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.
December 18, 2001 - The welfare caseload had been FALLING steadily since 1994, in part due to a federal welfare reform act that puts a five-year limit on benefits. This past summer, we talked with a series of women who were facing the benefit cutoff, and trying to find work. Shirley Hawkins is the single mother of one child who had recently started her first job. She was working in a temporary position at a packaging company doing everything from creating store displays to stuffing calendars into plastic bags. At that time, I asked her how she felt about her future. Jan Mueller works with welfare recipients at Lifetrack Resources, a social service agency in the Twin Cities that runs a job training program. She's on the line now.
December 19, 2001 - Northwest Airlines announced today it will create dedicated security lines for its best and most frequent fliers. The airline says the additional lanes will help their most loyal customers save time when they get to the airport. The Twin Cities International Airport today also re-opened a security checkpoint that had been closed since the September 11th attacks. Now passengers who park in the blue or red parking ramps can have their bags screened without entering the main terminal. Officials at the airport are scrambling to impliment the first phase of the airline security law President Bush signed last month. Jim Welna, the Director of Public Safety for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, says the airport has already significantly increased the number of security checkpoints:
December 20, 2001 - President Bush's choice to lead the new Transportation Security Administration pledged today to meet every deadline in the law enacted to improve airline safety. John Magaw testified before the Senate Commerce Commitee. If he's confirmed by the Senate, Magaw will serve a five year term as head of the new agency within the Department of Transportation. Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar is the ranking member on the House Transportation Committee. He says he's impressed with what he's heard so far in Magaw's senate testimony:
December 20, 2001 - A plan to boost the U-S economy sponsored by President Bush today died in the Democratic-led U.S. Senate. The Republican-led House passed the measure on a largely party-line vote early this morning. The package, which would cost the federal treasury $90 (b) billion dollars next year--and $214 (b)billion dollars over five years, included tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals. The Senate was pushing for a plan that did more to extend specific types of unemployment benefits to laid off workers. Jaye Rykunyk (racoon-ik) heads the hotel and restaurant workers union in the Twin Cities, which has many laid-off members. She says the house bill wouldn't have done much to help her members: