Paul advisory committee and parent of a St. Paul student.

The Library of the Future

Metropolitan State University has announced plans for a new $20,000,000, state-of-the-art library to carry the institution into "the internet age". Library Services Director Jeff Jackson and Metro State graduate Carmen Love will join us to discuss the new facility and what it will offer to students.

Plus...

Headlines, a new park management report, wolf pros & cons, landfills filling, Jim Niland's new video series, live music from Manplanet, our short n' sweet weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - you won't find stuff like this on one of those other channels.

Monday, January 31

Readying the 2000 Session

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the 2000 Minnesota state legislative session and political reporter Mary Lahammer spent the day at the Capitol to get the skinny on this year's GOP agenda. Following Mary's report, we'll have a live, free-wheeling discussion of the upcoming session with political reporters from around the state, including KARE-TV's Kerri Miller, Jim Ragsdale of the St. Paul Pioneer Press and John Sundvor of Greater Minnesota' Forum Communications.

Plus...

Headlines, Minnesota citizens talk about their lawmakers, live music from the Duluth band Crazy Betty, our signature weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - your news, our way.

NewsNight Minnesota is a TPT production.

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