December 23, 1998 - It's a word that makes many lawmakers cringe, but talk of stadiums will be back before the legislature in 1999 session. A task force appointed by Governor Carlson is asking lawmakers to create a new commission to fund sports stadiums and arts venues. Legislative leaders and the Governor-elect are skeptical.
December 24, 1998 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports on efforts of the Minnesota Twins executives to “break even” by cutting payroll. That helps explain why the Twins let go of several of their best-paid players, but it’s not clear where this short-term strategy will lead them.
December 24, 1998 - FADE IN CROWD SFX # 6122 (AUDIO IS HOT!) More than 2 thousand people waited for hours in long lines to pick up Christmas toys and clothes at Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis. The doors opened at 8, but some had been waiting outside since the wee hours of the morning. There were as many as 100 thousand toys on hand, including dolls, basketballs, skateboards and street-hockey sticks. Volunteers picked out gifts, based on a child's age and gender, and handed them over in black plastic bags. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin prepared this snapshot of a charitable program that organizers say keeps getting bigger every year. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 6120 | TIME: 2:19 plus :05 sfx (fades) | OUTCUE: "... thank you." ---------------------------------------------------------
December 24, 1998 - FOR THURSDAY MORNING Residents of Austin, Minnesota celebrated Christmas this week in their downtown Paramount Theatre. The old movie house is in the midst of a two million dollar renovation and city leaders hope just as it will provide a venue for performing arts it will also provide an economic boost for downtown. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe has this Mainstreet report. Kids singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town The Paramount theater was filled with beaming parents, grandparents and other assorted Austin residents as a group of chil
December 28, 1998 - * for Monday 12/28 ** With 19-98 drawing to a close, there is bound to be more and more talk about 'Y-2-K'... the 'year two thousand' dilemma. Big companies have spent millions of dollars and years trying to get their systems ready for 2000...and with just over a year left, most are in the final stages of preparation. But for small business owners the situation is quite different. Many are just starting to think about Y-2-K. Mainstreet Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports. The Small Business Adminstration's Year 2000 website opens to a
December 29, 1998 - In the past, mining towns in northeast Minnesota were the battlegrounds in hard-fought labor disputes. One weapon used by the steel companies was a vast, intricate spy system among their workers. Chisholm native Tom Selinski has created a video documentary, "Spies in Steel," describing that era, and how the spy network was ultimately exposed. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports. Today union offices occupy some of the most prominent buildings in Iron Range towns. But in the early part of the century, union meeting places were makeshift -- and clandestine. Workers met in storefronts and basements, knowing they'd be fired by the mining company if their union membership was revealed. Raising the stakes, and increasing the risks were company spies...in barber shops, hotels, and among their own members. Tom Selinski grew
December 29, 1998 - Lawmakers want uniform laws in the four states to help independent producers stay on the farm. State lawmakers from Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota sponsored an organizational meeting in Sioux Falls today to combat low hog prices. Farmers are seeing prices as low as they were in the 1950's. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: Seven hundred hog producers, bankers and state officials packed a three-hundred seat cattle barn at the Sioux Falls stockyards. Many of these hog farmers are facing record low prices. If a 250 pound hog sold today a farmer would get 37-dollars and 50 cents. Four months ago that same hog brought 82-50 to the farmer. On the short term farmers want disaster assistance in order to make loan payments.
December 29, 1998 - Molnau = MOLE now The two new transporation leaders in the Minnesota House of Represenatives share the view that Twin Cities suburbs need more roads. Representatives Carol Molnau (MOLE now) from Chaska and Tom Workman from Chanhassen say the additional lanes are needed because traffic congestion in the suburbs is a problem. Minnesota Public Radio Radio's Dan Olson reports. Republican Representative Carol Molnau, a farmer from Chaska, says when she moved there nearly three decades ago, only 20 vehicles a day used the road by her place. Since then, she says, the road has been paved but not widened and Molnau says the traffic count has risen to 16,000 vehicles each day. She says the suburbs need more lanes.
December 31, 1998 - An MPR Special report, presenting the big Minnesota news stories of 1998. Highlights include Governor election, Comfrey and St. Peter tornado, farm crisis, mergers, the Northwest strike and the big tobacco trial. Program ends with brief remembrance segments on various individuals that made news in the year.
December 31, 1998 - It has been a difficult year for employees and customers of Northwest Airlines. *A strike, preceded by months of deteriorating customer service. *Thousands of angry workers...thousands more furious customers and no indication 1999 will hold any improvement. Two of Northwest's largest unions are still without new contracts. And both are threatening to shut down the airline in 199 if their disputes are NOT resolved. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports... | D-CART ITEM:6495 | TIME:7:54 | OUTCUE: soc