Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
September 21, 2000 - About 100 people attended a community meeting last night in northeast Minneapolis to talk about the Environmental Protection Agency's asbestos investigation. The EPA says they've inspected 150 residential properties within a square mile of the former Western Minerals processing plant. The company processed asbestos tainted with vermiculite and the government agency is worried the mineral could be in the yards and driveways of many residents. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
September 21, 2000 - Just north of Grand Forks, Walsh County North Dakota residents are tired of dealing with flooding along the Red River of the North. The Red is the county's eastern border and over the last decade repeated flooding has left millions of dollars in damage and high levels of frustration. Now some folks are calling for a buy out of up to 26,000 acres of eastern Walsh county to return it to wetlands for flood water storage. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports.
September 21, 2000 - In Minnesota, Xcel Energy, formerly known as NSP, says customers can expect to pay as much as 50 percent more for natural gas heat this winter. Last month, the company was projecting a 20 percent rise in winter heating bills, but a surge in natural gas prices forced Xcel to revise its forecast. Scott Holtz, a gas supply manager for Xcel Energy, says the world's oil producers are responsible for the rate increase. Both Senator Paul Wellstone and Senator Rod Grams are asking the President to set aside 500 million dollars to help low income families pay for heat this winter. But they don't agree on who's to blame for the sharp increase.
September 22, 2000 - The Ventura administration is considering whether to join five other states in extending benefits to the domestic partners of state employees. Ventura recently directed his commissioner of employee relations to study the cost and feasibility of domestic partner benefits, which could include health care and other insurance. The proposal will have to go before the legislature, where it could face significant opposition. Anne DeGroot is the director of outfront Minnesota, an advocacy group for gays and lesbians. She's happy to see the state taking this step:
September 22, 2000 - Meteorlogist Mark Seeley talks about this week's weather news, and the cold spell.
September 22, 2000 - More than 10,000 new words appear in Fourth Edition of The American Heritage Dictionary. From "mommy track" to "domain name" the editors of the dictionary have tried to keep pace with America's ever changing lexicon. The last edition of the dictionary came out about eight years ago. Joe Pickett is the Executive Editor of the American Heritage Dictionary. He says that new words come from many sources.
September 22, 2000 - Sugar beet farmers in Minnesota and North Dakota are gearing up for the fall harvest, and at the same time, plowing under thousands of acres of beets. The federal goverment is paying farmers to destroy part of the crop in hopes of reducing a sugar surplus. It also appears sugar cooperatives will default on government loans, leaving the government with thousands of tons of sugar. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
September 22, 2000 - Three-year-old Parker Sebens of Milnor, North Dakota is in critical condition at North Memorial Hospital in the Twin Cities suburb of Robbinsdale. A surgeon for the boy whose arms were severed in a farm accident said the injuries were so traumatic that she simply hopes to save the boy's life, and that restoring the function of his arms is a secondary concern. Harvest time is when most farm accidents occur. Marilyn Adams, president and founder of Farm Safety for Just Kids, comments.
September 22, 2000 - Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader is in Minneapolis tonight for a fundraiser and rally at the Target Center. Nader, who has been waging a media campaign to be included in the upcoming presidential debates, also took time to outline his agricultural policies during a state capitol news conference. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
September 22, 2000 -