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.
January 8, 2001 -
January 9, 2001 - Starting on Sunday, Minnesotans will have to dial new area codes to reach some parts of the Twin Cities. As of that day, the optional grace period for using two new codes is over. That means in order to call parts of the northwestern Twin Cities as far north as Princeton and Cambridge, you'll have to dial 763 first. Calls to the southwest Metro as far south as New Prague will need the 952 area code. The additional codes have been introduced to accommodate an increasing demand for telephone numbers brought about by mobile phones, computer connections, and other communications equipment. Bryce Hallowell is a spokesman for Qwest Communications.
January 9, 2001 - Hundreds of dairy farmers gathered in Freeport today (Tuesday) to get an update on slumping prices in the dairy industry. Democratic Senator Mark Dayton and Representative Collin Peterson were there to gather input on a solution to low prices. Farmers in the crowd said whatever the answer might be, they need to see relief soon. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
January 9, 2001 - Northwest Airlines has agreed to pay a multi-million dollar settlement to thousands of passengers who were stranded on its planes in Detroit during a snow storm two years ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
January 9, 2001 - Usage of internet shopping is growing and those who do shop online are satisfied.
January 9, 2001 - Minneapolis and Saint Paul have had their share of zoning battles over adult businesses. But it's not just a big city problem. Several smaller communities around the state are now facing their own zoning disputes with strip clubs. Adult business owners say those local governements are hiding behind harsh zoning laws as a way to unfairly discriminate against their businesses. Mainstreet Radio's Marisa Helms reports.