November 16, 1998 - Community groups say the city of Minneapolis is letting developers off the hook when it comes to creating living wage jobs. They say most developers who get city subsidies should pay their workers above the poverty level. But some councilmembers disagree. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports: A policy Minneapolis' city council passed early last year requires economic development projects receiving more than $100,000 dollars in city subsidies to create or retain living wage jobs. Those are defined as full-time jobs paying at least 10 percent more than the federal poverty level for a family of four. It works out to about $8.50 an hour -- about $17,000 a year. Jim Mangan of Progressive Minnesota, which pushed for th
November 17, 1998 - Though old-growth forests were long gone, Minnesota's timber industry revived in the 1980s when new technology made the ubiquitous aspen tree a desired commodity. For a decade Minnesota had the fastest-growing timber trade in the country. But even as pulp, paper, and chipboard mills continue to expand, questions have arisen about whether the forest is growing as fast the businesses it supports. Mainstreet Radio's Leif Enger has part two of our series, "OUR STATE, OUR FORESTS". When George Boorman was a young lumberjack in the 1920s and 1930s, the men used axes and crosscut saws and horses. And they cut big
November 17, 1998 - After more than twenty years, the public face of Menards is going off the air ... for a while at least. The septugenarian Ray Szmanda (zih-MAN-duh) is known for his grey hair, his glasses, his crooked smile, and his LOUD delivery. Back in the 1970s, Menards was looking for another Pat Summerall, and picked the broadcast veteran as its pitchman. Since then, he's done an estimated 35-hundred spots seen tens of thousands of times in nine states. Szmanda, who lives in rural Wisconsin, is taking at least six-months off for health reasons. He's mystified by all the attention, which he says has really taken off in the last five years or so.
November 17, 1998 - It's been nearly six months since a tornado destroyed the town of Spencer, South Dakota. Before the storm Spencer was a town struggling for survival. Now some say the outlook is completely different. New construction will rebuild the town's basics... a watertower, apartments and a community center. There's hope that longtime residents will return and new families will find the town. Spencer residents are hopeful but skeptical. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports: Spencer. a town settled before the turn of the century looks like a new housing development. Three days after a blizzard every street is plowed to reveal a 14 square block area. The streets are clear...
November 17, 1998 - Minnesota farmers faced with their worst financial outlook in a decade received some good news the past month. Congress approved emergency federal aid for agriculture and farmers finished harvesting a record corn and soybean crop. The extra dollars from the government and the extra bushels in the bins helps improve the economic outlook but falls far short of returning profit to agriculture for most farmers. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: Driving through southwest Minnesota on a cloudy fall day it's easy to spot a new color brightening the autumn landscape. Look for a grain elevator, then next to it, a splash of gold, glowing like neo
November 17, 1998 - Some well-known political figures signed up as volunteer advisers to Governor-elect Jesse Ventura today (TUES). The eight-person advisory committee includes outgoing Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson, Republican state representative Charlie Weaver and former Congressman Tim Penny. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has this report on Ventura's growing circle of advisers -- and their role in the future administration. Jesse Ventura's new advisers come from a variety of political backgrounds, but as far as the Governor-elect is concerned, they have a common pragmatic approach to politics: ((VENTURA: committee members were chosen for their independent thinking, and their ability to work in a non-partisan manner.))
November 17, 1998 - MPR’s Dan Olson reports on how some Minnesota farmers are putting a few extra dollars in their pocket by selling what they usually plow under. A St. Peter company is making building materials as strong as wood from the straw left after farmers harvest soybeans and wheat.
November 18, 1998 - As part of the Our State, Our Forests series, a Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from MPR studios in Duluth, highlighting the Minnesota Northwoods. In this hour, MPR’s Rachel Reabe presents stories by reporters Leif Enger and Mary Losure which portray the timber industry past and present and describe its impact on the environment and economy of Northern Minnesota.
November 18, 1998 - As part of the Our State, Our Forests series, a Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from MPR studios in Duluth, highlighting the Minnesota Northwoods. Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion/debate on forestry in Minnesota with Jim Sanders, forest supervisor for the Superior National Forest; Betsy Daub, forest program director for the Minnesota office of the National Audubon Society; and Wayne Brandt, executive vice-president for Forest Industries.
November 18, 1998 - The Minnesota Environmental Quality board today gave the green light to a new north/south runway at Twin Cities International Airport. The Board unanimously approved an environmental impact statement for the runway, over the objections of the city of Richfield. But Richfield officials said the decision was a partial victory. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports. Richfield's primary complaint has been that the Metropolitan Airports commission environmental impact statement gives short shrift to problems caused by low frequency noise ... the dull Rumbling from jets that can cause vibration in walls windows and doors. Richfield residents packed the basement hearing room in the State office building, hefting signs tha