Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
February 3, 1998 - Authorities have charged a Grand Rapids High School student with making terroristic threats. Eighteen-year-old Derrick Marttila faces three felony counts. Police says several students told investigators Marttila repeatedly threatened to bomb the school and shoot students whose religious beliefs differ from his own. Police dispatcher Amy Olson says officers started investigating the threats before the Littleton, Colorado school shooting. She says police arrested the teen when other students became increasignly afraid Marttila would act on his threats: police are still investigating. They believe the suspect was acting alone in his threats.
February 3, 1998 - A chemical engineering professor is set to testify about the ingredients in cigarettes today at Minnesota's tobacco trial. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The State's lead attorney is expected to call Channing Robertson--a Stanford University Chemical Engineering professor. Robertson has testified as an expert witness in a number of other trials including a southern California toxic waste case and lawsuits involving I-U-D birth control devices. Later in the week attorneys are expected to call to the stand Walker Merryman who directs the tobacco industry's public relations and lobbying group--The Tobacco Institute. Also set to testify--Bennett LeBow who heads Liggett tobacco Liggett has settled its case with the State of Minnesota but not
February 3, 1998 - The second witness in Minnesota's tobacco trial today said cigarette companies have long known they're in the business of delivering nicotine, not tobacco. The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota allege the tobacco industry manipulated nicotine content to make cigarettes more addictive. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
February 3, 1998 - The Twins stadium is alive again at the State Legislature…just two months after lawmakers killed it. The stadium's chief cheerleader this time around is State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Roy Terwilliger, who says he has a plan Minnesotans will like a lot better than anything the Twins proposed last year.
February 3, 1998 - Best-selling author Tom Clancy is the new majority owner of the Minnesota Vikings. The offer is for about $200 million and surpasses the record price paid for a National Football League franchise. Clancy pledges to keep the team in Minnesota and wants to make the Vikings one of the premier franchises in the NFL. Minnesota Public Radio's Perry Finelli reports.
February 3, 1998 - This year's race for Governor could be the most expensive in the state's history. Its the first time since 1982 the seat has been open. A field of big name democrats is leading the race for campaign contributions. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
February 3, 1998 - A federal judge has denied an environmental group's request to halt logging at the Little Alfie tract in the Superior National Forest. District Judge John Tunheim's ruling means that a stand of old red pine trees could be logged, as early as next week. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports from Duluth.
February 3, 1998 - Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson gives his state of the state address tomorrow at noon. He's among the last governors in the nation to deliver his message; some forty governors have already done so. With the national economy in such good shape, most governors have delighted in giving good news: jobs are plentiful, inflation is low, and violent crime is down. Arne Carlson will be giving his last state of the state tomorrow, and is expected to leave his mark on education, the environment and other areas. Raymond Scheppach is the executive director of the National Governors Association. He says governors all around the country are both reviewing similar accomplishments, and outlining a vision for their state's future.
February 3, 1998 - The top athletes in the sport of curling will compete for an Olympic medal for the first time this year in Nagano, Japan. Among those vying for a medal with the American men's team are two curlers from St. Paul and two from Wisconsin. One of those is Mike Peplinski (puh-PLIN-ski). He lives in Eau Claire and teaches seventh grade in Alma along the Mississippi River. This summer he faces another battle. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports. Sound of Peplinski practicing- sliding along the ic
February 3, 1998 - Novelist Tom Clancy is the new lead owner of the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings owners announced today Clancy and a group of investors will pay more than $200 million for the team. Clancy isn't new to pro-sports ownership. He's already part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. He also tried to buy the New England Patriots four years ago but he lost that bid. "Baltimore Sun" Sports Columnist Ken Rosenthal says it's clear Clancy has a real interest in major league sports, but he has not had much impact as a minority owner.