February 17, 1997 - This time of year one might envy Roseville resident Cindy Herman. Herman is spending her winter in sunny climes aboard a cruise ship, and she's getting paid for it. Herman is the only woman drummer, now music director, for a cruise line, in her case Crystal Cruises. As part of our series called Odd Jobs, Mary Stucky visited with Herman recently while she was spending a few days off here at home. Herman says she got her start in the Roseville school music program.
February 18, 1997 - On its rail lines across the country Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad plans to increase train speeds through towns to sixty miles per hour. Many towns and cities now have ordinances limiting train speeds but the Federal Railroad Administration has given BNSF the okay to increase speeds. Some North Dakota communities are trying to put the brakes on the plan. Minnesota Public Radio’s Dan Gunderson reports.
February 19, 1997 - Evergreen Media Corporation is buying Dallas-based Chancellor Broadcasting Company and Viacom's ten radio stations for a total of $1.76 billion dollars. Chancellor owns seven Twin Cities radio stations. They are KFAN-AM, WBOB-FM, KEEY-FM, KTCZ-FM, KTCJ-AM, KDWB-FM and KQQL-FM. Once the deals are completed, the new company will be known as Chancellor Media Corporation. It will own 103 radio stations in 21 major markets. Tom Taylor, who edits "Inside Radio", a radio industry newsletter, says listeners won't be likely to notice the difference right away and he says it's the next logical step in a recent pattern.
February 19, 1997 - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is endorsing a continued role for the federal government in funding scientific research, which he says is crucial to making computers easier to use. In a speech to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Gates said Microsoft is planning to double the size of its basic research division over the next several years.
February 20, 1997 - MPR's Bill Wareham takes a look efforts by Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton to spend $35 million to help finance a Target store and other development on the south end of Nicollet Mall. The two-story Target would anchor a 14-story office and retail complex on the 900 block of Nicollet. Meanwhile, a block away the University of St. Thomas plans to expand its graduate school campus and link it to a K-12 magnet school also on the drawing boards.
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.