December 12, 2003 - Northwest Airlines has a Monday deadline to decide the fate of more than 30 regional jets flown by Mesaba Airlines. Northwest pays Mesaba to fly travelers from Northwest's hubs to mostly smaller cities in Minnesota and 29 other states and Canada. The issue of the regional jets complicates Mesaba's contract negotiations with its pilots union as a strike deadline looms less than a month away. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
December 12, 2003 - The National Academy of Sciences is questioning the value of expanding the lock and dam system on the Upper Mississippi River. The Army Corps of Engineers commissioned the report released this week. The document urges the agency to pursue less expensive and more timely alternatives. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports.
December 12, 2003 - The Governor, Xcel Energy and two environmental groups say a Billion dollar settlement to modernize three Twin Cities-area energy plants will mean dramatically cleaner air in Minnesota. Under the settlement announced yesterday (Thurs), Xcel will convert the Minneapolis Riverside plant and St. Paul High Bridge plant to natural gas; and also install new pollution control equipment at the Allen King plant on the St Croix river south of Stillwater. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
December 17, 2003 - The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis says the national and regional economies will see modest expansion next year. The Minneapolis Fed predicts Minnesota will add jobs at a faster pace than the US, but the unemployment rate will also tick up slightly. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
December 17, 2003 - Some economists say one of the biggest forces driving the upturn in the economy is the surprisingly hearty agricultural sector. The U-S Department of Agriculture says net farm income has jumped 58 percent over the past 12 months to 55.8 billion dollars. Sung Won Sohn is the chief economist at Wells Fargo Banks. He says low supplies and rising prices are feeding the farm economy.
December 17, 2003 - Vice President and Senior Marketing Analyst of Alaron (AL-ah-ron) Trading Corporation in Chicago discusses the price of natural gas.
December 18, 2003 - Department stores and home furnishing catalogs are now offering art to go with their couches and chairs. Some are original works, but many sell clever reproductions. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports other art dealers worry the public and artists are being misled.
December 18, 2003 - I'm Jeff Horwich, in St. Paul and alongside the excitement of state officials and communities about to gain a tax-free zone, there are plenty of concerns and unanswered questions. Pawlenty acknowledged his critics as he announced the zone locations.
December 18, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty flew around the state today (Thursday) to announce the locations for Minnesota's Job Opportunity Building Zones. Governor Pawlenty developed the program, known as JOB-Z, as an economic development tool. It offers businesses incentives to relocate, expand or start up in the designated areas. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha has the first of two reports.
December 19, 2003 - Developers have unveiled plans for a $600 million development project to be built along the Hiawatha Light Rail line near the Mall of America. Bloomington Central Station will include office space, residential housing and a 700 room hotel and resort that will feature a 60 thousand square foot water park. Planners say the 45 acre parcel of land will be transformed into the state's first transit-oriented development and a national model. However, some opponents of light rail, say the development would make sense even without its connection to the Hiawatha line. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.