September 23, 1997 - The Fargodome has been flooded with hundreds of complaints about ticket scalping for its October 25th Elton John concert. Several national companies apparently hired people to stand in line and buy tickets when they went on sale, and then sent the tickets out of state for resale. The 29-thousand tickets at the Fargodome sold out in 59-minues Saturday morning, and a private ticket broker in Connecticut is now offering thirty-dollar tickets for 129-dollars. The broker's phone answering system says a substantial "service charge" has been added to the original price. Parrell (LIKE "PERIL") Grossman is North Dakota's Director of Consumer Protection says it's a dis-service charge. Parrell Grossman is North Dakota's Director of Consumer P
September 25, 1997 - When the flood of '97 forced the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks to evacuate, the University of North Dakota closed its doors early for the school year and sent students home without a graduation. Now five months later, the campus is nearly back up to speed, with only a slight dip in enrollment. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Just months ago, the UND campus was an island in the midst o
September 26, 1997 - The Immigration and Naturalization Service is staying open til midnight Tuesday to accomodate the flood of illegal aliens trying to beat the deadline to apply for permanent residency. Illegal aliens with a current visa number must apply for permanent residency by the end of the month and pay a thousand dollar penalty. Otherwise, they must return to their home country, and apply through the U-S consulate there. Many of the people in this situation are in the country illegally, but are married to U-S citizens, or green card holders. Karen Ellingson is an attorney with Officino Legale, a non-profit legal office that serves the east metro area. She says she's been advising her clients to apply before the deadline and pay the thousand dollar penalty:
September 30, 1997 - Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have found the first direct evidence of a link between contaminated water and the outbreaks of deformed frogs first reported in Minnesota in 1995. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
September 30, 1997 - Grand Forks and East Grand Forks residents who say buy-out offers from the federal government for their flood-wrecked homes are insufficient may get another chance. Today a class-action suit was filed on their behalf in federal courts in Minnesota and North Dakota. The suit aims to force local officials to use eminent domain to buy-out homeowners. The hope is that eminent domain--a legal concept that allows government buy property for the civic good--would offer homeowners a better deal: more money, relocation benefits, and a smoother process. Though few property owners are named on the suit, hundreds are eligible, and could join later. Cheryl Phelps is one East Grand Forks homeowner who's already on board:
September 30, 1997 - EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTA'S WILDFLOWERS ARE TURNED INTO LANDFILL DURING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION. NO ONE KEEPS TRACK OF THE LOST PLANTS WHICH OFTEN INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE HALF-DOZEN SPECIES OF PROTECTED WILDFLOWERS...LIKE ORCHIDS AND LILIES. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RESCUE THE PLANTS MUST RECEIVE PERMISSION FROM THE LANDOWNER AND SECURE A PERMIT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THIS SALVAGE HAS PROVOKED A QUIET DEBATE OVER WHETHER THESE PLANTS SHOULD BE RELOCATED. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S KATHLEEN HALLINAN REPORTS. (SOUND OF PULLING/BRAD...) BRAD MRZLAK IS PULLING NATIVE CALLALILIES AND STASHING THEM IN A PLASTIC TRAY. HE GENTLY GRABS THE PLANTS AT THE BASE AND EASES THEIR ROOTS TO THE SURFACE. HE'S STANDING IN A PEAT BOG--WITH WATER MIDWAY UP HIS SHINS.
October 2, 1997 - The accounts of torture and murder being heard by South Africa's Reconciliation Commision are a grim reminder of past life under the country's white minority government. The end of apartheit brings hope, but also a new set of problems. A South African singing group called "The Christian Explainers" is on a U.S. tour to call attention to the rise of drug violence that is afflicting the country. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more ANNCR TAG: The Christian Explainers' first Twin Cities performance is Thursday evening (tonight) in St. Paul at the Minnesota History Center auditorium. Eddie Jacobs is alternately hopeful and fearful about the future fo
October 3, 1997 - Saturday kicks off the two-week moose hunting season in northeast Minnesota, and hunters aren't exaggerating when they call it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Since 1993, the highly sought after moose permits have been awarded by lottery, and there's a lifetime limit of one license per hunter. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports from Duluth.
October 22, 1997 - They're still a rare sight in most of the state, but timber wolves are making a comeback in Minnesota. Held strictly to northeastern forests a few decades ago, wolves are now spreading west and south…toward St. Cloud, Grand Forks, and Elk River. Mainstreet Radio's Leif Enger reports on biologists using satellite technology to forecast where wolves will show up next.
November 6, 1997 - Midday features a Mainstreet Radio special about deer hunting, broadcast from Bemidji. A huge number of Minnesotans participate in this annual event. In the second hour of program, host Rachel Reabe talks with Bemidji hunters Kevin, Brett and Corey; and psychologist Dr. Dwight Phelps on the culture of deer hunting. Reabe also interviews Jean Bergerson about women deer hunters.