February 12, 2002 -
February 13, 2002 - Former Fingerhut CEO Ted Deikel (DY kuhl) says he hopes to submit a bid for the catalogue retailer within days. Deikel says he has resigned as chairman of the Medica health plan and will focus on pursuing a bid for the company he sold 3 years ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
February 13, 2002 - The Minneapolis group that's struggled over where to build a new central library has finally made a decision. The Central Library Implementation Committee had two choices. One was the "North block" at the intersection of Hennepin and Washington Avenues downtown, and the other was the "South block," the next block to the south. And the decision was to put the new library on the South block. Diane Hofstede (HOFF-sted) is a member of the committee and also a member of the Library's board. She says the North block is still important
February 13, 2002 - A group of farmers from southern Minnesota think they have an answer to our country's dependance on foreign oil. They say the solution is biodiesel. It's a fuel made from what some call "the miracle bean", soybeans. After ten years of research and development on the fuel, scientists have found it a superior alternative to oil-based diesel fuel. Last year, some Minnesota lawmakers wanted to require that all diesel fuel be made with 2% biodiesel. They introduced a bill that died in the senate. They'll reintroduce the bill to the legislature this year. In the second story of our Mainstreet series, "The Miracle Bean" Rob Schmitz reports lawmakers hope the current international atmosphere will help the bill become law.
February 13, 2002 - Allina Hospitals and Clinics lost more than $70 million dollars last year. 2001 was a time of investigations and major changes for the health care provider. Allina split with its health insurance partner "Medica" in response to a Minnesota Attorney General's office probe into corporate expenses. There were also millions of dollars in costs associated with alledged Medicare fraud. Allina says much of last year's losses amount to one time charges which have now been written off its books. The non profit's new CEO is projecting much better performance this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark reports...
February 14, 2002 - The Cream of Wheat factory in Northeast Minneapolis closes tomorrow after nearly a century of operations. Cream of Wheat's new owner, food processing giant Kraft Foods, is moving production to plants in Missouri and Ontario, Canada. The porridge that became Cream of Wheat was created by North Dakota millers in 1893. They moved production four years later to the then thriving milling city of Minneapolis. Cream of Wheat expanded operations, and in 1928, the company relocated into its current home at Stinson Boulevard and Broadway in Northeast Minneapolis. That factory is now up for sale. Though the hot cereal factory is going dark, Kraft Foods says the cereal and the Cream of Wheat brand will live on, as will the nostalgia associated with it.
February 14, 2002 - Sun Country Airlines says it has a deal to start repaying creditors and return to the air under new ownership. The deal may mark a new beginning for the Mendota Heights-based airline that has spent the last several weeks on the brink of extinction. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
February 14, 2002 - The U-S House voted early this morning to pass what could become the first significant reform of the campaign finance system in more than 25 years. The Shays-Meehan bill bans unregulated donations to national parties, but it does allow contributions to state and local parties, in amounts up to ten-thousand dollars. The Senate passed nearly identical legislation last year and now will vote on whether to send the bill directly to President Bush for his signature. Minnesota Congressman Jim Ramstad was one of 41 Republicans who broke rank with party leadership and voted for the bill. He says campaign finance reform is long overdue:
February 15, 2002 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports that the ballpark debate has returned to the state Capitol on two fronts and lawmakers seem more receptive to stadium plans than in past years. A Senate committee gave the green light to a proposal for a St. Paul Twins ballpark and House lawmakers introduced legislation to construct a joint Vikings and University of Minnesota football facility. But opposition hasn't faded entirely.
February 15, 2002 - **For Fri 2/15 M.E.** The Minnesota Commerce Department has accused Qwest Telecommunications of violating federal and state law by making secret agreements with some of its competitors. Denver-based Qwest is the dominant local phone company in 14 states from Minnesota to Washington. The Minnesota Commerce Department filed a formal complaint with the Public Utilities Commission yesterday (Thursday). Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: