April 19, 2001 - The late thaw of the rivers and then the high crest of the rivers slowed down businesses dramatically because they were not able to ship and handle their ordered supplies.
April 19, 2001 - A bill working its way through the Legislature would make Minnesota the first state to mandate the sale of biodiesel, an alternative fuel made from vegetable oil or animal fat. The bill, which gets a hearing in the House Transportation Finance committee this morning (THURSDAY), pits farmers against the trucking industry. Opponents say there are too many unanswered questions about biodiesel, while supporters say the proposal is something the state can do to help farmers. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
April 19, 2001 - This is the first fare increase since 1993. The hope would be to double the size of the transit system in the Twin Cities. What factors work into this situation include rising gas prices and full-time drivers versus part-time drivers. They are in a good situation to expand their system because there is a high demand for buses.
April 20, 2001 - A vast trade area from Canada to Chile is the vision of negotiators meeting in Quebec City this weekend. Establishing the FTAA or Free Trade Area of the America's is the ultimate objective for 34 heads of government .. including President Bush ... at the talks. A final agreement is still years away. Many Minnesota companies welcome the prospect of easier access to customers in South America. But skeptics say the deal benefits mostly big companies and their investors at the expense of workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
April 20, 2001 - Gustavus Adolphus sells Fair Trade Coffee and students are supportive. Buying a cup of Fair Trade Coffee helps Guatamalean farmers and cuts out the middle man.
April 20, 2001 - Honeywell International is laying off 6500 workers, or about five percent of its total workforce. The move came after Honeywell said its first quarter net profit plunged more than 90 percent. The announcement was not just the latest sign of the economic slowdown. It also reflected continuing problems at a firm that used to be one of the Twin Cities most successful corporations. Minnesota Public Radio's Carl Goldstein reports.
April 20, 2001 - A predicted a $1.5 billion estimate for the 2002-2003 fiscal year, but it could shrink to a $500 million if the budget stays as is.
April 20, 2001 - Tech-driven new economy is the strongest on the west coast. Progressive Policy Institute, a think tank, found that the west coast in first, second, and third in the new economy.
April 23, 2001 - 3M will cut 5000 thousand jobs to cope with declining profits and a slowing economy. The company says less than a thousand of the layoffs will come at the company's operations in Minnesota. The Maplewood-based manufacturer is joining a long list of other big firms -- including Honeywell and ADC Telecommunications -- to have let workers go in recent months. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
April 23, 2001 - Chris Farrell talks about the ramifications of the recent rounds of the federal easing rates. What's driving the economy down is businesses cutting back costs and slow spending. Panic will start when neighbors begin losing their jobs.