November 28, 2003 - The state attorney general's office and two DFL legislators say they'll propose legislation designed to protect consumers from fraudulent charges applied to telephone bills. They also say they'll propose bills to allow consumers to cancel long-distance service with a single telephone call. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
November 28, 2003 - Shoppers flooded shops and malls today , the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Retailers traditionally rely on holiday and year-end sales to offset slower sales in the remainder of the year. They're hoping that shoppers spend more than they did during the last holiday season. But shoppers remain cautious about the economy and are shopping for bargains. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports
November 28, 2003 - While President Bush made a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Iraq this week, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton chose to spend Thanksgiving with Army paratroopers in Afghanistan. The former First Lady warned Taliban rebels that they are "fighting a losing battle," and said she is very impressed by the determination of the new civilian government there. For a different perspective on how things are going in Afghanistan we turn to Greg Mortenson, who divides his time between visits to rural parts of Afghanistan and the U.S. He runs the Central Asia Institute, based in Bozeman, Montana. Mortenson, a native of Minnesota, says schools are the key to Afghanistan's revival. But security problems and economic issues inhibit the country's stability.
December 1, 2003 - December can be a big month for car sales, and this year business owners have added incentive to take advantage of year-end deals, particularly on large SUVs. Part of President Bush's economic stimulus package includes a full deduction for new business equipment up to $100,000. Previously, the deduction was capped at $25,000. What's kicked up the most interest -- and controversy -- is the large vehicle provision. Vehicles weighing more than 6,000 pounds -- which includes large pickups and SUVs -- can be claimed as business purchases and fully deducted. Smaller vehicles are not eligible for the full deduction. Environmentalists have criticized the provision, and Democrats in the House and Senate are already preparing legislation to eliminate the tax break. Todd Koch is an accountant in Falcon Heights. He says that originally, the large vehicle deduction was intended for use by farmers.
December 1, 2003 - Minnesota Pubilic Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell talks about Black Friday and how it has changed in recent years.
December 2, 2003 - A labor dispute over job pay and security could threaten the airline that serves many of the smaller airports in the region. Mesaba and its pilots union started three days of negotiation today in Minneapolis. They have yet to agree on a contract after two-and-a-half years of talks. Mesaba operates connecting flights from hubs to smaller cities around the Midwest and the South for Northwest Airlines. Mesaba pilots voted overwhelmingly this fall to authorize a strike if necessary. To show they're prepared, today the union offered a first look at its strike operations center. On the 10th floor of an office building, overlooking Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, off-duty pilots watched a bank of five computer screens. Strike operations manager Mike Dockman says they can monitor air traffic all over the country.
December 2, 2003 - Dave Jackson is communications manager for Mesaba Airlines. He says uncertainty over its status with Northwest gives it ample motivation to settle the contract dispute. Dave Jackson, communications manager for Mesaba Airlines.
December 2, 2003 - It's been two months since two students were killed in a school shooting in Cold Spring. Now officials at Rocori High School are asking the community for ideas on how to prevent future violence. A group of Rocori school district residents got together last night Monday to discuss the issue. They say the key to school safety isn't increased security, but increased involvement by parents and teachers in the lives of students. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post reports.
December 2, 2003 - Publishers, not music file swappers, are weakening the power of copyrights in the US. Brooklyn Law School Assistant Professor Jason Matsoni says there's one good reason so many Americans illegally download copyrighted music and other materials. It's because so many of the copyrighted items that they have encountered never should have been copyrighted in the first place.
December 3, 2003 - A new state economic forecast released today (WEDNESDAY) shows the state has not completely resolved its budget problem. The forecast projects a relatively modest deficit of 185-million dollars in the current two-year budget cycle. The last Legislature tackled a much larger four-and-a-half billion dollar shortfall. Republican leaders say the deficit is manageable with current resources, but some groups are already calling for tax increases. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...