January 28, 2004 -
January 29, 2004 -
January 30, 2004 - At a time when many arts organizations are struggling financially, the Minnesota Ballet has found ways of going from strength to strength. The Duluth-based company is gradually trying to wean itself from foundation support. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
January 30, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty today (fri) released details of the first phase of his plan to help Minnesotans import less expensive prescription drugs from Canada. The governor showcased a state website that lists two Canadian pharmacies that have 829 different medicines for sale to consumers. Minnesota is the first state in the nation to offer such a plan. Some critics say the website doesn't do enough to help Minnesotans obtain cheaper prescriptions. Others oppose the site and say they're contemplating legal action to shut it down. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
January 30, 2004 -
February 3, 2004 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on the state of the indie record store in the age of digital. After years of slumping CD sales and the illegal downloading of songs, the music retail industry is finally embracing the digital age. Online music sales through companies such as Apple Computer, Napster and even Walmart are growing, and several major record labels are converting their music catalogs to digital. Many industry observers say the shift to digital delivery of music spells doom for the independent record store. Yet, the few such stores that remain in the Twin Cities say reports of their impending death may be premature. Roberts interviews various people in the industry, including Steve Pearson, buyer at Electric Fetus; Ryan Cameron, owner of Let it Be Records; Paul Stark, co-founder of Twin/Tone Records; and Chris Wester, managing director of Down in the Valley.
February 3, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty today (TUESDAY) outlined a series of proposals to help Minnesota's emerging biotech industry. Pawlenty has made biotech a top priority of his administration. But the governor's recommendations don't go as far as the proposals from the biosciences council he created last year. Industry experts say even if Pawlenty's package passes in its entirety, Minnesota will have to do more down the road to be a major player in the biotech industry. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
February 5, 2004 - Every year the U.S. imports more food, even though the country produces enough to feed itself, even though the country produces enough to feed itself. The tastes of American consumers are changing. Big city or small town, they're looking for food from all over the world. As Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports, many of those consumers are new arrivals to the country.
February 6, 2004 -
February 6, 2004 - A Roseville cancer clinic is reeling this week following its decision to end contracts with two large Minnesota insurers who had serious concerns about patient care at the facility. Parker Hughes Cancer Center has been under investigation by the insurers and state officials for months. The Star Tribune newspaper published a series of critical investigative stories about the clinic in December. Since then the clinic says it has notice a significant decline in new patients. Yesterday the clinic and its research institute laid off 89 people - a third of its staff. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.