Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
August 16, 2000 -
August 16, 2000 - Donald Blom is guilty of first degree murder in the killing of Katie Poirier. The jury in the case returned the verdict this afternoon, after debating for a little more than ten hours. Blom now faces an automatic sentence of life without parole: Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill was in the court room in Virginia this afternoon and joins us on the line. Stephanie: describe the scene in the courtroom as the verdict was read. What was Blom's reaction? What happened then? Members of the Poirier family talked with reporters immediately after the verdict. What did they say?
August 16, 2000 - Both Republicans and Democrats are aggressively courting African American voters this year, from the national conventions to outreach efforts in Minnesota's central cities. The Minnesota Republican Party formed a black Republican coalition this year, and D-F-L'ers are working hard to register African American voters. But it's clear from several recent events that bridging the gap between politicians and urban voters is no easy task. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 16, 2000 - The jury in the Donald Blom kidnapping and murder trial deliberated for four hours last night before retiring for the evening. The jury got the case after hearing several hours of closing arguements from prosecution and defense attorneys Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
August 16, 2000 - Opponents of a proposed amphitheater in Burnsville are moving in several new directions in hopes of blocking the development. Today citizen groups presented a petition asking the Metropolitan Council to intervene. Later this week the city of Bloomington plans to do the same. Amphitheater opponents also have lawsuits in the works. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
August 16, 2000 - The cycle of boom and bust has long been a part of life in the American West. For the tiny town of Mountain City, Nevada it's bust time again. Over the years gold, silver and copper miners have come and gone. These days its the Forest Service that's leaving and that's got the tiny town wondering if it will be around much longer. Gregory Martin spent many summers in Mountain City as a child, visiting his grandparents and aunt and uncle who ran the town's only store. Eventually the aspiring young writer realized he should chronical the story of these real life characters before they and their town disappear. His new book is called "Mountain City."
August 16, 2000 - Elmer L. Andersen says his three ambitions in life as a young man were to be a dairy farmer, serve in the legislature and run a newspaper...he made all three dreams come true during his 91 years. In addition, he learned to fly from Charles Lindbergh, became Governor of Minnesota and built a billion-dollar business. At this moment, he is celebrating the publication of his biography, "A Man's Reach," at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center. I met up with him at his home today, where he talked about what inspired him to jump into politics:
August 17, 2000 - The location of a proposed Hiawatha light rail station in Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood has placed business owners at odds with residents, and public housing dwellers at odds with their neighbors. Originally the station would have been located some distance from Cedar Avenue, farther from businesses and bus connections. A new redesign places the station closer to pedestrians and commerce, but residents of a nearby public housing complex say the station would be right in their front yard. Wednesday's public hearing gave residents a chance to try and influence the final choice. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
August 17, 2000 - Canadian grain farmers may grow the same varieties of wheat and barley as their US neighbors, but the countries market their crop in different ways. Canada's grain growers are required to sell their crop through a government-sponsored Wheat Board - a system that agriculture officials in North Dakota have been considering. While North Dakota contemplates a voluntary version of Canada's Wheat Board, farmers across the boarder are itching for its abolishment. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this Mainstreet report. {Art Anse still has a few neighbors along his packed dirt road miles from the nearest town - farms in southern Manitoba are becoming increasingly rare. In 1936 half of Canada's population made their living off of the land. Today, that number has dwindled to fewer than 3%. Surrounded by fields of wheat, beans and yellow canola, Anse wonders how much longer his neighbors will stay on the farm. He argues the problem is the Canadian Wheat Board, a government agency started during World War II which he believes has lost its purpose. Swatting misquotes away, Anse says the board stifles innovation forcing more and more farmers to leave their fields behind.
August 17, 2000 - Community healing was on the lips of several hundred residents of Saint Paul's East Side neighborhood last night (Wednesday) at East Immanuel Church. Their prayers for unity and peace are a response to a string of violent crimes killing three and wounding two in their neighborhood. The most recent incident was just yesterday morning. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports.