Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
March 13, 2001 - The state's five largest HMO's say they will offer all the same standard treatments and prevention efforts for 50 common ailments like breast cancer and diabetes. The agreement marks the first time all of the major health plans in a state will endorse a set of guidelines to make patient care better and more cost effective. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 13, 2001 - Independent bookstores strike at online book dealers.
March 13, 2001 - Despite exploding consumer demand, the state's Department of Agriculture plans to slash funding to organic and sustainable programs under a budget proposal currently awaiting legislative approval. Under the 2002-2003 budget, money will be redirected to new initiatives designed to attract a broader range of farmers. The state's agriculture commissioner says his department needs to invest money in more market friendly programs, despite numbers from the Organic Trade Association indicating US sales of organic produce has jumped more than 122-percent since 1996. Mainstreet's Erin Galbally reports the first of two stories on the state's shifting marketing philosophy when it comes to agriculture.
March 13, 2001 - Every year, Minnesota spends 850 million dollars caring for the state's elderly in nursing homes. As baby-boomers approach retirement, long-term care experts worry that unless changes occur those costs could skyrocket. A tri-partisan task-force studied the issue last summer and wants the state to meet consumer demand by creating a better system of home and community based care. But the transformation will not be cheap. The task-force, the governor and the industry all expect the state to spend over a 100 million dollars in the 2 year budget to start this system. In the second part in our three-part series on long-term care "A Question of Dignity" Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck examines the legislative proposals.
March 13, 2001 - Minnesota could become the first state in the country to subsidize parental leave. A bill introduced yesterday in the Senate outlines a plan that allows employers to volunteer to pay 1/3 of a new parent's wages, with the state and the employee picking up the remaining two thirds. Current law requires employers to offer unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks. St. Paul Senator Ellen Anderson is the author of the bill. She says the plan benefits employees AND employers:
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March 14, 2001 - It was another rough day on Wall Street... the Dow dropped more than 300 points, slipping below the ten-thousand level for the first time since October. An increase in profit warnings from big companies is one reason the market is down. Northwest Airlines, for example, announced today it expects to lose up to 150 (M)million dollars in the quarter ending March 31st. But the local impact of the gloom on Wall Street reaches far beyond poor earnings for one company. Economist Sung Won Sohn says Minnesota's economy is still relatively strong. But bad news on Wall Street can serve as a warning of tough times ahead:
March 14, 2001 - A prayer service this morning (Wednesday) at the Cathedral of Saint Paul marked the beginning of extensive rehabililitation work on the structure. Workers will replace the Cathedral's 60-thousand square foot roof and refinish the buildings exterior. Church officials say the $35 million renovation will bring about some significant changes to the 85-year old structure. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 14, 2001 - Norm Coleman used his final State of the City speech to take an imaginary journey through Saint Paul in the year 2004. The technique allowed Coleman - who is not seeking a third term as mayor - to count as successes a number of projects still in the works and some that are not even that far along, including three new professional sports facilities. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
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