August 8, 2000 - While the midwestern economy has grown strongly in recent years, it still lags other regions because of labor shortages and the farm crisis. Legislators from 11 states have been airing problems and seeking solutions at the Midwestern Legislative Conference this week in Minneapolis. Experts told them one way to help the region catch up is to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
August 9, 2000 - Citizens in Rochester are gearing up for the expected release of a key environmental document regarding the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad's expansion plan. It's the most important event so far in the contentious fight over plans to expand rail lines in Wyoming, South Dakota and southern Minnesota for coal trains. Rochester leaders are bitterly opposed to the plan and have formed a new group dedicated to stop it. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports the renewed opposition effort has considerable political might which sparks concerns from many rural residents who aren't included.
August 9, 2000 - A new study finds it may be feasible to build a combined direct reduced iron and steel plant on Minnesota's Iron Range - providing a fledgling Minnesota company can raise a lot of money. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports:
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August 10, 2000 - People along the Northstar Corridor got a "bells and whistles" preview of commuter rail today . Northstar officials gave rides on commuter rail cars similar to those that will carry commuters on the proposed Northstar Rail Line. The 70 mile corridor is already set up for rail traffic, so supporters say it's just a matter of moving trains onto the tracks. But some people think the Northstar line is an inefficient use of money, and that it won't ever carry enough passengers. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
August 10, 2000 - Sun Country airlines is out with a new incentives program, called Smile Awards. It's designed to compete with the frequent flier programs offered by many major airlines. The program allows customers to stack up points for free flights by using a credit card. George Wazniak is the President of Hobbit Travel in Minneapolis. His agency books about twenty percent of Sun Country's seats, and he joins us now.
August 10, 2000 - ANNOUNCER TAG: If you're interested in finding out more about Irish arts and culture, check out the Irish Fair of Minnesota this weekend at the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul.
August 10, 2000 - The child poverty rate in Minnesota has shot up by 85-percent since 1979, according to a new report from the National Center for Children in Poverty. That's 122-thousand more kids, despite an unprecedented economic boom throughout most of the nineties. Diane Benjamin is an advocate for children and the Executive Director of the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota. She thinks that the Center's numbers exaggerate the problem:
August 14, 2000 - Over the past year Minnesota based Hutchinson Technology International has cut more than three thousand jobs -- 40 percent of its workforce. HTI as the company's known has been battered by changes in technology that cut demand for its main product, a key component of computer disk drives..... But the firm's fortunes are improving, and that's good news for the small towns where the company is one of the biggest employers around. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports:
August 16, 2000 - While coverage of the Democratic National Convention focuses on the nightly speeches, as much if not more of the action is occurring off-stage. Last night , Minnesota delegates attended a private reception at the Santa Monica Beach Club -- just one of dozens of sideshows to the prime time events. And as Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, some observers are concerned the sponsors of the extra-curricular activities are buying influence.