January 2, 2001 - Our techno-moron awards for the year past. There have been many positive developments in technology as well as not-so-positive developments that are anti-customer behavior.
January 2, 2001 - From Minnesota Public Radio...this is Future Tense for January 2nd. I'm Jon Gordon. "The social story of the Internet is one that often gets lost when people are paying so much attention to the rise and fall of dotcom companies. And really the bigger impact on our culture is changing the way we deal with each other."
January 3, 2001 - The recent bad economic news for Minnesota's Iron Range got worse today. The L-T-V Steel Plant in Hoyt Lakes is closing at the end of this week. One thousand workers will lose their jobs. The company originally announced the Iron Range plant would close next summer, then moved the date to February. Last week L-T-V filed for bankruptcy, leading to today's announcement, that Saturday will be the last work day in Hoyt Lakes. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin has more.
January 3, 2001 - From Minnesota Public Radio this is Future Tense for January 3rd. I'm Jon Gordon. Selling your old stuff on the Internet auction site eBay is pretty common these days. But Vicki Richman can lay claim to having unloaded an unusual item. She sold a Minneapolis hotel on eBay for two and a half million dollars--avoiding a six-figure commission in the process. Richman, vice president of Minneapolis-based American Hospitality Management, says it all started after she decided to put the University Avenue Econo-Lodge on the market. ((richman q/a)) Vicki Richman of American Hospitality Management in Minneapolis. She's planning to list another hotel on eBay: a Holiday Inn Express in Florida. This is Future Tense...I'm Jon Gordon.
January 4, 2001 -
January 4, 2001 - The Federal Reserve's decision to reduce interest rates yesterday came as president-elect George W. Bush began an economic forum. Bush invited three dozen high-ranking business executives to Austin, Texas to discuss the state of the economy. One of those executives is from Minnesota-- Michael Wright, who is the Chairman and CEO of Supervalu. Wright says most of the business leaders in Austin yesterday expressed concern over a slowing economy.
January 4, 2001 - Reliant Energy Minnegasco is warning its customers to expect significantly higher gas bills over the next few months. The company says it EXPECTED rates to go up this winter, but the increases are even higher than they originally thought. Joining us on the line is Joe Klenken, regulatory specialist for Reliant.
January 4, 2001 - Natural gas prices have hit a record high. The Minnesota Commerce Department says the cost of natural gas climbed 58-percent between December and January. The spike in prices has prompted many Minnesotans to seek help in paying their heating bills. Kim Rezek is with the Department of Economic Security's Energy Assistance Program. She says there's been a dramatic increase in the number of people applying for energy assistance.
January 8, 2001 - Chris Farrell is MPR's Chief Economics Correspondent. He is reporting on economy and the collapse of capital spending plans.
January 8, 2001 - ONE OF THE BIG BUSINESS STORIES TODAY IS THE REPORTED TAKEOVER OF FINANCIALLY TROUBLED TWA BY AMERICAN AIRLINES. TWA IS CLOSE TO FILING CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS. YOU'LL REMEMBER MINNESOTA BASED NORTHWEST HELD TALKS, LAST SUMMER, WITH AMERICAN ON SOME SORT OF A POSSIBLE MERGER, BUT THOSE TALKS DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO NORTHWEST NOW? JOEL DENNY IS AN AIRLINE ANALYST FOR PIPER JAFFREY. HE SAYS FROM A COMPETITIVE STANDPOINT, THE ACQUISITION WON'T HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON NORTHWEST. Joel Denny is an airline analyst with U-S Bancorp Piper Jaffray.