Greg Barron is a Peabody award winning reporter who worked in the MPR newsroom in the early 1970s.
February 5, 1974 - The trucker slowdown and strike is affecting grocery store supply and food distribution. Bill Hannan says he?s optimistic most large stores will outlast the truckers? strike due to a two week inventory in warehouses. However both he and Hugh Cosgrove, executive director of the Minnesota Food Retailers Association, urge consumers not to panic buy and hoard, Cosgrove says the news media has caused some panic buying; this has been completely unnecessary. For example a few weeks ago some press reported a shortage of toilet tissue. People panicked and bought ahead even though there was no shortage. He doesn?t foresee price increases because of shortages.
April 2, 1974 - Mr. Brown talks about a possible auto mechanics strike that will affect body work, mechanical repair, parts, and other services in the St. Paul, South St. Paul and White Bear areas. Workers want improvements in wages, hospitalization and pensions. After several meetings, including federal mediation, an offer to employees was deemed mediocre. He says employers have to recognize the great increase in the cost of living.
September 19, 1974 - The National Truck Rodeo meets in Minneapolis. Drivers navigate an obstacle course. First prize winner gets $1,000 and big rig bragging rights. Good defensive driving skills are what make a champion.
October 5, 1974 - Coverage of the homecoming of David Kunst, the first person to walk around the world, to his hometown of Waseca, Minnesota. Includes discussion with Kunst, and with residents of Waseca in reaction to Kunst's earlier comments disparaging aspects of Waseca.
November 7, 1974 - Three year debate over whether or not to install new coal terminal on Mississippi river at Pig's Eye Lake was ended with the report from D.D. Wozniak, an officer with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, who stated that the planned facility would result in an unhealthy amount of environmental degradation.
November 29, 1974 - Clyde Bellecourt was invited to participate in an international meeting of the World Council of Churches at Montreux, Switzerland, the first WCC to invite representation by Native Americans. He says the principal goal is to elicit support for American Indian treaty rights.
January 17, 1975 - Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey holds a press conference on January, 10 1975 in the Twin Cities. He talks about the United States in international matters, the energy crisis, and the economy.
April 11, 1975 - A special report on the life, history and problems of the Mexican-American in Minnesota.
May 9, 1975 - Greg Barron talks about his attempt to get information from the governor?s office. He says Governor Anderson prefers the Latch Lake site for Reserve Mining. Greg talks about the Environmental Policy Act. The Attorney General has sent a memo advising the governor against holding public hearings on technical feasibility on Latch Lake site until environmental impact statement, then hearings will start. EIS will analyze alternative sites, and rules about what sites must be chosen. Discussion of railroading the decision. This is the first breach between the attorney general and governor office, lawsuit may follow,
June 3, 1975 - Conference of American Industrial Hygiene Association. Explanation of what an industrial hygenist is. Objective is to protect the health of workers. Hygenists are trained in conditions that adversely affect health, to recognize occupational problems. Examples would be chemicals that would be objectionable although not damaging to health. More chemicals than ever in the workplace, learn more about how body responds. Four main stresses in workplace: chemical, physical, biological, ergonomics. Hygenists can be industry, government, academia. Talking about Industrial Hygiene