October 15, 2002 - Northwest Airlines is closing its Atlanta aircraft maintenance facility to cut costs. The company is transferring the work to the Twin Cities. Most of the 1450 employees in Atlanta are eligible for transfers to other Northwest facilities. Mechanics union officials say the move may result in some recalls of laid off Twin Cities workers but it's not clear how many. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
October 17, 2002 - Northwest Airlines stock jumped seven percent today after the company reported a third quarter loss that was smaller than Wall Street expected. But company officials cautioned that the airline's future remains uncertain at best. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
October 18, 2002 - Marshall Fields in downtown St. Paul will hold a celebration this weekend to mark the end of its $22 million dollar renovation. The store is brighter, more wide open, and SMALLER after its makeover. It consolidated five sales floors into three and reduced retail space by nearly one-quarter. The Target Corporation got some help paying for the renovation. In return for promising to keep the store open through at least 2012, the city of St. Paul provided $7.8 million dollars to help subsidize the project. Joining us now is Dave Brennan, marketing professor at the University of St. Thomas, and co-director of the school's Institute for Retailing Excellence.
October 18, 2002 - People are debating where Minnesota should get some of its electricity. Xcel Energy wants to continue buying hydro power from Canada. Company officials want a new ten-year contract to buy electricity from Manitoba Hydro. The billion dollar contract would begin in 2005. Environmentalists oppose the contract. They say Manitoba Hydro's dams cause serious damage to the environment. A Cree Indian band is also fighting the plan. They say the hydro-electric dams have destroyed their way of life. The Public Utilities Commission is accepting comment from all sides beginning Monday. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
October 21, 2002 - 3M reported strong third-quarter earnings today , thanks largely to cost-cutting and stronger sales in the Asia-Pacific region. Company officials say, despite the improved results, they don't yet see any rebound in the global economy. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
October 21, 2002 - Minnesota regulators say Qwest, the state's largest phone company, is guilty of sweetheart deals and collusion which violate state and federal laws. The deals, regulators say, were designed to help Qwest enter Minnesota's lucrative long distance phone business. The net effect of Qwest's dealing is some consumers got better phone service deals while the vast majority paid more. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
October 23, 2002 -
November 12, 2002 - 3M is making its largest acquisition ever, as measured by price. The Maplewood-based manufacturer has agreed to pay 850 million dollars in cash to buy a lens-making operation from the glass and fiber optics-maker Corning. Analysts say the deal marks a departure for a company not known for big acquisitions. They also say 3M is taking advantage of its financial strength to get a bargain. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
November 12, 2002 - When the new Congress returns to Washington in January, members are expected to resume work on energy legislation that would be a giant boost for the corn-based fuel, ethanol. The energy bill would more than double the nation's use of ethanol over the next ten years. Ethanol supporters, such the nation's corn farmers, say it's a way to reduce this country's dependence on foreign oil and benefit the environment at the same time. Ethanol opponents doubt those arguments, but they're fighting a losing battle. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure has the latest in our occasional series on ethanol.
November 18, 2002 - Northwest Airlines is awaiting a ruling from the federal government on its proposed ticketing alliance with Delta and Continental Airlines. If the federal government approves the alliance, the three airlines will coordinate flights and frequent flyer programs, but will not merge any parts of their businesses. The three airlines also plan to link up with the worldwide Skyteam alliance, which includes Air France and Alitalia. Northwest says its proposed alliance with Delta and Continental will help it endure difficult times. But smaller airlines and consumer advocates say the alliance could mean less competition and higher air fares. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.