T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan www.mplsobserver.com Vol. 2, No. 13 November 4, 2002
This is a preview issue of The Observer. Check out a sample issue at www.mplsobserver.com and if you're interested in subscribing ($12/yr.) just hit 'reply' and state your interest and we'll set you up. Thanks. ********************************************************** THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER: * Vikings-Gophers Stadium Deal Looks Doubtful * Kenwood Mom Helps Kids Grieve * Activists Protest Strib for Shoddy Protest Coverage * Lift a Pint for the Poor * Local Girl Scouts Reach Out to Hmong Teens Plus: Remembering a Nicollet Island donkey, selling riverfront air, exploring Ron Edward's Minneapolis, recalling Mondale, and celebrating routine revolutions ********************************************************** JOINT VIKINGS-GOPHERS STADIUM APPEARS DOUBTFUL University of Minnesota officials last week cast further doubt on the feasibility of constructing a joint Vikings-Gophers football stadium on the Minneapolis campus. University chief financial officer Richard Pfutzenreuter, who leads the university stadium team with general counsel Mark Rotenberg, last week announced a November 27 deadline for a stadium agreement, according to a report in the Minnesota Daily (www.mndaily.com). Meanwhile, the University Faculty Senate voted overwhelmingly against the stadium proposal, echoing the informal sentiments of a number of Student Senate representatives. The deadline is the last day that agenda material can be mailed to the Board of Regents before its December meeting, Pfutzenreuter said. "It's got to be done or we're not moving forward. We'll already be past the December 1 deadline that the law required, and I'm not going to short the public or the (regents) on that document and put it out the day before or the day of that meeting." Last spring the State Legislature gave the two parties a deadline of December 1 to come up with a memorandum of understanding for the joint stadium, but talks have been progressing slowly as university officials and Vikings negotiators hash out issues of revenue sharing, parking, and maintenance responsibilities. Meanwhile, community leaders have raised concerns about the proposed stadium's architectural compatibility with the surrounding community and university faculty leaders question the stadium's academic benefits and the political costs of such a state-backed project in an era when the university's budget requests have been regularly trimmed by the Legislature. "We do not want this counted against academic endeavors," said Dan Feeney, Faculty Consultative Committee chairman. Vikings stadium consultant Lester Bagley would not speculate on the chance of reaching an agreement under the new deadline, but said the negotiations are on track. The university's Mark Rotenberg was slightly less sanguine. "The jury is still out," he said. KENWOOD MOM HELPS KIDS GRIEVE Spurred on by the death of a sorority sister who left children behind, Cathy Peel has created Camp Blue Sky for Kids, the Twin Cities' first bereavement camp. ACTIVISTS PROTEST AT STRIB FOR IGNORING PEACE MARCH About 45 peace activists protested outside the offices of the Star Tribune on Wednesday, criticizing the paper's thin coverage of the October 26 anti-war march and rally in St. Paul. LIFT A PINT FOR THE POOR A curious, but thirst-quenching partnership is quietly raising money for a local homeless shelter. NICOLLET ISLAND DONKEY DIES, MAY BE MEMORIALIZED Sheba the donkey, a celebrated Nicollet Island resident during the '70s and '80s, has died. And her artist owner would like to erect a statue in the donkey's honor. ********************************************************** The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. �2002 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription. Editor: Craig Cox Deputy Assistant Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow Online technical assistance: Christopher Pollard Equine consultant and correspondent: Nora Cox Perspective: Martin Cox ******************************************************* Fight media consolidation! Support the independent press! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper! ******************************************************* _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
