September 18, 1998 - Ten years ago Phillips residents defeated a plan to build a garbage plant in the Minneapolis neighborhood. This (Friday) afternoon, a group breaks ground for a new office building on the site where the garbage facility was to be built. Organizers say the fight ten years ago plant gave residents the skills to begin the rehabilitation of Phillips, one of Minneapolis' poorest neighborhoods. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. The Phillips garbage transfer station was part of the plan for a huge downtown Minneapolis garbage burning plant. Neighborhood resident Jennifer Naglack remembers the scope of the plan got peoples' attention when the bullzdozers showed up. The city had bought homes and businesses in an area of Phillips called Hungry Hollow, next to highway 55 or Hiawatha avenue and 28th street.
September 22, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from Sioux Falls. Program highlights the farm crisis, and the low crop prices. Mark Steil interviews Stan Stevens, University of Minnesota Extension Economist, who shares insights on the factors playing into low prices, including weather and production risk.
September 22, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from Sioux Falls. Program highlights the controversy over the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern coal train. The railroad wishes to create large expansion as coal hauler from Wyoming, through South Dakota, and into southern Minnesota. Mark Steil interviews Kevin Schieffer, president of Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad; and Paul Wilson, co-chair of Olmsted DM&E taskforce.
September 25, 1998 - With 1998 Major League Baseball season coming to a close, MPR’s William Wilcoxen looks at the gloomy outlook for Minnesota Twins as play on the field and empty seats in the Metrodome do not bode well for the future.
September 30, 1998 - "The World Turned Upside Down," an American RadioWorks documentary about deflation, with MPR's Steven Smith and Chris Farrell. Contains various interviews and commentary.
November 6, 1998 - Farmers and producers around the nation are competing for more than one-billion dollars in cash payments for land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program... The program, created in 1985, protects fragile farmland by paying selected farmers to stop growing crops on highly erodible land...as Mainstreet Radio's Hope Deutscher reports, the program is particularly tempting to some farmers during the current farm crisis... Around the nation, thousands of farmers are sitting through meetings such as this one in Barnesville...they are learning the r
November 10, 1998 - At a time when most cities can boast of a decade or more of prosperity and job growth, Rochester Minnesota is particularly fortunate. The city's economic growth consistantly outpaces the rest of the state. The city's humming economy and family-friendly environment has put it in Money Magazine's top three places to live in the nation for the past six years. The cornerstone of success is the expansive Mayo Clinic which employs nearly a quarter of Rochester's population. But much of the recent growth has been fueled by a network of technology development and manufacturing firms. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports that cut-backs by one of the city's largest empoloyers spurred city and business leaders to cultivate a stronger economic foundation. The shock of downsizing hit Rochester hard five years ago when IBM---the city's second largest employer--layed off some two-thousand people.
November 11, 1998 - for weds m.e. When Northwest Airlines tried to win back customers after a walkout by its pilots union, the airline offered double and triple frequent flyer miles for travel. That strategy was testimony to the popularity of frequent flyer miles, which have been called the most powerful marketing programs in history. But with their popularity is coming criticism that frequent flyer plans promise more than they deliver. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports. Frequent Flyer plans were designed to promote airline customer loyalty. They were so successful, companies in other industries
November 11, 1998 - FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING A report released today (WED) says Minnesota faces a serious labor shortage that could threaten its economic future. The report from the Citizens League says the state needs fundamental change in its approach to economic development. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports. Creating jobs is the focus of economic development and has been for decades. But the Citizen League report says in the face of a serious labor shortage that needs to change. Citizen League executive director Lyle Ray says to put it in pers
November 11, 1998 - An early season winter storm left too little snow to open northeast Minnesota snowmobile or ski trails; but it did lift spirits of business people hard hit last year's mild winter. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports: The difference between "El Nino" and "La Nina" could mean millions of dollars for Northern Minnesota. Last year "El Nino" brought dry pleasant and relatively snow-free conditions to Northern Minnesota. Climatoligists are predicting "La Nina" will produce the opposite, bringing much colder weather than normal and an extra punch of snow. That's the best of news for the region's ski hills, winter resorts and many small business people across the state. Duluth Lawn and Sport relies on snowmobiles and sn