May 5, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from St. Cloud State University as part of MPR's week-long project called "Hidden Rainbow: The Changing Face of Minnesota." In this first hour of program, Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion on racism in St. Cloud with Ralonda Mason, a local lawyer handling racism cases for St. Cloud Area Legal Services; Taye Reta, former St. Cloud business owner and member of the State Council on Black Minnesotans; Susan Ihne, executive editor at The St. Cloud Times; and Vusi Khamalo, director for the Multicultural Services at St. Cloud Technical College.
May 20, 1999 - Saint John's Abbey and University sits alone off 1-94, just west of Saint Cloud --- isolated from nearby towns. After a big campus fire in the late 1930's, it became clear that Saint Johns needed a fire department of its own to respond to campus emergencies fast. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Saint John's Firemonks.
May 20, 1999 - Inaction by the state legislature on the controversial Profile of Learning means it returns intact next fall for a second school year. Teachers throughout the state have struggled with the new graduation standards.
May 26, 1999 - More Minneapolis public school graduates will get a chance to attend college thanks to a major donor. Retired Medtronic executive Winston Wallin and his wife Maxine announced they are expanding their scholarship program from one high school to all of them. Wallin graduated from South High, and began offering scholarships to students there eight years ago. He says his earlier experience with the students who have already benefited from the program led him to expand it. Now more than 200 graduates will receive an average of ten thousand dollars to attend the Minnesota college or university of their choice
May 26, 1999 - Saint Paul School District officials say they're preparing for their largest ever summer school program. More than 15-thousand students in kindergarten through 12th grade are expected to enroll in the remedial sessions. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... This is the second year in Saint Paul for mandatory summer school for students who have net yet passed the state basic standards tests. It's the first year summer school is required for any third grader who's fallen behind in reading. School officials were caught off guard last summer when more students than expected showed up for summer classes. Assistant Superintendent Cy Yusten says that won't happen again...
May 28, 1999 - Fraternity leaders at the University of Minnesota say they're trying to set an example for all students on responsible drinking. A national survey this week showed alcohol-related arrests on the rise at the U of M, especially in campus dorms. But fraternities are claiming a decline in alcohol problems due to strict new rules on house parties and changing attitudes among members. Police, however, say they haven't seen much change.
June 2, 1999 - Mainstreet Radio’s Marisa Helms reports on the Brainerd High School Choir and their year-end performance of Sarah Hopkin’s “Past Life Melodies.” All year long, the choir's been working on the unique piece featuring aboriginal sounds from Australia. The decidedly NOT-WESTERN music has been educational in all sorts of ways.
June 2, 1999 - The Saint Paul school board will consider 10-and-a-half million dollars in spending cuts to balance next year's budget. District administrators last night outlined a budget proposal that includes teacher layoffs and increased class sizes.
June 4, 1999 - St Paul Public Schools Superintendent Patricia Harvey talks about her plans to improve the schools.
June 8, 1999 - State education officials say they're encouraged by third and fifth grade test scores in reading, math and writing. Second-year results of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests, showed gains in both grades. Despite the improvements, education leaders say it's still too soon to draw conclusions from the scores.