July 8, 2002 - One year ago today (July 8, 2001) fire destroyed the Farmland Foods plant in Albert Lea. Five hundred people lost their jobs. A year has passed and company officials still have not decided whether to rebuild in Albert Lea. The company says its waiting to hear about insurance claims. To complicate matters about a month ago Farmland Industries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Farmland's bankruptcy has sent a ripple effect through Albert Lea and is worrying many of the company's investors as well. MainStreet Radio's Laurel Druley reports. {On July 8, 2001, a spark from a welder's torch ignited a devastating fire that would have an impact on the whole town of Albert Lea.
July 9, 2002 -
July 10, 2002 - Joel Maturi could be appointed athletic director at the University of Minnesota as soon as today Helms reports.
July 10, 2002 - Saint Paul's chances of working out a ballpark funding plan with the Minnesota Twins this year are growing dimmer. To meet the terms of stadium legislation passed this spring, city voters would have to approve local funding for a new ballpark by the end of September. City officials have been meeting with Twins executives in hopes of working out a business deal in time to get a referendum question on the September ballot. But Mayor Randy Kelly says the talks have stalled, making it less likely the ballpark issue can be resolved this fall. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
July 10, 2002 - Proposals by President Bush and the New York Stock Exchange designed to root out and prevent corporate malfeasance are rising to the top of the agenda at Minnesota's largest corporations. Lawyers from some of those companies discussed scandal, reform and the future at a forum in Minneapolis this morning . Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
July 11, 2002 - Minnesota's technology economy deserves high marks according to a new report released yesterday (Weds). Minnesota Technology Inc (INK), the state's technology based economic development organization, says high tech is a stable anchor for the state's economy. However, the report also finds an increasing number of business executives are concerned Minnesota's technology sector is eroding and becoming less competitive. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
July 12, 2002 - The stadium debate will be back at the Capitol again next year. Now that a new Twins ballpark in St. Paul seems all but dead, Hennepin County officials say they'll try to persuade lawmakers to take up the issue again next session. The four major party gubernatorial candidates say they're willing to allow Hennepin County to bid for a new ballpark, but some key legislators are skeptical about the prospects for revisiting the issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
July 15, 2002 -
July 16, 2002 - Qwest Communications says it is cutting about 400 jobs in Minnesota due to a slowdown in demand. The layoffs follow state reports indicating the job market has stabilized in Minnesota. Minnesota's unemployment rate continued to decline in June, falling slightly to 4 percent. The state jobless rate peaked last March at 4 point 4 percent. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
July 16, 2002 - Volatility in the stock markets has some Minnesotans watching their investments carefully. In a stomach-churning ride on Wall Street yesterday, the Dow Jones slid over 400 points before climbing back and finishing the day with a loss of just 45. The Nasdaq was down more than 58 points before finishing up about 9. Despite mounting evidence of an economic recovery, stocks have been sliding for about two months. Analysts largely attibute that to corporate accounting scandals that have left investors mistrustful of earnings reports. Tom Endersbe is a Senior Financial Advisor at American Express Financial Advisors, and has been taking calls from concerned investors.