March 6, 2002 - The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech and freedom of expression. Those protections extend to adult businesses. While pornography and strip clubs remain hot button issues, the legal debate has shifted. So, has its location. The argument is no longer whether sex oriented businesses can exist. Now the question is how to regulate them legally as strip clubs and adult bookstores move to small cities and towns. Erin Galbally continues our series "Adult Entertainment Targets Main Street" with a report on the newest phase in the legal battle to regulate the sex industry.
March 18, 2002 - Recent economic indicators suggest the nation may be pulling out its recession, but Minnesota's state and local governments are likely to feel its pain for some time. Saint Paul is among the cities bracing for a tighter budget next year. But among many business people in Saint Paul there's a feeling that the capital city is in a better financial position than it was during the last recession eleven years ago.
March 25, 2002 - Minnesota lawmakers are coming up against their self-determined deadline for finishing the session. Leglislators have said they want to complete their work and adjourn by Easter. But they still have plenty to do, including agreeing on a plan to close a $440 million gap in the state budget. Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer gets developments from MPR's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum.
July 24, 2002 - Mark Stutrud, president of Summit Brewing Company; Jeff Lonto, author of "Legend of the Brewery: A Brief History of the Minneapolis Brewing Heritage;" Ted Marty, president of August Schell Brewing Company discuss Minnesota Brewing closures while Grain Belt Premium finds a new home....it's just the latest chapter in a long history of beer brewing in Minnesota. Strutrud, Lonto, and Marty also talk about what brewing has meant to the state and what the future may look like for local breweries.
August 27, 2002 - MPR’s Andrew Haeg looks into homeownership among immigrant groups. Real estate experts say immigrants are an increasingly important part of the real estate market and lenders are taking steps to accommodate them.
August 29, 2002 - Major League Baseball owners and players may be close to settling their differences and avoiding a walkout. But, without an 11th hour reprieve, players will strike on August 28th, 2002. Those in and around the Metrodome who depend on the Twins for income say a strike would have substantial short and long term effects on their pocketbooks…and on baseball in Minnesota.
September 2, 2002 - MPR’s Kate Beeman reports on Duluth tourism. Report includes various commentary.
September 17, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on data from the U.S. Census that show the state's Asian population is economically well-off compared to other minority populations in the state. While the 90's were a prosperous time for Minnesota as a whole, the numbers show many minority groups did not prosper as much as their white neighbors.
September 25, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that rankings by the U.S. Census Bureau show members of some immigrant groups in Minnesota remain mired in poverty. While all minorities improved economically during the 1990s, Minnesota has one of the highest percentages of Asians in poverty when compared to other states. The ranking also confirms the widely held belief that there are more Somalis in Minnesota than anywhere else in the US.
May 26, 2003 - The Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start for the summer tourist season. Tourism contributes nearly $10 billion to Minnesota's economy. Resorts and other tourist-oriented businesses are hoping for a summer season that will compensate for several years of struggle. Many Minnesotans will head to the water for a long weekend of fishing.