K. Stolpa's 3101 News Blog

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's credibility was questioned by not only Democrats, but also three Republican Senators this weekend.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) told NBC's "Meet the Press" that if Gonzales was not being truthful about his decision to fire eight U.S. attorneys last year, his job may be on the line. Gonzales will testify before a committee on which Specter is the top Republican, on April 17 regarding the firings.

Specter's sentiments were shared by Sen. Lindsy Graham (R- S.C.) on CBS's "Face the Nation".

Gonzales's credibility was questioned when email discussions of the attorney firings happened 10 days before any action was taken; Gonzales had previously said he had no prior involvement in the matter.

Check out more coverage of this from the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 12:50 AM | Permalink

The man charged with delivering the explosives for the attack on a Tanzanian U.S. Embassy denies he had any knowledge of his role in the bombing.

Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani apologized to the families of those injured or killed in the attack and also to the U.S. government in a hearing in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he is being detained. He admitted to his involvement, but said he was ignorant of the plan to attack.

According to the Pentagon's transcripts of the hearing, Ghailani said he was told the explosives were soap and after he delivered them to the bombing site, that they were explosives for mining diamonds in Somalia.

Ghailani participated in one of two simultaneous attacks on U.S. foreign embassies in Dar de Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya in August of 1998. More than 200 people were killed in the attacks. Eleven of those deaths were a result of the explosion in Tanzania.

Check out AP coverage in the Star Tribune and the Reuters.com coverage.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 12:11 AM | Permalink

The new Ramsey County Library held its grand opening in Maplewood on Saturday. The brand new $7.9 million facility has something for people of every age.

The 31,000 square foot library is host to a teen area, featuring booths for group work, and a child-friendly area where kids can gather for book readings.

There are 61 computers available for public use to meet the needs of internet and library searches. The entire facility is also wireless internet equipped, so patrons can bring their personal laptops.

Grand opening attendees were also able to treat themselves to a cup of coffee or dessert pastry at Cafe Cravings, located in the library. The original Cafe Cravings was opened in 1995 in White Bear Lake, and their new cafe provided free samples.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 11:49 PM | Permalink

Experts at the University of Minnesota predict that ethanol production from corn crops may not be a very profitable endeavor for farmers. They say tying the price of corn to the price of crude oil could be dangerous.

If unpredictable temperature, rainfall and other natural complications for corn crops were not already enough for farmers to battle, adding the fluctuating price of oil could only complicate crop profits. By investing in alternative fuel production, farmers are depending on oil prices remaining high. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, imported oil prices averaged $59.49 per barrel this year. However prices are expected to fall to around $50 by 2011 and even down to $45 in 2014.

Low foreign oil prices could translate into a lower demand for alternative fuels, such as ethanol.

Profits from ethanol producing crops also depend on the price of corn, which was around $4 a bushel this year, more than double what it was a few years ago. If the price of corn becomes too high, around $5, ethanol production plants would not be able to turn a profit, especially those who are still paying off capital investments.

This means that farmers would be getting paid more for their crops, but they would lose money through their investments in the plants that produce the alternative fuel.

Check out the Star Tribune's coverage of this story online.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 11:16 PM | Permalink

CINCINNATI - Local pizza parlor customers are part of a new effort to track down people who have failed to pay their child support. Wanted posters are being placed on the pizza boxes of three area pizza parlors.

Wanted posters are appearing on boxes from Karen's Pizza, Millio's Pizza and Fairfield Pizza. Since the posters have started appearing in August 2006, one person has been tracked down.

The pizza box posters are part of Butler County Ohio's Child Support Enforcement Agency's (CSEA) efforts to get the faces of people wanted for not paying their child support out into the public in more creative ways.

The posters feature the pictures of ten child support non-payers wanted by the CSEA.

Some people, including an attorney who focuses on the rights of the fathers, practicing in Eden Prairie, think the posters are just a way to shame the parents. But officials of the CSEA said their objective is to help the children first, not to shame the parents.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 10:14 PM | Permalink

World famous Frank Gehry designed a $10 million addition for the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota. Construction could begin as soon as the end of the year.

78-year-old Gehry designed the Weisman in 1993, it was the first art museum he designed in the United States. The addition will add 11,000 square feet to the already 47,000 square foot space.

Lyndel King, director at the Weisman, said the museum has already raised $7.5 million to fund its renovation, but they will be continuing to raise money so they are able to break ground by the end of 2007.

Gehry's new design will incorporate the Weisman's signature curved metal structure around the existing building, something Gehry said always made the building seem incomplete without.

A recent $2 million donation by Target will yield a new space for "creative collaboration" between artists and other members of the university community.

Follow up: New design announced on Monday.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 3:46 PM | Permalink

The Delta Zeta sorority at DePauw University in Indiana is under fire for recently kicking 23 of their members out of their house because the women's looks did not coincide with the image the sorority was trying to achieve.

National Officers of Delta Zeta interviewed the members of the DePauw chapter because there were concerns about the sorority image on campus. After 23 of the members were asked to leave, six of the 12 remaining members left because they thought the sorority's actions were unfair.

Other members of the university campus have also taken action against Delta Zeta's decision. Students have held protests on campus, parents and alumni have sent angry letters, and a faculty petition was also signed calling the sorority's actions unethical.

Check out the New York Times coverage of this story.

Follow up: DePauw University President Robert G. Bottoms told reporters on Monday that the university's chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority has been asked to leave campus before September due to the mass eviction that removed 23 of its members. Bottoms said the sorority's actions are not compatible with the values of the small private college in Indiana.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 3:12 PM | Permalink

President Bush ordered 4,700 more troops to be sent to Iraq and adding 3,500 more to forces in Afghanistan. These troops are on top of the 21,500 troop increase ordered in January.

These additional forces would be split between combat and support units in Iraq.

The troops sent to Afghanistan would bring U.S. forces there to an all-time high. The new forces would be used to accelerate training of local military units.

Bush requested $3.2 billion in emergency funding to pay for the additional troops. Bush asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DFL- California, to shift funds from "lower priority" programs. The request also asks for $500 million to send combat troops, linguists, and military trainers to Afghanistan.

This troop surge is raising suspicion that larger and longer lasting military action is ahead. Democrats in Congress are trying to reverse Iraq military action. A spending plan is in the works that aims to have Iraqi government meet certain benchmarks to keep U.S. troops in Iraq. Troop withdrawals, regardless of the local governments ability to meet such standards, would begin March 1, 2008 and those U.S. forces remaining would be out of combat by August 1, 2008. Bush's aides said the president would veto such a plan.

Pelosi said a presidential veto would suggest to Iraqi leaders the U.S. is not serious about leaving and giving them responsibility for their own country.

Check out the Pioneer Press coverage of this story.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 2:09 PM | Permalink

A three percent lodging tax was proposed in Stillwater this week, with revenue to fund tourism promotions in the area.

The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce who proposed the tax, pointed to similar taxes in other Stillwater-like communities that have generated tens of thousands of dollars in revenue. The Chamber of Commerce said this tax could generate up to $192,000 per year.

One of the first things they would do, if the tax is approved, will be to use the money to revitalize tourism in the area.

Officials want to see the tax in place by July 1, to take advantage of the upcoming travel season.

The Super 8 and AmericInn Lodge and Suites located on Minnesota 36 said the 3 percent tax would not hurt business. Most communities already have such a tax in place and many travelers are not opposed to paying it, if they notice it at all.

Some smaller Bed and Breakfasts in the Stillwater area oppose the tax. Lisa Lothson, president of the Stilwater Bed and Breakfast Association and manager of the Rivertown Inn in Stillwater told the Pioneer Press the tax would hurt small businesses. Lothson said the responsibility to boost tourism should be shared by all types of businesses that benefit from the tourist industry, including restaurants and entertainment venues. Other small businesses also oppose the tax. Lake Elmo's Wildwood Lodge is planning to lobby against the tax.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 1:43 PM | Permalink

An agreement was reached last week for existing tracks to be used for the Northstar Commuter Rail scheduled to open in 2009.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad agreed to let the Northstar Corridor Development Authority set up a schedule on their lines to allow commuters from Anoka and Sherburne Counties transit to Minneapolis. Diesel trains will make five trips from Big Lake to Minneapolis and one reverse commute every weekday morning. Opposite trips will run every weekday night. The existing two lines of track will cut down on railway congestion and allow more routes to run.

Stops will be made in Big Lake, Elk River, Anoka, Coon Rapids at the Riverdale Shopping Center, Fridley, and Downtown Minneapolis near 5th St and 3rd Ave N. Light-rail trains will be built to meet the Minneapolis stop so commuters can reach other parts of the city. More stations will possibly be scheduled as needed, after the routes start, but the rail company resisted because of increased freight train traffic.

Not all of funding for the project is secured, but officials said that should not effect the 2009 opening.

For commuters the project means a hassle-free commute. No parking problems, dependable transit time regardless of highway traffic (35 minutes from Elk River), power outlets for computers, and a $4 to $6 ticket. The environment will also benefit from the railway. Less car traffic means less pollution and less greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere.

Check out the Pioneer Press' coverage.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 1:07 PM | Permalink

Activists' protest in St. Petersburg, Russia were split up by police on Saturday. Many demonstrators were clubbed by police, detained and taken into buses.

Liberals and members of Pro-democracy groups met at what was called the March of Those Who Disagree in Russia's second largest city to protest Russia's stance on democracy. Demonstrators pointed to President Vladimir Putin's government and accused them of stifling freedom of speech and doing away with democratic practices.

Riot police tried to stop the march by beating dozens of protesters, but thousands broke free and moved to the center of the city. There they rallied for about 40 minutes until police moved in again, this time detaining people and throwing them into buses.

An officer was attacked by several activists, and 20 to 30 of the protesters were detained.

Check out more from the AP's coverage of this story.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 12:45 AM | Permalink

A Michigan couple received two packages containing a human liver and part of a head in the mail on Thursday. The preserved body parts were meant for medical research but were mistakenly delivered to a home instead.

The human body parts were bubble wrapped and delivered by a DHL express driver. Authorities say there could be 28 more packages like these dispersed throughout the country. Two more packages broke open en route and their contents was spilled.

DHL is investigating how the mistaken delivery occured, and if they should have delivered the body parts in the first place.

The body parts, which were sent from China, pose no health hazard to the people who received them.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 12:28 AM | Permalink

The Blue Star Mothers have been working hard for Minnesota's members of the armed forces. In the past year, the Twin Cities formed three chapters in the metro area where there had been none before.

Now metro moms and other family members are supporting their family over seas along with Minnesota's other nine chapters. Blue Star Mothers send tastes of home to deployed troops such as cookies, handmade blankets, holiday trinkets, among others. They also have coordinated pen-pal programs with schools and visited wounded soldiers in VA hospitals.

The St. Paul chapter is the newest group to form. It has 42 members, adding to the north metro chapter's 75 members and the south metro's 59.

The Blue Star Mothers are a patriotic non-profit organization of people with children (or other loved ones) who are serving or have served in the military.

Check out the Star Tribune's coverage of the Blue Star Mothers.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 10:35 PM | Permalink

Al Franken delivered a campaign speech at his former school in St. Louis Park. A crowd of about 1,000 gathered to hear the hopeful DFL nominee speak on Saturday.

Comedian Franken said he wants Minnesotans to take his campaign for U.S. Senate seriously. After his initial speech Franken met with 100 reporters in a classroom for a more intimate and informational gathering. In this meeting, Franken laid out his plans for issues such as health care and environment.

Franken announced in February that he was running for U.S. Senate, challenging Republican incumbent Norm Coleman.

Franken recently started making his way across the state. He spoke in front of a crowd of 800 in Duluth in mid-February.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 3:37 PM | Permalink

Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton both appeared in Selma, Ala. at the anniversary ceremony of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march.

Obama and Clinton both spoke to civil rights groups who gathered to remember what happened on the infamous Bloody Sunday over 40 years ago.

Obama's speech recognized the significance of the Selma march on his bid for becoming the first black president. He called to action black voters, reminding them of the blood shed during the civil rights movement that allows them to have those rights today.

Clinton has a measure of popularity among black voters as well, due to her husband and former president Bill Clinton's popularity with the community. Black feminist author Toni Morrison once famously referred to President Clinton as "the first black president."

Check out more in the Star Tribune.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 1:52 PM | Permalink