March 19, 2002 - Minnesota's unemployment rate for February edged up slightly compared to January. The jobless rate of 4 point 2 percent is the highest in nearly 6 years. Minnesota non-farm payrolls declined by 13 hundred jobs as well, but state officials say the worst is probably over for Minnesota's job market. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
March 19, 2002 - The Minneapolis St. Paul Airport is making plans to begin testing face recognized surveillance software by early May. The Metropolitan Airports Commission or the MAC says it's working with Honeywell to be a test site for the new security technology. Jim Welna Public-Safety Director at the MAC says the airport's security camera's would identify someone who breaches a security check point and Honeywell's face-recognition software could track that person as they moved through the airport. Face-recognized surveillance software is currently tested around the country. And the American Civil Liberities Union believes its proven ineffective and threatens personal freedom. Rachel Konrad writes for CNET News-dot-Com, an online newspaper that covers changing technology. She says the surveillance software is part of a greater technology called biometrics:
March 19, 2002 - There's a 60-day countdown clock running in Brainerd. That's when workers at the Potlatch paper mill will likely lose their jobs. Company officials announced yesterday (MONDAY) the company will stop making "coated paper," the kind used in magazines. It plans to sell its mill in Cloquet to a South African company, and it will close the Brainerd plant. The Brainerd plant employs 660 people. It's one of Crow Wing county's largest employers. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports city, union and company leaders are already working together to cushion the blow.
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March 20, 2002 - Travelers with the right computer equipment will be flying in more ways than one when they go to the Twin Cities International Airport starting today. The airport is unveiling a new high-speed wireless connection to the internet that's up to 100 times as fast as regular modem speeds. Joining us on the line is Brian Peters, Assistant Manager for Airline Affairs with the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Thats Brian Peters, Assistant Manager for Airline Affairs with the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
March 22, 2002 - The Consul General of Mexico will be in St. Paul this weekend to provide official i.ds for about 1,000 undocumented Mexicans. The Mexican government is working with Wells Fargo and US Bank to allow Mexican nationals to open bank accounts. Officials with the Immigration and Naturalization Service say the i.d. cards won't affect their work. Legally, they can't interfere with undocumented workers who are applying for them. The faith-based organization ISAIAH invited the Consul General to the Twin Cities to distribute cards. Jim Kielkopf is a volunteer spokesman for ISAIAH. He says the card grants Illegal immigrant greater security:
March 25, 2002 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that even as state lawmakers debate whether to help finance a ballpark, potential host cities have been jockeying for position. St. Paul city officials said the city has three downtown sites that could become the next home to the Minnesota Twins. Business and labor leaders joined Mayor Randy Kelly at City Hall to describe the sites.
March 25, 2002 - Minnesota lawmakers are coming up against their self-determined deadline for finishing the session. Leglislators have said they want to complete their work and adjourn by Easter. But they still have plenty to do, including agreeing on a plan to close a $440 million gap in the state budget. Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer gets developments from MPR's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum.
March 25, 2002 - Some bus riders around the metro area may need to find new ways to get around if proposed cuts in the bus system are adopted. Officials at the Metropolitan Council are meeting today to review the cuts. If they approve them, the plan will move on to the full council for review, and the public will have a chance to comment. The cuts are necessary because state lawmakers cut 2.7 million dollars from the Metro Transit budget, as part of the budget balancing bill it passed last month. Ted Mondale is chairman of the Met Council. He's on the line now.