September 3, 2003 - The process of picking a commemorative Minnesota quarter began in earnest today. It's part of the United States Mint's program to assign a quarter to each of the 50 states in the order they joined the union. Two representatives from the US Mint met with the 15-member state commission that will collect ideas for the quarter. Minnesota Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke chairs the state task force. Pierson Yecke says that today's meeting is just the start of a process that will result in a Minnesota quarter in 2005.
September 4, 2003 - A potential multi-million dollar pledge from an unnamed donor has energized University of Minnesota boosters eager to bring Big Ten football back to campus. Unconfirmed reports suggest an anonymous donor is willing to contribute $35 million towards a new on-campus facility if University officials can find the remainder from other sources. The news has revived talk of a Gophers-only stadium after a plan to build a joint facility for the university and the Minnesota Vikings unravelled last year. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
September 5, 2003 - The president of the Minnesota Bar Association, James Baillie (BAY-lee), faces an immediate crisis, finding more money for low-income people who can't afford legal representation. The 60-year-old Minneapolis attorney became the bar association's top elected official in July. He's known for his dedication to legal aid, which is facing its worst funding crisis in more than 20 years. John Share describes the legal aid situation in this week's edition of The Business Journal. He says that Baillie (BAY-lee) has built a national reputation in this area.
September 5, 2003 - MPR's Brandt Williams reports on lower attendance for home Twins games in 2003. Some baseball insiders are wondering where the fans are. Attendance at the Metrodome is behind 2002, and TV ratings are down significantly. Team officials say they're not worried about the numbers and say they expect crowds to increase as the season draws to a close.
September 8, 2003 - MPR's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell talks about the alleged mulual fund trading violations in New York.
September 8, 2003 - More international patients travel to the Mayo Clinic each year than to any other U.S. health care facility. The Rochester based clinic is known around the world for everything from heart and cancer treatment to basic care. But since September 11th, Mayo has seen less and less of at least one prominent group of foreign patients -- travelers from the Persian Gulf. The situation's hurt Mayo's bottom line, but its effects have also trickled down to Rochester's local economy. Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally has this report. BACK ANNOUNCE: Tomorrow Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports on Mayo's decision to open a clinic in the Middle East.
September 9, 2003 - The recording industry filed hundreds of lawsuits yesterday accusing individuals of illegally downloading and sharing songs over the Internet. Two-hundred and sixty-one complaints were filed in federal courts across the country by the Recording Industry Association of America on behalf of its members -- which include the Universal Music Group, BMG, and Sony Music. More lawsuits are expected. As chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senator Norm Coleman has promised to hold hearings on the music industry's use of copyright subpoenas to track downloaders. The Minnesota Republican says file-sharing is a very real problem, but he says the tactic of charging hundreds of individuals is excessive.
September 9, 2003 - A group of Grand Forks entrepreneurs wants to change air travel in the midwest. They say on demand air service is the wave of the future. NASA may fund a demonstration project of the concept next year in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson Reports.
September 11, 2003 - The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon two years ago prompted concerns about whether insurance companies could withstand a surge in terrorism. Insurance companies joined the airline industry to lobby Congress to ease the financial fallout from the attacks. Andrew Whitman, Professor of Insurance at the Carlson School of Management, says the insurance industry is still paying off the 40-billion dollars in claims related to 9/11.
September 11, 2003 - The U.S. Agriculture Department confirmed today what Minnesota farmers already know: drought has damaged their crops. The USDA's latest estimate describes a shrinking soybean crop and smaller corn yields compared to what was expected in August. But even with the gloomy numbers, there was good news this week for some livestock farmers. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.