August 26, 1998 - (Saint Paul Wednesday ATC) There is a general sense of contentment among Americans about the good state of the nation's economy. Yet, here in Minnesota, family farmers are said to be facing a crisis because of low crop prices and a series of natural disasters. It's an issue that's now become part of the governror's race. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen Louise Boothe reports: Fall Harvest begins in less than a month. Even though a BOUNTY is expected there's little optimism among some farmers because of low commodity prices. Democrats place the blame on the Republican-backed Freedom to Farm bill that phased out federal price subsidies. In this year's mid-term elections, they're
August 26, 1998 - A strike by Northwest Airlines pilots would leave many people in the Dakotas and greater Minnesota stranded without alternative transportation. Northwest dominates the air service and other carriers aren't able to pick up the extra passengers. Bus routes are available once or twice a day but as Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports in the event of a strike people are better off staying put or driving to where they want to go. It isn't easy getting where you want to go from Sioux Falls. For example to get to Fresno, California passengers fly first to Minneapolis then to Salt Lake City, next to Los Angeles - finally, to Fresno. Still Northwest has more than 50 percent of the market share for the area. In the event of a strike five-hundred people a day would have to find alternative trans
August 27, 1998 - (UPDATED FOR THURS M.E.) Reports flew Wednesday that Northwest and its pilots are close to settling a two-year old contract dispute and possibly averting a strike tomorrow (Friday). The strike would cripple air service in Minnesota and strand thousands of travellers. But Northwest announced it's cancelled 400 weekend flights and has already stopped accepting cargo. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: Despite a flurry of reports ranging from a settlement was close at hand to both sides had reached a tentative agreement...Northwest management and pilots were quick to deny any settlement was near: Northwest's Jon Austin: (talks are continuing we continue to put reasona
August 27, 1998 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports on the struggle to find temporary workers for the many exhibitors and booths at the Minnesota State Fair this year. The Minnesota State Fair is big. One of the top five in the nation. Last year the fair broke its own attendance record with more than 1.6 million visitors. This year there's been some concern about how LATE the fair has its run. The calendar has pushed the dates back by nearly a week. As a result, while the fair is on, thousands of students will have to head back to the classroom.
August 27, 1998 - In dueling advertisements, Northwest Airlines and its pilots union are trading shots over the value of stock the pilots' received in return for a pay cut that helped the company avert bankruptcy. The stock was part of nearly 900 million dollars in wage and benefit concessions negotiated in 1993 with the airline's largest unions. As a strike deadline tomorrow night approaches, both sides accuse the other using advertisements to mislead the the public over what the pilots got. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has more. Ads placed by the Airline Pilots Association in today's major twin cities dailies refer to the concessions and a fifteen and a half percent pay cut the pilots accepted. It also says Northwest executives
August 27, 1998 - Along with cancelling hundreds of flights, as of eleven last (WED) night, Northwest Airlines also stopped taking any additional cargo shipments, putting many Minnesota businesses in a bind but it seems those businesses are making do. Minnesota Public Radio's John Rabe reports.
August 27, 1998 - U.S. Stocks plunged today on word the economic crisis in Russia is deepening. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 357 points, its third biggest point loss in history. In the broader market, declining issues swamped advances three to one on heavy volume of 940 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street took its direction from overseas stocks, which woke up to find that Russia's financial crisis took on a more political bent as pressure mounted for President Boris Yeltsin to quit. Ruble trading was also suspended for the second successive day. The Russian market plunged 20 percent, and the selling spilled over to other markets. Pete Anderson with American Express Financial Advisors in Minneapolis says events in Russia compound an already bad situation internationally, but he also says he considers today's activity a correction, and not the beginning of a bear market: | D-CART ITEM: 8987
August 27, 1998 - Negotiators for Northwest Airlines and the Airline Pilots' Association are talking now around the clock... hoping to avert strike set to begin tomorrow night at 11:01 central time. Both sides deny they're close to agreement on a contract. However Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports significant progress has apparantly been made toward a settlement. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM:8985 | TIME: 3:48s | OUTCUE: soc ---------------------------------------------------------
August 28, 1998 - George Wozniak, travel agent and president of Hobbit Travel in Twin Cities, returns to further discuss what travelers can expect in the event of a strike, and how best to strategize. Wozniak also answers listener questions. Program begins with a brief report on status of pending strike and what the negotiators are going through.
August 28, 1998 - With only hours left before a possible Northwest Airlines strike, air travelers in Bemidji are preparing for the worst. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson has the story... (sound of airplane) If Northwest Airlines pilots strike tonight, travelers departing Bemidji will have little choice but to leave town by car, bus, or by an expensive charter service. Mesaba Airlines Northwest Airlink Flight 3027 was among the