September 28, 2001 - FOR USE FRIDAY The terrorists attacks have disrupted the congressional schedule but at some point this fall the U.S. House plans to take up the question of farm subsidies as it debates a new farm bill. Minnesota farmers have collected about four and a half billion dollars in federal assistance the last five years, something many credit with saving thousands of farms. But farmers and others complain the federal money too often goes to undeserving recipients, raising the question why farm payments aren't limited to those who really need it. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports:
September 28, 2001 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik reports that visitors to the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport will soon see Minnesota National Guard troops helping with any number of security jobs. President Bush has called on the nation's governor's to deploy national guard troops at airports through the country.
September 28, 2001 - U.S Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez traveled to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport this morning to assure the public that air travel is safe in the United States. The visit was part of a broader effort by the Bush administration to publicize the President's recommendations for beefing up aviation security. One day after the President asked to have the National Guard assist in airport security measures, eight cabinet members boarded commercial airliners. The Bush Administration hopes the measure will get the American public flying again and bring some hope to the struggling airline industry. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
September 28, 2001 - MPR's Bill Catlin reports that a federal district court in Minneapolis has appointed a trustee to represent the clients of financially struggling Stockwalk Group. The action comes as the third largest Twin Cities brokerage has had to freeze 190,000 customer accounts and is looking for a partner or buyer.
October 1, 2001 -
October 1, 2001 - Driving past the state offices this morning you'll notice workers out in front carrying picket signs. Members of AFSCME Council 6 and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees are on strike. They walked off the job at six this morning after contract talks broke down over the weekend. The Govenor says his administration made a fair offer to the unions. John Wodele is the govenor's spokesman.
October 1, 2001 - Today we begin a series of reports examining the economic fallout in Minnesota from the terrorist attacks last month. Even before hijackers flew commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, the weakening US economy had shed one million manufacturing jobs over 13 months. Minnesota officials are bracing for rising layoffs, but say it's too soon to gauge the attacks' full impact in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has the first report in our series, Economy on the Edge.
October 1, 2001 - Northwest Airlines labor unions and the state's Democratic congressional leaders say they want an economic stimulus package to cover laid off workers in the airline and hospitality industries. Yesterday Helms reports.
October 1, 2001 - A strike of janitors, food inspectors, accountants, and highway workers began striking today. Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (Council 6) are fighting for their rights.
October 2, 2001 - Strike is taking place outside of the Department of Revenue building. 80-90% of union members are picketing. They are prepared for a month-long strike.