November 8, 2001 -
November 9, 2001 - As Sun Country Airlines seeks outside investors, it's also looking for help from the state of Minnesota. The airline announced today it will lay off 100 employees ... that's about ten percent of its staff. Sun Country's CEO also called on state lawmakers for support. He's asking the governor to call a special legislative session with the hope it will give Sun Country millions of dollars in low interest loans. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports....
November 9, 2001 - Sun Country Airlines is up for sale. The Twin Cities-based airline announced yesterday that it is in immediate need of cash. Sun Country is the biggest local competitor to Northwest Airlines, but it has not made a profit since it came under new ownership in 1998. The sole owner of Sun Country, Milwaukee-based entrepreneur Bill La Macchia, has personally been underwriting the losses. Now La Macchia has removed himself from the board of directors and given full decision-making power to presdient and CEO David Banmiller. Mr. Banmiller is on the line now.
November 9, 2001 -
November 12, 2001 - Members of Minnesota's two largest state employee unions are voting on a contract deal reached last month. The state and the unions reached the tentative deal after union members had been on strike for two weeks. Many workers are upset about the proposed package of wages and benefits, and say they'll vote against it. The leader of one union says the vote is too close to call, while the head of the other is predicting members will ratify the contract. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
November 12, 2001 -
November 12, 2001 - Major League Baseball owners vote to eliminate two teams before the beginning of next season prompted many listeners to call Morning Edition’s comment line. Host Cathy Wurzer presents a snippet of the commentaries left within the in-box.
November 12, 2001 - Twins fans organized a last ditch grass-roots effort to save the team over the weekend. About 40 fans gathered at the Metrodome Sunday, waving homer hankies... asking passers-by to sign a petition to deliver to baseball commissioner Bud Selig. Paul Ridgeway is leading what he's calling the "Keep the Twins at Home" campaign. He says fellow fans can sign the petition at his website, keepthetwins.com.
November 12, 2001 - The American Airlines crash has stoked new fears for the safety of air travel. On the ground the nation's airports are still struggling to improve the quality of the private companies that operate passenger security checkpoints. Some of those firms have been sharply criticized for myriad shortcomings ... including a failure to detect concealed weapons and hiring checkers with criminal records. Globe Aviation Services handles security screening at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The company says it's ...... done much to tighten procedures since the September 11 attacks. Minnesota Public Radio's Kaomi Goetz reports.
November 12, 2001 - There are no known survivors of the 255 people aboard American Airlines flight 587 that crashed into the Queens borough of New York City this morning. Six people on the ground are missing and 35 others were treated for minor injuries. Early investigations point to mechanical failure as the most likely cause of the crash. Northwest Airlines is back to its normal schedule, after canceling 15 to 20 flights bound for New York-area airports. Hotel and airline stocks fell across the board today and Northwest was no exception, its stock fell six percent. Northwest spokesperson Kathy Peach says it's too early to tell if today's crash will cause a rush of cancellations or a drop off in bookings: