December 12, 2001 - The largest private employers in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, American Express and the St. Paul Companies, have announced plans to lay off hundreds of employees. American Express says it needed to cut jobs because of a sharp downturn in the financial services industry since September 11th. The cuts at the St. Paul were part of a sweeping new restructuring plan. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
December 12, 2001 - Nearly a week after Sun Country Airlines laid off virtually all of its 900 employees, many of them attended a series of job counselling sessions run by public officials in Bloomington earlier today . Minnesota Public Radio's Kaomi Goetz reports.
December 13, 2001 - The St. Paul Companies announced yesterday it would stop offering medical malpractice insurance. The announcement came as part of a broad cost-cutting initiative that included hundreds of layoffs. The decision to end medical malpractice insurance dealt a blow to many long-term care providers in Minnesota and across the country. For many nursing homes in the state, the St. Paul was the last company to offer insurance at reasonable rates. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
December 14, 2001 -
December 14, 2001 - MPR sports commentator Jay Weiner speaks on why University of Minnesota merging men's and women's athletic departments is a mistake.
December 17, 2001 - Since the September 11th attacks, the federal government has passed several laws and changed others to widen the government's authority to investigate people deemed potential terrorists. From airline security, wiretapping, and military tribunals, the changes are happening fast, but not without concern from civil libertarians. While many of these changes are at the federal level, some state lawmakers say they'll propose related legislation. State anti-terrorism measures could include broadening wiretapping authority and limiting public access to information. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
December 17, 2001 - Chris Farrell talks about what inflation numbers really mean.
December 17, 2001 - People in the tiny town of Priam in Kandiyohi County have banded together to take on the town's only business. The Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers co-op turns hay from 380 area farmers into food pellets for livestock. The plant shrouds homes across the street in a thick, stale cloud of alfalfa dust, and residents have complained for years. The Co-op has been a tough case for the Pollution Control Agency. But Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports the plant may be on the verge of cleaning up its act.
December 18, 2001 - Minnesota's unemployment rate rose one tenth of a percent to 3-point-8 percent last month. The state's jobless rate remains well below the national level, and posted a smaller increase than the nation as a whole in November. But as Bill Catlin reports, layoffs are rising dramatically among the state's white collar workers, historically a group that has been less vulnerable to job cuts.
December 18, 2001 - CUNNINGHAM: The Minnesota Vikings returned to the state Capitol today (TUESDAY) to continue their campaign for a new stadium. The Vikings are seeking a $500 million stadium to be shared with the University of Minnesota Gophers. But the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission is advancing a plan to renovate the Metrodome. The commission -- which owns and operates the facility -- told a tripartisan stadium task force that renovation would be cheaper -- and would solve many of the Vikings' problems in the current 'Dome. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo joins us now. Michael, what does the commission's plan entail? KHOO: Greta, the commission members say they'd like to turn the Metrodome into a football-only stadium. That would mean building a new ballpark for the Twins, and remodeling the facility to fit the needs of the Vikings and the University of Minnesota Gophers. A commission study estimates the cost of renovation at roughly $250 million dollars, or about half the cost of the new stadium the Vikings favor. The team has so far dismissed the renovation plan, but commissioner Richard Jefferson, **a former state legislator,** says it's important to explore all options.