Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
August 17, 2000 - Monica Webber, from Staples, Minnesota, is an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention . She is a student at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph and has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
August 17, 2000 - Donald Blom will be sentenced today for kidnapping and murdering Katie Poirier. He now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The sentencing comes just one day after a jury found him guilty. Minnesota Stephanie Hemphill reports on events at the courthouse in Virginia Wednesday. The St Louis County courtroom was packed, and the tension evident after five weeks of difficult and emotional testimony. Judge Gary Pagliacetti sternly warned against any outbursts regardless of the verdict. But when the crowd heard the word "guilty," a collective gasp of relief and satisfaction broke out. Defense attorney Rodney Brodin asked for a poll of the jury, and as each juror was called by name, they said yes, that is my verdict. Throughout Donald Blom was still, his hands clasped on the table in front of him, no emotion on his face. Katie Poirier's mother, Pam Poirier, sobbed silently and curled against her son Patrick. Outside, there were tears, grins and hugs, and people applauded as the Poirier family walked out of the courthouse for the last time.
August 17, 2000 - Northern States Power Company's merger with Denver-based New Century Energies is about to be finalized. Today the Securities and Exchange Commission gave its approval to the merger that will create a new company valued at nearly nine BILLION dollars. Company officials say they will close the deal tomorrow . Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
August 17, 2000 -
August 17, 2000 - The Sierra Club, the Humane Society of the United States, and other groups have filed a lawsuit to try to overturn Minnesota's wolf management plan. The groups say the plan will open the way for widespread killing of wolves across the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
August 17, 2000 - Vice-President Al Gore will take center stage stage tonight -- just minutes after running mate Joseph Lieberman called on the party to unite around the ticket. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
August 17, 2000 - Donald Blom has received the maximum possible sentence in Minnesota - life in prison without parole - for kidnapping and murdering Katie Poirier. Today's sentencing hearing in Carlton was another dramatic episode in a case that has left many people feeling relieved but still angry. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. { The Poirier family asked that sentencing take place on Monday so they could have more time to prepare their victim impact statements. But in court, both of Katie's parents and her brother talked about how her murder has affected their lives. Steve Poirer, Katie's father, said to Donald Blom, "I don't know what God has coming for you but hopefully he'll allow Katie to put some boards on your fire."
August 17, 2000 - For approximately a decade now victims or their families have had the right to speak in court in Minnesota before sentencing. Professor Paul Jones from the William Mitchell School of Law says that it's a crucial component of the trial process.
August 17, 2000 - The athletes may get all the attention at the Olympic games. But behind the scenes, a 47-member U-S Olympic medical staff makes sure they are physically up to the challenge. Winning a spot on the medical team is no easy task... applicants must spend years volunteering with the U-S Olympic committee and then go through an intense evaluation process... and they must be willing to work for free. Park Nicollet chiropractor Andrew Klein passed the test and will head to Sydney with the team in mid-September. He says the pressure of preparing Olympic athletes for the biggest competition of their careers doesn't bother him:
August 17, 2000 - MPR’s Annie Feidt reports on a local team of adventure-enthusiasts competing in the Eco-Challenge held in Sabah, Malaysia. The four members of team Northstar have spent months preparing to endure the 300-mile race that will test their skills in jungle trekking, river paddling, sailing, scuba diving, caving and mountain biking.