November 20, 2000 - The dot-com boom seemed too good to be true, and in some ways it was. The tech-heavy NASDAQ is down 35 percent from its high last March. Nationally, 22-thousand employees of Internet companies have been laid off, and scores of dot-coms have closed their doors... In the Twin Cities, once high-flying firms Internet firms including Net Perceptions and Techies-dot-com have laid off hundreds of staffers. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports on how the national Internet shakeout is affecting the Twin Cities' high tech business scene.
November 20, 2000 - Northwest Airlines appeared in federal court in Minneapolis this afternoon, asking a judge to grant a temporary restraining order to prevent the mechanics union from conducting an alleged illegal work slowdown. The airline says a large number of flights were cancelled or delayed last weekend -- as a result, it says, of union mechanics' refusal to work according to their contract. Northwest and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association which represents more than ten thousand Northwest workers ... have been holding negotiations on a new contract. The National Mediation Board recently recessed those talks, and both sides have been using some pretty inflammatory language. Northwest CEO John Dasburg called the AMFA wage demands quote bizarre unquote, and AMFA last week sued the airline for its alleged failure to negotiate in good faith. In court lawyers for Northwest told the court a very high number of flights were delayed or cancelled last weekend. MPR's Andrew Haeg is covering the story. Has the judge made a decision yet?
November 20, 2000 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports that the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has launched a survey of several hundred Hmong business owners and households in St Paul. The Fed wants to know how well the banking system is meeting the needs of Hmong entrepreneurs. They hope the survey will illuminate the obstacles to Hmong people's access to capital.
November 21, 2000 - Northwest Airlines says it cancelled forty-eight flights today and delayed another one hundred and fifty because of maintenance related problems. The airline is accusing mechanics of engaging in an illegal work slowdown to protest stalled contract negotiations. Last night a judge issued a temporary restraining order barring the workers from disrupting air services. Northwest says it's dispatching extra employees to several airports to help passengers cope with schedule problems during the busiest travel time of the year. If the airline can convince a federal judge there is INDEED a slow down despite the order banning any job action, the union could face a contempt ruling and a fine. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
November 21, 2000 - After months of consideration, a committee looking into alternatives for a privately financed Minnesota Twins ballpark has come up with a funding proposal. While the group, called New Ballpark Inc., says Twins owner Carl Pohlad has to contribute heavily to a new stadium, members of the committee say developers and investment groups could conceivably come up with 140 million dollars to build the park. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
November 22, 2000 - Northwest Airlines told a federal judge in Minneapolis this afternoon the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is defying a court order banning work slow downs. Northwest says siginificantly higher than normal maintenance related delays continue to force it to delay and cancel numerous flights. Leaders of the mechanics union say the rank and file is adhereing fully to labor laws and the court order. A federal judge has set a hearing for next week to determine whether the union is violating the court order. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
November 22, 2000 - MPR's Amy Radil reports on financial struggles within the Independence Party of Minnesota. A campaign season that brought the Independence Party many candidates but no winners has also left the organization broke. Party officials say a combination of legal expenses, website maintenance costs and campaign costs have the party facing a deficit of about $20,000. Party leaders call the debt "miniscule" and say it's the price they pay for not accepting special interest money.
November 23, 2000 -
November 23, 2000 - Barge shipping on the Mississippi River is winding down for the season. Typically 400 or so towboats ply the upper Mississippi River moving barges loaded with grain and other products headed to markets around the world. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano spent some time aboard a towboat earlier this fall and found, there's no such thing as "stopping for the night."
November 24, 2000 - Record Cold Days Preceding Thanksgiving Earlier this week, a cold Canadian high pressure system brought record cold to our region. Earlier this week, a cold Canadian high pressure system brought record cold to our region. Sioux Falls, SD reported a new record cold maximum temperature of only 13 degrees F on Monday, November 20th. Cambridge and St Cloud Minnesota reported new record lows for Tuesday, November 21st with -6 and -3 degrees F, respectively. Orr, MN reported a record low of -6 degrees F on Wednesday, November 22 this was also the lowest temperature in the lower 48 states on Wednesday and Red Wing reported a record low of 5 degrees F on the same morning. Most of these records were associated with new snow cover established last week. Thankfully, a strong warming trend will return temperatures to the 30s and 40s F for the Thanksgiving Holiday period.