April 7, 1998 - Light rail transit advocates are closer to winning legislative approval for an LRT line in Minneapolis. Lawmakers trying to iron out Minnesota House and Senate spending differences are being told the operating cost of bus and rail service along Hiawatha Avenue are about the same. Advocates say answering the operating cost question is a big step toward convincing lawmakers and the governor that LRT from downtown Minneapolis to the airport is feasible. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. The agreement reached in a legislative conference committee gets at the long running controversy over what is cheaper to operate - bus or LRT. Minnesota Department of Transporation director of intergovernmental policy Bill Schrieber says his agency and the Metro
April 9, 1998 - Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, who also chairs the Seven County Rail Authority; and Art Leahy, general manager of the Metropolitan Council Transit Operations, discuss legislative passage of light rail project in the Twin Cities. McLaughlin and Leahy also answer listener questions.
April 10, 1998 - State lawmakers refused to enact limits on bank service charges this legislative session. In the last several years, consumer groups have issued numerous reports blasting banks for increasing fees and adding new ones at a time of record industry profits. As Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports, legislative proposals to reign in bank fees drew more attention and support this year than they have in the past, but none survived. Jordan Ash says he's actually encouraged. Ash is the banking organizer at the activist group ACORN. He's the point man in ACORN's campaign to force banks to reduce bounced check and other fees the group says unfairly hit low
April 10, 1998 - SEVERAL OF SAINT PAUL'S CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE HAPPY TO HAVE FUNDING OF A NEW DOWNTOWN HOCKEY ARENA RESOLVED. MOST SAY THE DEAL MINIMIZES THE CITY'S FINANCIAL RISK IN THE 130 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN REPORTS... IN THE WANING WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION - WITH A REQUEST FOR HOCKEY ARENA FUNDING LANGUISHING BEFORE LAWMAKERS - SOME OF SAINT PAUL'S ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE SOBERED BY THE PROSPECT OF HAVING TO COME UP WITH NINETY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE RIVER CENTRE ARENA. BUT A LATE-NIGHT LEGISLATIVE BREAKTHROUGH AND A REVISED DEAL WITH THE MINNESOTA WILD HOCKEY TEAM NOW HAVE CITY HALL DENIZENS CELEBRATING. CONGRATULATORY REMARKS AND BACK-PATTING MAR
April 14, 1998 - There's increasing concern about the future of St Peters mainstreet businesses as the city continues to clean up from last month's tornado. Preliminary estimates put damage to downtown businesses at millions of dollars. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports, some shops will have to relocate, while others will work to repair the damage and reopen. At first glance inside Nutter Clothing only a few things seem out of the ordinary. There are no clothing racks in the front and the carpet is water stained. Scott Dobie is the fourth owner of this men's clothing shop that opened in 1922. He says they dumped their entire stock because of the tornado's havoc. 39:16 Our windows were blown out. And the membrane on the roof was peeled back. And when it rained and snowed you can see it leaked all over the floor. Also the flying glass, the splinters of glass. That if we were to sell a shirt within two months from now and somebody cut themselves
April 15, 1998 - As part of the series Remembering and Rebuilding - The Great Flood of 1997, a special Mainstreet Radio program from East Grand Forks, one year after the flood. Host Rachel Reabe interviews several business people and families who were affected by the flood…some who rebuilt, and some who moved away.
April 16, 1998 - Tom DeLoughery, managing editor of Internet World Magazine, discusses the future of the internet. Topics include email, research, and the growth of commerce. DeLoughery also answers listener questions.
April 21, 1998 - Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson reports that while farmers across the region are getting their machinery lined up for an early start on spring planting, in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, hundreds of farmers are lining equipment up to be sold at auction. Some are angry…but many are relieved.
April 22, 1998 - Northwest Airlines says its taking measures to counter what it describes as an effort on the part of a small number of its employees to slow down the airline in protest of stalled contract negotiations. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
April 23, 1998 - Minnesota 5th District Congressman Martin Sabo talks about a new report on the wage gap called "Executive Excess" and discusses his Income Equity Act proposal. Sabo also answers listener questions.