December 2, 1998 - ONE OF MINNESOTA'S MOST DIVISIVE DISPUTES NOW RESTS WITH THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. THE 9 JUSTICES PEPPERED ATTORNEYS WITH QUESTIONS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TODAY ON WHETHER THE MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE HAS RETAINED RIGHTS TO HUNT AND FISH OFF ITS RESERVATION FREE FROM STATE REGULATION. AT THE HEART OF THE DISPUTE IS WHETHER THE BAND HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEARFISH ON THE STATE'S PREMIER WALLEYE LAKE: LAKE MILLE LACS. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S ELIZABETH STAWICKI REPORTS... Sun 28-MAY 07:42:32 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
December 2, 1998 - The U-S Supreme Court hears arguments on a Minnesota treaty rights case this week (December 2nd) that could have wide-ranging implications for tribal rights throughout the country. The Court will decide whether the Mille Lacs (mill-LAKS') Band of Chippewa has retained rights to spearfish off its reservation free from State regulation. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The Chippewa say they need to carry on their centuries-old practice of spearfishing to keep their culture alive. But that tradition has enraged sportsfishermen and resort owners. They say the chippewa are depleting the lakes of the highly prized game fish--walleye. Spearing is an efficient way to fish and can result in a catch of hundreds of walleye in a few hours. During the 1980's violence erupted over this conflict in Wisconsin; a
December 3, 1998 - MPR's Brent Wolfe has this Mainstreet report on the study of tundra swans. The Upper Mississippi River between Wabasha and La Crosse is a temporary home to as many as 15,000 tundra swans, as they stop off here each winter enroute from their breeding grounds along Alaska's north slope to their wintering grounds on the Chesapeake Bay.
December 3, 1998 - MPR’s Mary Losure reports on Governor-elect Jesse Ventura touring the state’s Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Hundreds of state employees gave an enthusiastic welcome to Ventura as he visited the two state agencies that oversee Minnesota's environment.
December 4, 1998 - Farmers are planning a blockade at the Canadian border this weekend. Some of the dozens of border crossings from Minnesota to Seattle will be closed. Loggers in Maine say they will shut down a border crossing in solidarity with Midwestern farmers. Protest organizers say Canadian ag products are flooding the U-S market, driving down prices. They want more restrictions on Canadian trade. But some trade experts say farmers are fighting the wrong battle. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports... For Curt Trulson the issue is fairly simple. Canadian wheat is pouring into the U-S, and wheat prices are at rock bottom.
December 4, 1998 - Note host outcue! The Minnesota D-F-L Party is asking Minnesotans what went wrong in last month's election, and how should the party change. The D-F-L holds a public hearing at the Capitol tomorrow (Saturday) to get ideas. The soul-searching comes in the wake of devastating election defeats - their gubernatorial candidate came in third, they lost control of the Minnesota House and not one endorsed candidate for statewide office won. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... HOST OUTCUE: The D-F-L party holds its public hearing tomorrow (Saturday) at noon at the State Office Building. Reform ideas are posted on the party's web site at www.dfl.org.
December 8, 1998 - ******for Tuesday, Dec. 8 morning edition.***** A long- disputed proposal to build a 3-storey high metal shredder on the banks of the Mississippi in Minneapolis will go before the the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency today. American Iron and Supply Company wants to build the "Kondirator" at the company's riverside scrapyard in a north Minneapolis neighborhood. The fight over the project dates back to the late 1980's. Now, PCA staff members have recommended approval of the Kondirator, despite vocal opposition by the city of Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
December 8, 1998 - The Kondirator metal shredder proposed for the Mississippi riverbank in Minneapolis took a step forward today. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens Board voted unanimously to give the project the necessary permits without further environmental studies. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. Neighborhood residents are concerned about emmissions, noise, and dust from the shredder. The city of Minneapolis opposes the 3-storey metal shredder and took the issue to court more than two years ago to force the MPCA
December 11, 1998 - The Minneapolis City Council has passed a budget that will raise city property tax levies for the first time in five years....but councilmembers say residents won't have to pay more out of their own pockets. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports: Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton got just about everything she asked for in her 842-million dollar 1999 budget. But she had to work for it. Last night she scolded councilmembers who threatened not to pass it, saying it contains MONEY FOR projects they want: 35:41 "I don't think anyone can sit around this table and say the things included in this budget are not in the interests of the city of Minneapolis. From Armitage Park to Central Park to the riverfron
December 16, 1998 - Minnesota hog farmers are wondering when a price slump which has made their pigs almost worthless will end. Prices fell sharply again yesterday as an oversupply of hogs continues to drive the market down. More than 300 producers voiced anger at their precarious economic situation last night in Marshall, during a meeting organized by congressman David Minge. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: The collapse of the hog market is the crisis of a lifetime for pork producers. the worst slump they've ever experienced. The Mar