May 9, 2001 - The bald eagle was once on the brink of extinction, but the birds have made such a comeback in Minnesota, that they're interfering with flight paths at the Twin Cities International Airport. Last October, a Northwest Airlines D-C-10 collided with a bald eagle. Officials at the airport want to study the safety risk that the birds pose to airplanes. Joining us on the line is John Ostrom (OH strom), from Airside Operations at the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
May 9, 2001 - The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association announced today Northwest Airlines mechanics and aircraft cleaners have voted overwhelming to ratify a new agreement. Officials with Northwest and the union are planning a contract signing ceremony Friday at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The vote ends a four and a half year old battle between Northwest and its mechanics. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
May 9, 2001 - The number of jobless claims in Minnesota last month jumped 77 percent from the same time last year. The dramatic increase comes on the heels of a string of layoffs at big Minnesota employers like 3M and Honeywell. Jay Mousa is research director for the Minnesota Department of Economic Security. He says the number is one more sign of an economic downturn:
May 10, 2001 - Investing in a value-added company doesn't guarantee that you will gain and you might actually lose everything.
May 10, 2001 - The St. Paul Pioneer Press has told employees there will be significant jobs cuts at the paper as part of an effort by its parent company Knight Ridder to maintain profitability in a slowing economy. Pioneer Press managers say they plan to trim roughly ten percent of the work force. They hope to achieve most of the cuts through attrition and voluntary job buy outs, but union leaders are bracing for layoffs. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
May 10, 2001 - Ford Motor Company executives and shareholders are in St. Paul for the company's annual meeting. CEO Jac and Chairman William Ford addressed a range of challenges facing the company, from improving environmental standards to raising the fuel efficiency of Ford vehicles. They also reiterated a commitment not to close the company's St. Paul facility in the next few years. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
May 10, 2001 - In local business news-- the Saint Paul Pioneer Press plans to cut about ten percent of the newspaper's full-time jobs. The cutbacks will be made through eliminating open positions, early retirements, buyouts and possibly layoffs. John Morton is a newpaper analyst in Maryland, and president of Morton Research. He says this is an industry-wide trend.
May 11, 2001 - Matt Hoy, Twins vice president for Operations, discusses new security measures being put in place at the Metrodome after unwanted activity during a game by fans in the previous week. The team will distribute a "Fan Code of Conduct" card to fans as they enter. It states: “The Minnesota Twins are committed to creating a safe, comfortable and enjoyable ballpark experience."
May 11, 2001 - Minnesota Twins' unexpected success on the field is helping persuade in a new Minnesota House stadium proposal. In it, citizen contributions are stripped from the proposal and state government would contribute only by waiving the tax on construction supplies.
May 14, 2001 - The agency that manages the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis presented a report which concludes the public favors a new ballpark for the Twins…but the Vikings can make do in the Metrodome if it's renovated. Consultant John Himle, who distilled the comments into the report, says they show the public feels an urgency to deal with the Twins stadium issue. He also says the comments are not related to the teams current success on the field.