June 26, 2001 - Seven years after the state sold Anderson Window 245 acres to encourage expansion near the company's Bayport headquarters, Anderson is looking to sell the undeveloped parcel at a profit. The land includes wetlands and a sacred Indian burial ground, prompting a long, public battle when the state first tried to sell the property. About 150 residents attended a public meeting last night.
June 29, 2001 - La Crosse Footwear, a major employer for more than a hundred years in western Wisconsin, will close today . Just Wednesday Trane Company announced it would lay off more than 70 employees when it closes its north side La Crosse compressor plant. The Footwear plant has hit a financial slowdown and for the last few years has gradually moved production overseas. At one time the La Crosse plant employed more than 15-hundred people, putting out a sturdy line of boots, raincoats and shoes. Today the last hundred and thirty-nine will clock out for the final time. MainStreet Radio's Laurel Druley has this report. Most plant workers were not surprised a month ago when they got their lay off notices. The company, which has had trouble competing for several years with other shoe manufacturers, has been gradually farming out jobs overseas to Asia.
July 2, 2001 -
July 2, 2001 - State employees are on the job as usual this morning Helms reports.
July 3, 2001 -
July 3, 2001 - One of the busiest street corners in Saint Paul is also one of the city's biggest economic disappointments. Development efforts at the corner of University Avenue and Lexington Parkway have lagged for more than a decade. Now, the country's biggest home improvement retailer is looking at the site as a possible store location. But the prospect of Home Depot moving onto the corner has sparked a community discussion about the best use of a location considered critical to the surrounding neighborhoods. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
July 3, 2001 -
July 4, 2001 - The official announcement hasn't yet come, but the merger between United Airlines and US Airways appears to be off. The companies confirmed earlier this week they were talking about terminating the deal. The acquisition would have made United much bigger than any of its competitors. Now it seems United doesn't think it can get permission for the deal from the Department of Justice, where anti-trust regulators fear it would stifle competition and lead to worse service for millions of airline passengers. Congressman Jim Oberstar is former chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee and senior democrat on the House Transportation Committee. He's on the line now.
July 5, 2001 -
July 5, 2001 - The US Department of Commerce is holding hearings in Virginia, Minnesota today to hear from Iron Rangers on how cheap steel imports have affected their industry. It's part of an investigation to determine whether the imports harmed national security, which would allow President Bush to protect the domestic steel industry. Samatha Grippe lives in Biwabik. Her father was recently laid off from LTV Steel Mining company, and she'll testify before the Commerce Department later today.