Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
August 28, 2000 - When it opened 22 years ago, the Minnesota Zoo was on the cutting edge of design. The exhibits were spacious. Herd animals could roam on acres of park land. And indoor species could perch in jungle trees or lounge in wading pools. But by today's standards, the Minnesota Zoo is outdated. At least that's what new zoo director, Lee Ehmke thinks. Ehmke, who started his job today, comes from the Bronx Zoo in New York where he drew rave reviews for designing a $50 million dollar Congo Gorilla Forest. He says while the Minnesota Zoo could use a facelift, it is still well respected throughout the world.
August 28, 2000 - The high cost of prescription drugs is becoming a key issue not only for Congress, but also for the Minnesota Legislature. House and Senate Democrats say passing a bill that lowers drug costs for Minnesotans without drug coverage is their top legislative priority, and Republicans say they're also concerned about the problem. But the drug industry is certain to oppose a state solution. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 29, 2000 - MPR’s Brandt Williams gets a tour of “The Electric Bus,” a portable sampler of Seattle's 240 million dollar interactive museum called the Experience Music Project. Inside the exhibit visitors can get a history lesson or play around with some high-tech toys.
August 29, 2000 - A state-sponsored task force presented a report to governor Jesse Ventura today on the state of Minnesota's minority businesses. The group says minority and immigrant entrepreneurs have a tougher time obtaining financing and other assistance, and suggests several ways the state government can help. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
August 29, 2000 - Hearings continue today on the Minnesota portion of the proposed power line between Duluth and Wausau Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports on last night's opening session. { The evening hearing started noisily. But once those crowd got into the hearing room, the discussion was detailed and wide-ranging. Technically, the question in this week's hearings is, should the short 12 mile section of the project in Minnesota be exempt from the normal environmental revuew? But opponents are discussing much broader questions about how we should power our lives. Speakers last night raisedf concerns about possible health effects of electromagnetic fields, more mercury in the environment, and lower property values. Northern Manitoba's Cross Lake Cree were represented by William Osborne. He said flooding from the massive hydroelectric power plants that the new line will allow to be sold in Wisconsin and throughout the midwest have destroyed his peoples way of life.
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August 29, 2000 - Last spring, another controversial food product hit the shelves. Irradiated beef is still a small percentage of overall beef sales, one of only two producers is in Minnesota, but Ron Eustice, Executive Director of the Minnesota Beef Council says that it has been very popular.
August 29, 2000 - The biggest fire in the history of the Black Hills National Forest continues to burn in South Dakota. The fire started late last week. A group of fire trucks and fire fighters from across central Minnesota left on Sunday to help keep buildings and other structures from catching fire. So far, the fire has burned more than 62-thousand acres of land about 10 miles west of Mount Rushmore. Joining us on the line is Tom Knappenberger, of the U.S. Forest Service.
August 29, 2000 - After several years of falling C-section rates, Caesarean births are increasing again. The national C-section rate is close to 22-percent of all births. The rates have been rising for the past three years, with a 4-percent increase last year alone. Dr. Bill Gold is the Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield. He says he's not sure why c-section rates are going up.
August 29, 2000 - By a 257-to-114 vote, union members approved a contract last night with the Pepsi Bottling Group, ending a two-month old strike by workers at the Pepsi bottling plant in Burnsville. Union officials had previously rejected two contract offers from the company. The union was seeking a three-year, four percent annual pay raise. They also wanted better retirement and health care benefits. Larry Yoswa is the head of Teamsters Local 792, and he's on the line now.