July 27, 2000 - From Minnesota Public Radio, this is Future Tense for Wednesday, July 26th. I'm Jon Gordon. -- Napster is in court today. A judge will hear an argument from the Recording Industry Association of America that the digital song-sharing software company should be shut down because it enables theft of copyrighted music. -- Major Internet and computer companies are putting aside their differences to mount a public service campaign about online privacy. They're forming a group called Privacy Partnership 2000. It will fund print, radio and Web ads dedicated to educating the public about privacy issues and offer tips on how to protect personal information online. The group includes AOL, IBM, Microsoft and Intel. TRUSTe, company that runs a Privacy Seal program that shows that a Web site adheres to privacy principles, organized the initiative. Dave Steer is TRUSTe spokesman.
July 27, 2000 -
August 1, 2000 - Last month, General Mills announced it would acquire Pillsbury from British food and drinks conglomerate Diageo (rhymes with Dimaggio). Federal regulators and shareholders of both companies still have to approve the ten-point-five Billion dollar merger, and that may not happen until December. But General Mills' management is already making decisions that may determine whether this merger will be one of the few that truly succeeds. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
August 2, 2000 - For the last month, 30 minority high school students from across the country have been in the Twin Cities to take part in a nationwide program that teaches students about the business world. The students met with corporate leaders and attended seminars at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. They're learning to write business plans and create product prototypes. The students wrapped up their stay yesterday at General Mills where they presented their new products to a group of judges. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
August 3, 2000 - Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports that farmers in Day County in northeastern South Dakota have spent the past eight years watching their farm fields become lakes. Day County is in an area known as the “prairie pot hole.” There's no drainage system for the sloughs now filled with water. Landowners who once grazed hundreds of head of cattle now see a new sight on their pastureland…fishing boats.
August 4, 2000 - The Vikings open their preseason play at the Metrodome tomorrow night, with a game against the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper will make his first start and is eagar to prove he can lead the team to a winning season. Jeff Agrest is an editor at pro-sports weekly. He says the crowd at tomorrow's game won't be dissappointed:
August 7, 2000 - Merger talks between Northwest Airlines and American airlines have apparently stalled, with the two sides far apart on the issue of price. Talks occurred after United Airlines announced its plan to buy US Airways. If they're unable to agree on a deal, some analysts think Northwest and American may consider a marketing alliance instead. Minnesota Pubic Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
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: