Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
February 18, 1998 - Lively debate is expected at a public forum tonight on redeveloping Block E in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. The blighted Hennepin Avenue block was demolished a decade ago, and has languished ever since. But recently the city granted exclusive development rights to a group including Brookfield Management Services of Minneapolis and Anaheim based DDRM. Their plan for a suburban style mall would require the demolition of the abandoned historic Schubert Theatre. Preservationist Judy Nicewander, member of the group "Save Our Shubert", says the building should be saved because it is irreplaceable.
February 18, 1998 - In a celebratory mood after winning the gold medal in Women's hockey, players were asked by the media, "what next?" Well, there's a Hawaiin vacation, and a trip to the White House...and maybe even a Wheaties Box in their future. As St. Paul native Alana Blahosky asked, "Why not us?" Since 1935, when javelon-thrower Babe Dedrickson showed up on a Wheaties box, it's been a tradition for Olympic Athletes to show off their medals and help sell the so-called "The breakfast of Champions." Jack Sheehan at General Mills says the Wheaties people are busy scouting the games for the next champion, and the women's hockey team is definately in the running:
February 18, 1998 - Minneapolis and St. Paul city employees are a step closer to being able to live wherever they choose. A legislative committee has approved a bill that would end those two cities' requirements that employees live in the city. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the state capitol.
February 18, 1998 - Minnesota's largest realty company, Burnet Realty, has been purchased by NRT, the largest real estate company in the nation. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
February 18, 1998 - Eighty families face eviction from their east St. Paul apartments in April. The buildings near Lake Phalen are being demolished to make way for middle income town homes. Most of the families will get taxpayer help in the form of relocation money and a lump sum settlement. But advocates for the families say the closing of the Lakewood Apartments is another example of how city efforts to spruce up neighborhoods often come at the expense of poor people. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.
February 19, 1998 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports that Governor Carlson has asked Major League Baseball to give Minnesota one more chance…and one more year, to try to save the Twins. Debate continues at the Capitol on how that could happen.
February 19, 1998 - In Minnesota's tobacco trial a former Philip Morris Vice President yesterday denied knowing about an industry conspiracy to suppress research into smoking and health. Helmut Wakeham testified on videotape about documents he wrote in the 1960's and 70's while he worked in research and development for Philip Morris. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
February 19, 1998 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports on end of another stadium bill at State Capitol. The sponsors of the latest Twins stadium plan threw in the towel, as the bill's author, Harris DFLer Loren Jennings, announced he was withdrawing the plan from consideration, just hours before a crucial committee hearing.
February 19, 1998 - In Bloomington today officials signed a pioneering program to clean up the Minnesota River. It will pay farmers to set aside as much as 190 thousand acres, nearly 300 square miles, of river bottom farmland. The green buffer strip will reduce the amount of sediment and farm chemical runoff polluting one of the nation's dirtiest rivers. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
February 19, 1998 - One of the most innovative performers in contemporary jazz will play at the Walker Art Center tonight. Clarinetist Don Byron has been described as a genre hopping, highly eclectic composer and musician, who's absorption in jazz history is as strong as his desire to forge new musical paths. Byron's forays into classical, latin, carribean, and klezmer music make him hard to label as an artist. His latest cd, Bug Music, fastidiously transcribes the work of two forgotten swing-era band leaders, Raymond Scott and John Kirby. Tonight at the Walker, Byron will perform his own score of a 1920s-era African American silent film called "Scar of Shame." Byron talked with Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts about his adventurous musical tastes and why some jazz musicians and critics have a problem with them. | D-CART ITEM: 3499 | TIME: 5:49 (music to 6:56)