April 25, 2001 - A bleak earnings report drove Compaq to lay off over 2,000 employees. It is due to an overarching downward business across the board.
April 25, 2001 - As part of Mainstreet Radio series "Broken Trust: Civil Rights in Indian Country,” MPR’s Mark Steil reports on funding and discrimination battles Native American farmers face with the U.S. government.
April 26, 2001 - Today's high topped out in the Twin Cities at a remarkable seventy-seven degrees. That's about fifteen degrees above average and even more welcome than usual after what so far has been a cool, wet spring. But if the warm weather has you daydreaming about summer travel, consider this- gas prices are rising right alongside the mercury. Dawn Duffy is Public Relations manager of AAA of Minneapolis. She says today's prices are much higher than the same time last year:
April 26, 2001 - The descendants of the Lakota leader Crazy Horse have settled a defamation lawsuit over the use of his name in the marketing of Crazy Horse Malt Liquor. Crazy Horse's descendants filed suit eight years ago trying to stop beer makers from using the chief's name on an alcohol product that was distributed to 32 states. The opposition to Crazy Horse malt liquor came in part, because Crazy Horse had denounced the introduction of alcohol to American Indians. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
April 26, 2001 - MPR’s Andrew Haeg reports that the CEOs of twenty companies from Finland are in the Twin Cities to meet with local business leaders, and to explore potential business opportunities. The group attended a two-day workshop at a local law firm where they listened to an address by Governor Ventura, who has often promoted foreign trade and investment to boost the state's economy.
April 26, 2001 - Saint Paul officials are celebrating the return of housing to the Upper Landing. A ceremony at the Mississippi riverfront site today (Thursday) marked the start of pollution cleanup. That will be followed by construction of six hundred units of housing. Once the heart of Saint Paul's Italian community, floodwaters and industrial contaminants have prevented construction there in recent decades. But city boosters see the new project as a victory over those obstacles and a sign of the development momentum along the river. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
April 26, 2001 - Food aficionados: this is your weekend. The greatest names in gastronomy are descending on the Twin Cities for the 29th annual International Association of Culinary Professionals conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Chef Walter Potenza owns an Italian restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island and he works with Bloomington-based Freshetta Frozen Pizza. He believes in preserving traditional cooking styles:
April 27, 2001 - NASA's effort to deal with a projected 4 billion dollar cost overrun, plus Millionaire Dennis Tito's scheduled 20 million dollar trip to the International Space Station, plus Tito's promise to pay for anything he might break while he's aboard, got commentator Dale Connelly thinking about possible entries in a tourist's space diary.
April 30, 2001 - For many parts of our region, tourism is a vital industry. Many farmers and ranchers are getting into the business by opening up their homes and land as vacation spots. Tourism organizations target international travelers with an invitation to come and see the "real" Midwest. Packages promoting farm and ranch stays have some worried that Foot and Mouth disease could easily find it's way to midwestern livestock. Most trust the preventative measures in place while others are taking their own precautions. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports:
April 30, 2001 - Labor turmoil in the airline industry has travel experts warning consumers to carefully plan trips this summer. The four largest US carriers are ALL working to resolve open contracts with unions. Thousands of airline workers are under court order NOT to disrupt flight schedules. Although unions at Northwest and Delta are moving toward settlements, workers at the nation's two largest carriers are threatening to strike. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik tracked down some advice on ways YOU can steer clear of airline problems if you're planning a trip.