March 9, 2001 -
March 9, 2001 - President George Bush continued his tax cut roadshow today the nation's top political leaders showed a bipartisan spirit at a Sioux Falls clinic - before the tax bickering began. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports:
March 9, 2001 -
March 12, 2001 - > >Northwest Airlines mechiancs remain on the job today under Presidential order >as a three member Bush Administration appointed pannel begins an >investigation of airline's labor dispute. >Negotiatiors for the airline and union worked with the National Mediation >Board through out the weekend but failed to reach an agreement on the four >and a half year old contract dispute. > >The union is now talking about striking Northwest in sixty days after the
March 12, 2001 - Officials with the state Department of Children, Families and Learning say they're taking steps to prevent any further misuse of grant money within their agency. A state senate committee today (Monday) looked at the allegations uncovered in a recent Legislative Auditor's investigation. Those investigators are now promising a sweeping review of grant money in all state agencies. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
March 12, 2001 - Negotiators for Northwest Airlines and its mechanics union are back in the Twin Cities after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract. Both sides are awaiting action by an Emergency Board established by President George W. Bush on Friday. If either side rejects its proposal, mechanics could still go out on strike in May, UNLESS Congress imposes a settlement. In the meantime, travel agents and air travellers in the Twin Cities say it's business as usual, thanks to the President's intervention. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
March 12, 2001 - The Twin Cities radio music scene is getting a make over. The new trend appears to be back to the old. Alternative rock station 105 FM abruptly changed its format last week to classic soul and R&B. But this latest change may have less to do with the listeners requests, and more to do with corporate competition. ABC-Disney owns 105FM, rock station KQRS and three other local stations. According to Pioneer Press Media Columnist Brian Lambert, 105FM is basically a pawn.
March 13, 2001 - Independent bookstores strike at online book dealers.
March 13, 2001 - Despite exploding consumer demand, the state's Department of Agriculture plans to slash funding to organic and sustainable programs under a budget proposal currently awaiting legislative approval. Under the 2002-2003 budget, money will be redirected to new initiatives designed to attract a broader range of farmers. The state's agriculture commissioner says his department needs to invest money in more market friendly programs, despite numbers from the Organic Trade Association indicating US sales of organic produce has jumped more than 122-percent since 1996. Mainstreet's Erin Galbally reports the first of two stories on the state's shifting marketing philosophy when it comes to agriculture.
March 13, 2001 - Minnesota could become the first state in the country to subsidize parental leave. A bill introduced yesterday in the Senate outlines a plan that allows employers to volunteer to pay 1/3 of a new parent's wages, with the state and the employee picking up the remaining two thirds. Current law requires employers to offer unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks. St. Paul Senator Ellen Anderson is the author of the bill. She says the plan benefits employees AND employers: