Inside the Box

Oprah To Say Goodbye

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:47:22 GMT

After 25 seasons, Oprah has decided to bring her show to an end.

Oprah will talk to viewers about the decision live on Friday's show.

It will end in September of 2011.

That's a long goodbye -- 20 more months of Oprah -- and her staff says they plan to make history before becoming history.

So what do you think about Oprah's big news?

Will you miss seeing her everyday? What about a replacement -- what do you think should take that 4 p.m. time slot here on WCCO?

Should The Vikings Stay Or Go?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:53:49 GMT

A plan passed by part of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission would keep the Vikings in the Metrodome until 2013. That idea passed the finance committee yesterday.

It would extend the lease they have right now for two years. The current lease expires in 2011.

The idea is to keep the Vikings here in town and give them some extra time to work on getting a new stadium through the legislature.

But the Vikings aren't too keen on the idea -- they are still hopeful they can get a deal done for a new place to play in downtown Minneapolis.

So what do you think? Should the Vikings take the deal and stick it out in the Dome for a few more years as they work to get a new stadium?

Or do you think lawmakers should step up in the 2010 session and find a way to get the Vikes a new place to play?

Who Should Pay For Health Care?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:56:52 GMT

A new poll shows most Americans wouldn't mind seeing the rich pay for health care insurance for people who have none.

An Associated Press poll shows 57 percent are in favor of the idea, with 36 percent opposed.

The House proposal would have the rich pay for the president's health care overhaul. That concept was the only one that got majority support in a number of questions on health care reform.

So what do you think? Should the rich foot the bill for people who need health care coverage or is there a better way to pay?

Step inside the box and have your say.

An Invasion Of Privacy?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:12:12 GMT

A teacher in Northfield is now changing a method he used to help motivate his students.

After a test, he would post the names and grades of students who got As and Bs on a board in front of the class.

It turns out that was against the law -- because it violates a student's privacy.

The teacher was told to stop doing that and he did.

But it creates an interesting question -- how much information is too much when it comes to a student's grade?

Do you think the teacher was wrong to highlight the kids who did well like that?

Northstar Commuter Rail

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:10:03 GMT

Just a few more days and people in some of the northern suburbs will be able to ride the new Northstar Commuter Rail.

The Northstar line will run from Big Lake into downtown Minneapolis, with stops in Elk River, Anoka, Coon Rapids and Fridley.

Riders will be able to connect with the Hiawatha Light Rail to go all the way to the airport or the Mall of America.

Of course, plans are also in the works for light rail between Minneapolis and St. Paul, and there's also been discussion about a line going from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.

So what do you think about the expansion of light rail in the metro? Will you ride the Northstar and would you be interested in a new light rail going through your community? Or are you opposed to spending money on mass transit and would prefer to drive?

Step Inside the Box at and have your say.

Teens and Drinking

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:54:17 GMT

Police want to know who gave a 15-year-old boy alcohol. The teenager from St. Paul died over the weekend.

Friends brought Bee Vue home from a party early Sunday morning. His family called police 5 hours later when he wasn't responding. When paramedics got to the home, Vue was dead.

Police aren't exactly sure how the high school freshman died. They are awaiting final autopsy results. Vue's family just wants to know who gave him the alcohol.

So what are your thoughts on the topic of teens and drinking? Are we doing enough to help kids understand the dangers of alcohol?

And what about punishment for people who provide alcohol to minors -- are we tough enough?

Health Care Overhaul Moves to Senate

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:10:54 GMT

The House has passed its health care reform plan -- now its the Senate's turn. But it could be a while before the Senate is ready to vote.

There are still a lot of differences between the bill passed by the House and the one being tossed around in the Senate. The House version of the bill will require employers to provide coverage -- the Senate doesn't.

The House bill would pay for that added coverage expansion by raising taxes on the rich. The Senate would use taxes and fees to cover the costs.

And then there's the total cost issue.

The House version would cost the U.S just over a trillion dollars over 10 years. The Senate version is just under $900 billion.

So what do you think about the bill passed by the House? Do you agree with their plan to change our health care system? What about the Senate? What would you like to see them do?

Flyover Country, Redux

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:57:19 GMT

The two Northwest pilots who overshot our airport are now trying to get their licenses back.

The flight from San Diego had 144 passengers on board, when it flew past the Twin Cities and into Wisconsin, before the pilots realized their mistake.

Captain Timothy Cheney and first officer Richard Cole say they were working on their laptops, when they failed to communicate with the tower for 91 minutes.

A spokesperson for the NTSB now says Cheney and Cole are trying to get their licenses reinstated by filing an appeal with the agency.

So what do you think about that appeal -- should the pilots be able to keep their licenses?

And what about their jobs – do you think they should be allowed to keep working?

H1N1 Vaccine Clinics In Schools

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:21:48 GMT

Health Officials here in Minnesota are asking Twin Cities schools to take part in a mass vaccination program.

They hope to set up these clinics starting the week of Nov. 16, that is, if they have enough vaccine available.

Students under age nine would be the first to get vaccinated – that’s because those kids will need to get a booster shot about a month later.

The student’s parents would have to sign a consent form before the shot can be given.

What do you think about this plan to vaccinate students at school?

Should schools be required to do this?

Ranked Choice Voting

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:55:27 GMT

It's Election Day with the mayors of both Minneapolis and St. Paul up for re-election.

In Minneapolis, they're using a new voting system called Ranked Choice Voting, which lets them pick their top three candidates in races with more than one person running.

The ballot has three columns. You fill in the oval for one person in each of them, ranking your first, second and third choices.

In St. Paul, voters are deciding if they also want to have that system in place in future elections there.

So what do you think about this new way of voting in Minneapolis? Should more cities follow suit?

Step Inside the Box and have your say.