Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
December 20, 2000 - Putting Sara Jane Olson on trial is proving almost as hard as capturing her. Olson, the alleged 1970's bomber-turned contemporary St. Paul soccer mom, has won yet another delay in the start of her trial. A Los Angeles judge now says the trial will begin in April, more than a year after the original start date. From KPCC in Los Angeles, Frank Stoltze reports.
December 20, 2000 - For skiiers across the state bitter temperatures and treacherous roads are a small price to pay for picture perfect trail conditions, particularly after the mild and ski-unfriendly winters of recent years.
December 20, 2000 - Author Martin Goldmith says he owes his life to an orchestra that disappeared long before he was born. During the 1930's in Germany the Kulturbund orchestra, staffed entirely by Jewish musicians was used as a Nazi propaganda weapon. Goldsmith, the former host of National Public Radio's Performance Today, tells the story of the Kulturbund in his book "The Inextinguishable Symphony". He told Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Crann it is part of the very personal story of his family. Until recently he didn't even realize how his parents met. And they almost didn't. His father, a flutist, was within days of fleeing the country.
December 20, 2000 - State education officials say 56 Minnesota elementary schools are performing below expectations on state tests and need to make improvements. The list released today is based on third and fifth grade test scores and fulfills an accountability requirement for a federal program that helps disadvataged children. Education Commissioner Christine Jax calls the list a "valuable tool." But some school leaders say the list does more harm than good. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
December 20, 2000 - A blizzard is whipping up snow across much of the Red River Valley this evening. Visibility is down to zero in many areas and temperatures are dropping along with the wind chills. Forecaster Greg Gust, with the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota, says many of his co-workers barely made it to work this evening.
December 20, 2000 - Voices of Minnesota with legendary Guthrie Theatre costume designer Annette Garceau and Dick Goebel, a founder of America's Second Harvest, the country's largest food bank system. Also, Carl Anderson on his experiences in World War II and singing on an Armed Forces Christmas Eve NBC broadcast in 1941.
December 21, 2000 - The search for a new U.S. attorney in Minnesota is underway. Five names have been mentioned so far to replace Todd Jones, who will resign next month. President-elect George W. Bush will make the appointment. The President usually gets a list of nominees from the state's senators. But because Minnesota will have two Democratic Senators, it's not clear who will make the recommendations. David Lillehaug was Minnesota's U.S. attorney for four-and-a-half years. He left the post to run as a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate. Lillehaug says the U.S. attorney is the chief federal prosecutor for all federal criminal cases in Minnesota. The U.S. attorney also represents all federal agencies that sue or get sued in the state. Lillehauge says the job has a lot of power.
December 21, 2000 - Lawmakers are criticizing Governor Jesse Ventura's job as an XFL football commentator. One of them even wants to ban the governor from holding outside jobs, saying Ventura is using his office to get the work. The Governor has in turn said many state legislators hold jobs outside their official duties, and if they can do it, why can't he? State Senator Ember Reichgott-Junge joins MPR News to talk about what the rules are for legislators.
December 21, 2000 - MPR’s Dan Olson interviews Minneapolis-based harpist Nicholas Carter on Paraguayan style Christmas music.
December 21, 2000 - Future Tense for December 21st reports on religion and the Internet. Interviewee is Lee Rainie of the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which has just completed a survey of a thousand congregations. The point of the study is to examine the relationship between American spiritual life and the 'Net.