March 19, 2001 - ********** LIVE INTRO AND BACK-ANNOUNCE ************ Driving by outdoor billboards, few of us see anything other than the advertisement. But Joni Johnson, an entrepreneur from Minneapolis, sees a raw material for her business. Her company, called Relan (ra-LON), recycles old billboards into colorful hand bags, and tote bags. Most billboards are made of vinyl. After their time as a billboard is over, the vinyl surface is dirty and wrinkled. For 2 years now, Joni's company has perfected the process of taking the material, and recycling it into fashionable bags. We joined Joni and her operations manager Jonathan Fitz at their warehouse where they cut the tennis-court-sized billboards into workable pieces. Joni says the HUGE images on a billboard make it difficult to describe her much smaller hand bags.
March 19, 2001 - Legislators announcing a Twins stadium at the Capitol today (MONDAY) promise no public money would go into the 300-million dollar proposal. Even so, opponents are already lining up, objecting to a substantial state loan that wouldn't require the team to pay interest. The plan also lifts the sales tax burden for all businesses in and around the park. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
March 20, 2001 - Northwest Airlines says it will soon unveil a plan to cut costs in response to a decline in ticket sales. The airline says the weakening economy is forcing the move. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
March 20, 2001 - When the Minnesota Twins last made a major push for a new ballpark, team officials argued they needed the facility to make them financially competitive with the rest of the league. In the four years since that effort failed at the Legislature, player salaries have risen so high that the team now concedes that revenue from a new ballpark alone won't balance their books.
March 20, 2001 - A House committee will consider a bill later this week to allow grocery stores to sell wine. 32 states around the country allow wine to be sold in the supermarket. Critics of bill say that it will make it harder to keep alcohol out of the hands of underage drinkers. Joining us on the line is Barb Sykora (sih-CORE-ah), the sponsor of the bill and a Republican from Excelsior. State Representative Barb Sykora, a Republican from Excelsior.
March 20, 2001 - Dot-com companies are abandoning the idea of having those who built the companies be treated well after being let go.
March 21, 2001 -
March 21, 2001 - The Nature Conservancy will purchase and maintain two wildlife areas in western and northwestern Minnesota with a three-point-two (M) million dollar grant from the 3M Foundation. Rob McKim is state director of the non-profit preservation group. He says there's less than one-tenth of one percent of native tallgrass prairie left in Minnesota, and the 3M contribution will help protect and restore what is left:
March 21, 2001 - Minnesota Public Radio has learned local AND federal prosecutors have decided NOT to bring criminal charges against a former Northwest Airlines pilot for allegedly flying under the influence of alcohol earlier this year. Blood alcohol tests of Timothy McCourt showed he was in violation of flying under the influence laws. But because Northwest handled the tests WITHOUT law enforcement, prosecutors do NOT have good enough evidence to charge McCourt. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
March 22, 2001 - A powerful DFL lawmaker says he will hold a hearing on the spending practices of Allina Health System, one of the state's biggest health care firms. The move by Senator Doug Johnson comes a day after State attorney general Mike Hatch sued Allina seeking more financial documents from the non-profit. Hatch alleges the organization spent millions of dollars on questionable items ranging from golfing trips to lobbying and consulting fees. Allina defends its adminstrative expenses and says the Attorney General's report is riddled with inaccuracies. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.