September 29, 2003 - Humans have harnessed the wind for thousands of years since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Wind has powered sailboats, ground grain, pumped water and most recently generated electricity. Now Minnesota has emerged as a national wind leader. In the first story in a Mainstreet Radio wind power series Erin Galbally reports on the state's rise from windmills to wind farms.
October 1, 2003 - In a live broadcast from Collegeville, Minnesota Public Radio President Bill Kling talks with Gary Eichten about MPR. He also takes listener questions and comments.
October 3, 2003 - Executives from Minnesota's manufacturing industry gave Governor Tim Pawlenty their wish-list for state government during three seperate roundtable discussions yesterday. The governor was looking for ideas on how to shore up an important part of Minnesota's economy. The high-paying sector has lost nearly 48 thousand jobs since the start of the recession in 2001. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
October 6, 2003 - Nonprofit social service providers throughout Minnesota say they're being forced to lay off workers, consider mergers and think about closing as a result of the recently passed state budget. Many non-profits say cuts in government grants along with the tough economy, and a decrease in corporate and individual giving are forcing them to cut back the services they provide. They argue that the cutbacks will hurt the state's most vulnerable residents. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
October 6, 2003 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that more than 55,000 fans crowded into the Metrodome only to see an 8-1 loss end the Minnesota Twins' baseball season. After winning the first game, the Twins scored only once in each of the next three games...allowing the Yankees to take the best-of-five playoff series three games to one.
October 9, 2003 -
October 10, 2003 - University of Minnesota and other law enforcement officials are preparing for possible trouble after the big Minnesota-Michigan football game tonight. A recent riot after a football a game at Minnesota State University in Mankato has raised concerns about celebrations getting out of hand. About 60-thousand people are expected at tonight's game, in which the undefeated Gophers will take on the Michigan Wolverines, a team they haven't beaten since 1986. But the Gophers are favored this year. They are ranked 17th in this week's AP poll, and have their eyes on the Big Ten title, something they haven't taken since 1967. Eric Dyer (DIE er) is the undergraduate student body president at the U of M. He says students aren't worried about other students getting out of control.
October 10, 2003 - Later this year Northwest Airlines could take back 31 jet airplanes it leases to Mesaba Airlines. Mesaba is a Northwest partner that serves smaller cities in outstate Minnesota and much of the upper Midwest. If the jets are withdrawn, travelers might not notice a big difference, but it could be major blow to Twin Cities-based Mesaba. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
October 14, 2003 - It's a tale that's become familiar. A small independent business -- faced with online and big box competition -- struggles to stay afloat. But that's not the whole story of St. Paul's Ruminator Books. The independent bookseller has shrunk its inventory and laid off half its staff in the past couple of years, and authors from across the country are rallying to the store's aid by contributing items for an upcoming online auction. David Unowsky has owned the bookstore for 33 years. He says competition from the national chains has been a factor, but not the only reason the Ruminator is in dire straits.
October 21, 2003 - Nearly two-thousand University of Minnesota clerical workers are walking the picket lines at this hour. Marisa Helms reports.