February 20, 1997 - Members of the environmental group Earth First! are stepping up their protests against logging practices in Minnesota. In December, Earth First demonstrators blocked the cutting of mature white pines in the Superior National Forest. Now the group says a council charged with protecting the state's forests is dragging its feet. Earth First! wants a ban on logging on public land until the Minnesota Forest Resources Council comes up with a plan to ensure forests are protected from overcutting. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
February 27, 1997 - Midday talks with car expert Jack Gillis, who is out with his 1997 editions of "The Car Book" and "The Truck, Van, and 4-by-4 Book." Gillis also writes a used car book. He answers call-in questions from listeners about safety features, warranties, complaint ratings, prices, and showroom strategies.
March 12, 1997 - A special Midday program on history of the fur trade, hosted by Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell. Why did it become important in 17th and 18th centuries and who profited?
March 19, 1997 - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is making a concerted effort to increase the number of dairy cows in the state. The Ag Department says Minnesota needs nearly 60,000 more cows for the state's dairy processing plants to run at full capacity. But family farm proponants say encouraging dairy farmers to expand their herds could come at the expense of small farms. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
March 19, 1997 - Expansion of the Minneapolis Convention Center is on the legislature's plate again following the governor's veto of a convention center appropriation last year. The House Economic Development and International Trade Committee takes up the bill today. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.
March 20, 1997 - Minneapolis-based First Bank announced today it would acquire one of the largest and oldest banks in the Pacific Northwest, U.S. Bancorp, for about $9 billion dollars in stock. The new entity will be the 14th largest banking firm in the U.S., and will take the name U.S. Bancorp. Officials say some 4,000 positions will be eliminated, the majority in the Portland area. Analysts say the announcement has relatively little bad news for Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has more.
March 21, 1997 - A SENATE COMMITTEE HAS DEALT A BLOW TO THE MINNESOTA TWINS EFFORT TO GET A TAXPAYER PAID STADIUM BUILT FOR THEM. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S BOB COLLINS REPORTS AFTER MORE THAN 3 HOURS OF TESTIMONY AND DEBATE...AND WITH SOME MEMBERS WANTING TO CALL IT A NIGHT TO WATCH THE GOPHERS PLAY BASKETBALL, THE SENATE METROPOLITAN AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE DECIDED TO TAKE NO ACTION ON THE MEASURE TO SPEND OVER 400 MILLION DOLLARS ON A NEW BASEBALL STADIUM. THE LEGISLATION ISN'T DEAD BY A LONG SHOT, BUT THE COMMITTEE FACES A DEADLINE OF NEXT WEEK TO TAKE ACTION ON THE MEASURE AND THERE APPEARS TO BE PLENTY OF WORK YET TO BE DONE ON IT.
March 24, 1997 - Legislation to have the state subsidize a new Minnesota Twins stadium made some progress at the Legislature, despite lawmakers' misgivings. MPR's Martin Kaste reports that the fate of the Twins Stadium bill had fallen into the hands of the members of the Senate Local and Metropolitan Government Committee…and they were none too happy about it.
March 26, 1997 - Midday discusses the U. S. economy with author and well-known economist Lester Thurow, a professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Topics include interest rates, inflation, stock market, health care, labor market, and monetary policy. Thurow also answers listener call-in questions.
March 26, 1997 - A key Minnesota house committee today approved legislation that would require snowmobile owners to have liability insurance on their snowmobiles. This bill is one of many this year fueled by the 32 snowmobile related deaths this year in Minnesota. The House Financial institutions and Insurance Committee passed the requirement after hearing tearful pleas from the mothers of two children killed by snowmobilers this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has more.