September 7, 1998 - Production this tomato season in Minnesota has been off the charts. Warm days and timely rains have fueled the growth of the luscious red fruit. But you'd never know it's been a stellar season judging by the tomatos being served at most restaurants. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. For reasons not entirely clear, The French call them "love apples"... but restaurant reviewer Bebe Newell's recent visit to a pricey Minneapolis dining establishment with wonderful service, pleasant decor and great food included one unlovable exception. audio . . . and there on the plate next to this gorgeous food was this pale, pink, hard skinned, mushy thing.
September 7, 1998 - Negotiators for Northwest Airlines and the Pilots Union took Labor Day off today, after a weekend of federally mediated "exploratory talks" in Chicago yielded no progress. The Air Line Pilots Association decided to give some of its members a break from the walkout by holding a morale-building picnic at a Minneapolis park. As Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports, some of the pilots and their families found themselves developing a new appreciation for Labor Day.
September 7, 1998 - The last day of the Minnesota State Fair is more than just one last opportunity to walk around in public eating fried cheese on sticks. Today is the culmination of the 4-H livestock competitions, when all the prize-winning animals go up for auction. The bids are well above market price, and the money is split between local charities and the 4-H kids who raised the winning animals.
September 8, 1998 - Northwest Airlines says it will help its regional airlines Mesaba and Express One resume flying.....within the constraints of its current pilot strike. That comes in response to a federal transportation department order last Friday. Mesaba and Express One shut down their operations last week saying they were too intertwined with Northwest to fly when Northwest pilots were on strike. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The department of transportation ordered Northwest to provide its regional airlines with the same resources it gave them *before* Northwest pilots went on strike. That includes: ticketing; scheduling, banking and ground services. Northwest said it cannot guarantee how long or to what it extent it will help Mesaba and Express One...but it will *try* to help both airlines get back in the air.
September 9, 1998 - The first public meeting to tell people about plans for the proposed Hiawatha Avenue light rail transit line will be held tonight in Minneapolis. The meeting is at the Air National Guard base next to Twin Cities International Airport. It's one of the first opportunities for people to learn about plans for buildling light rail through several Minneapolis neighborhoods from downtown to the Mall of America. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. Tonight's open house is being billed as an information not a planning session, and Longfellow resident Duane Townsend has some questions. Plans call for three light rail stations in his Minneapolis neighborhood. Townsend is the Longfellow Community Council president and an LRT supporter. He says the station plans he has seen don't include parking spaces for cars. LRT planners want to use buses to bring lrt riders to stations. Townsend says many riders
September 9, 1998 - National Mediation Board talks with Northwest Airlines and its pilots' union continue today in the Twin Cities. The discussions aimed a renewing actual contract talks began over the weekend in Chicago. Yesterday high level Clinton adminstration officals checked in on the discussions. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
September 9, 1998 - The five gubernatorial candidates running in the D-F-L primary debated the issues on the Minnesota News Network last night. They weren't allowed to mention Republican candidate Norm Coleman, so they criticized frontrunner Skip Humphrey on his tax cut plan, abortion and stadium funding. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... The five agree on many issues - they support tax cuts, more spending on education and health care, and the need to end Northwest Airlines' dominance in Minnesota. They oppose using taxpayer dollars for a new Twins stadium. But in a competitive five-way race, they need to distinguish themselves from their primary opponents without bloodying each other an
September 10, 1998 - (old for morning. Just duping for archive purposes!) The striking Northwest pilots are reportedly considering a contract proprosal that could end the 13 day old strike. The Star-Tribune newspaper is reporting the PILOT'S UNION MASTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL could vote on the package WITHIN A FEW DAYS. There's still a news blackout on the talks going on now at a Plymouth hotel. Northwest's regional partner, Mesaba, is resisting a Department of Transportation order to resume flights despite a lawsuit filed by the D-O-T in federal court yesterday. Today Northwest filed an emergency motion to stay the order. Mesaba spokesman Warren Wilkinson says the commuter airline can't justify renewing service for the small number of customers expected to use it while Northwest pilots are still on strike.
September 10, 1998 - Naitonal Mediation Board efforts to resolve the Northwest Airlines pilots strike continue for a third say today at a suburban Minneapolis hotel. The White House has stepped up its involvement in the talks. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports... Sun 28-MAY 08:59:43 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2
September 10, 1998 - USE THIS VERSION--CORRECTS DCART # As the Northwest Pilots strike continues it is prompting some comparisons to the strike that led to the demise of Eastern Airlines. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has this look at the two situations, and how Northwest is likely to emerge from the pilots strike.