November 24, 2003 - Starting today... new federal rules will allow cell phone customers to keep their number... even if they switch cell phone COMPANIES. The new rules also allow home phone numbers to be switched to cell phones, and vice versa. It's called number portability... and the Federal Communications Commission made the rule changes to spur competition. Joining us on the line to explain all the changes is Brian Callahan... executive vice president of Communications Consulting and Coordination... a telecommunications consulting firm in Brooklyn Park. That is telecommunications consultant Brian Callahan. Coming up in the next half hour on Future Tense, a look at changing attitudes about telephones and television.
November 25, 2003 - Even during the recent recession, real estate surged to new heights. Homeowners, especially in the Twin Cities, propped up the struggling state economy with a flurry of buying, selling and refinancing. Experts agree the frantic housing market of the past few years is ending. It's cooling off, but still warm to the touch. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich has the first of two stories on the Twin Cities housing market. Tomorrow we'll look at some advice for homebuyers in the changing housing market.
November 26, 2003 - The housing boom of the past few years has left a challenging climate for prospective home-buyers, especially in urban areas like the Twin Cities. Interest rates are low, but rising. The pressure to join the ranks of homeowners is strong. But housing as an investment is looking less brilliant than it has in recent years. Buyers are facing the end of the hot housing market, and experts say it's essential to keep a cool head. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
November 27, 2003 - Each day, thousands of Minnesotans go hungry. And their numbers are growing. Officials at area food shelves say there are more hungry people this year than last. They also say individual and corporate donations are not keeping up with the increased demand. The squeeze is causing many food shelves to run a deficit and it's forcing area food banks to limit their donations. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports. <Marty Mumma and Julie Kelly take a morning stroll on Thanksgiving morning. The two women are making the rounds in the Mall of America for this year's Hunger Walk. Mumma, of Eagan, and Kelly of Minneapolis are just two of the three thousand people who are walking past the closed stores of Bed Bath and Beyond, Victoria's Secret and Sam Goody to raise money for Minnesota's six area food banks. Mumma and Kelly say they're taking part in the Hunger Walk to help the less fortunate.
November 27, 2003 - Over 2000 Minnesotans are expected to be at Mall of America this morning to raise money for hungry people in the state. The Hormel Hunger Walk gets underway at 8:00 a.m. and will benefit Minnesota food banks. Hunger is on the rise in Minnesota. Over the past 18 months, food shelf usage has risen nearly 15 percent. Janine Laird is the director of public policy and advocacy for Hunger Solutions Minnesota, which coordinates Minnesota's network of 320 food shelves. She joins us now from the Mall of America.
November 27, 2003 - MPR’s Dan Olson presents a profile of Marian Biersdorf, the person behind the Festal canned pumpkin pie recipe.
November 28, 2003 - Most law firms in the twin cities do pro bono work. But only the six major law firms offer free legal clinics. Leonard, Street and Deinhard was the first to open an office in one of the poorest areas of Minneapolis. The one room office is located in a health clinic that serves clients that are mostly poor people of color. And many of the clients are immigrants who don't speak English. Recently, the firm celebrated the 10th anniversary of it's clinic. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports:
November 28, 2003 - Heather Newman from the Detroit Free Press is in studio to give gift suggestions for the techie in your life.
November 28, 2003 - Despite dragging the company down, Target Corporation announced they still have no plans to sell off their divisional stores, Marshall Fields and Mervyn's.
November 28, 2003 - On this the busiest of holiday weekends, many air travelers leave their cars at the Minneapolis St Paul airport's long-term parking lot. At 14-dollars a day, the price of parking for a long vacation can cost a small fortune. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, what appears to be a high price to pay for convenience isn't out of line with other airports around the country.