April 22, 1998 - State Senator Doug Johnson announced today he is running for Governor. Johnson is an Iron Range democrat, and the only announced DFL candidate from outside the metro area. Johnson's opposition to legalized abortion and his positions on wilderness issues make him a unique democratic candidate. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports from Duluth... As chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, Doug Johnson is one of the more influential members of the Legislature. Johnson has served the Minnesota legislature for 28-years; in the Senate since 1977. He also chairs the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board which doles out millions of dollars from a tax on taconite for jobs and projects in Northeastern Minnesota. He's a life-long Iron Ranger, living most of his life in the small Town of Cook.
April 23, 1998 - Minnesota 5th District Congressman Martin Sabo talks about a new report on the wage gap called "Executive Excess" and discusses his Income Equity Act proposal. Sabo also answers listener questions.
April 24, 1998 - As part of our "Meet the Candidates” series, DFL Gubernatorial candidate Doug Johnson answers questions from listeners about issues facing Minnesota, and his plans if he is elected Governor. Topics include taxes, abortion, and education.
April 24, 1998 - Former South African President and Nobel laureate F.W. de Klerk, speaking at the University of St. Thomas about the past, present and future of South Africa. F.W. de Klerk released Nelson Mandela from prison, abolished the laws of apartheid and laid the groundwork for South Africa's first multi-racial elections held in 1994.
April 27, 1998 - The transportation bill being finalized in Congress contains money for a light rail transit line in Minneapolis. State and Hennepin county taxpayers are also investing tens of millions in the project. The proposed $370 million LRT line from downtown Minneapolis to the airport would run ten miles along Hiawatha Avenue. It would open for service in 2003. What can people expect? Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson visited St. Louis, a metropolitan area about the same size as the Twin Cities, to find out. St. Louis' five year old light rail transit line is a big success. Riders flock to the gleaming, stainless steel, electric powered cars. They glide along seventeen miles of track from East St. Louis, Illinois on one end,across the Mississippi throught St. Louis to the airport - Lambert field - west of St. Louis, stopping at ninteen stations along the way.
April 28, 1998 - A judge has thrown out a multi-million dollar class-action suit against Hennepin County. Residents and businesses were suing the county for allegedly overcharging for garbage fees. Hennepin County Board Chair Randy Johnson says today's dismissal of the suit ends the county's long legal battle over garbage: Hennepin County Board Chair Randy Johnson. Sun 28-MAY 11:24:35 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
April 28, 1998 - STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY ALLOCATED FOR LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT HAS BROUGHT THE TWIN CITIES CLOSER TO A NEW TRANSPORTATION OPTION. BUT TRAVELLING AROUND TOWN ON RAILS IS NOT REALLY A NEW DEVELOPMENT, AT ALL. THERE WAS ONCE A TIME WHEN FIVE HUNDRED MILES OF RAILS CRISS-CROSSED THE TWIN CITES ... CARRYING ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE TO ALL SORTS OF PLACES. IN PART TWO OF OUR SERIES ON TRANSIT, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN HAS THIS LOOK BACK AT THE TWIN CITIES STREETCAR DAYS... JUST ABOUT ANY TWIN CITIES NATIVE OVER FIFTY REMEMBERS THEM. PAINTED BRIGHTLY ENOUGH TO BE NICKNAMED "BIG YELLOW BANANAS," THE STREETCARS TOOK PEOPLE LI
April 30, 1998 - Martin Sampson, University of Minnesota Political science professor; Ido Oren, an Israeli citizen and University of Minnesota International Relations professor; and Miriam Kluska, who is in Tel Aviv, discuss Israel’s 50th Anniversary. Program begins with a report by NPR’s Linda Gradstein on the celebration taking place in Israel.
May 1, 1998 - With her pending retirement, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Esther Tomljanovich discusses her time in the courts. She recollects on her time in the trial court and being a Minnesota Supreme Court justice. Tomljanovich also answers listener questions.
May 1, 1998 - Some analysis of the results of the 8th grade basic skills tests, with Kate Trewick, Assistant Commissioner for Teaching & Learning at the MN Dept of Children, Families and Learning; David Heistad, Director of Research, Evaluation and Assessment for the Minneapolis Public Schools; and State Rep. Becky Kelso, Chair of the House K-12 Education Finance Division. The group also answers listener questions. Sandra Peterson, the President of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers, is also interviewed.