February 4, 1974 - Truckers have a legitimate complaint over the price they have to pay for fuel oil. Governor Anderson says when he meets with other governors in Washington this will be a top priority item.
February 4, 1974 - Governor Anderson says he hasn't had a request at this point to call out the Guard. The situation is being monitored closely. If it's essential to protect property, to keep the highways open or for safety he would call on them.
February 4, 1974 - Anderson says no-fault makes sense for fender benders and property damage but he has a question when there?s serious injury. Then people should have a right to sue, but what is the threshold? Is it loss of life or limb, $10,000, where is the line drawn? He would like to try a lower threshold to start with.
February 4, 1974 - Mr. Crawford speaks at a press conference about the safety of truck drivers after incidents of violence including shootings and a couple of beatings. He says he will aid the trucking industry by keeping highways safe, and will ask the governor for help if necessary. His department has helped truckers out of truck stops where they?ve been marooned,
February 4, 1974 - The state?s gas allocation system is explained by James Ikehoff of the Civil Defense Office. Mandatory gas allocations affect how much gas suppliers have to sell. Gas stations could run short. The federal energy office has predicted a national gasoline shortage of 20 percent by summer. Right now the office handles more than 200 calls each day. Dixie Diehl says most callers are concerned with inadequate gas supplies. To compensate filling stations pump only two or three gallons of gas per customer to stay open.
February 4, 1974 - Speaker James? Ikehoff says while there have been two incidents of trucker violence in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin no injuries have been reported.
February 5, 1974 - Independent truck owners and operators presented a list of demands to the governor?s office. Leo Conzemius and Ken Nelson say the fuel crisis is causing them to raise prices. The truckers? demands include a roll back of fuel prices to May 15, 1973, speed limits no lower than 65 mph, less harassment and uniform license plates good in all states.
February 5, 1974 - The trucker slowdown and strike is affecting grocery store supply and food distribution. Bill Hannan says he?s optimistic most large stores will outlast the truckers? strike due to a two week inventory in warehouses. However both he and Hugh Cosgrove, executive director of the Minnesota Food Retailers Association, urge consumers not to panic buy and hoard, Cosgrove says the news media has caused some panic buying; this has been completely unnecessary. For example a few weeks ago some press reported a shortage of toilet tissue. People panicked and bought ahead even though there was no shortage. He doesn?t foresee price increases because of shortages.
February 20, 1974 - Minneapolis representative Frank Knoll said the federal government is gradually withdrawing from the housing scene and has introduced a bill attempting to fill the void concerning housing rehab. The bill is designed to meet the problem on a statewide basis, not just in urban areas. Knoll has also proposed a bill to reduce noise levels in neighborhoods near the airport. It provides a tax credit to property owners of fifteen percent; the MAC would have to reimburse local governments for lost revenue. Knoll says residents shouldn?t be raced with the choice of moving out or suffering the noise.
February 21, 1974 - North Dakota has created a reclamation plan for land mined for coal, for gasification. Environmentalists are concerned about the impact. Dr. Donald Scoby, environmental biologist at North Dakota State University, talks about problems with reclamation, including disruption of aquifers and loss of biodiversity in the topsoil. Many environmentalists think we should be paying the true cost instead of passing it on to future generations.