August 9, 2000 - Citizens in Rochester are gearing up for the expected release of a key environmental document regarding the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad's expansion plan. It's the most important event so far in the contentious fight over plans to expand rail lines in Wyoming, South Dakota and southern Minnesota for coal trains. Rochester leaders are bitterly opposed to the plan and have formed a new group dedicated to stop it. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports the renewed opposition effort has considerable political might which sparks concerns from many rural residents who aren't included.
August 9, 2000 - Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura has been selected to serve on a U-S Surgeon General's committee to eliminate the disparities in racial and ethnic health. While Minnesota is one of the healthiest states in the country, Ventura says there's a huge difference between the health care of white Minnesotans and people of color in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
August 10, 2000 - People along the Northstar Corridor got a "bells and whistles" preview of commuter rail today . Northstar officials gave rides on commuter rail cars similar to those that will carry commuters on the proposed Northstar Rail Line. The 70 mile corridor is already set up for rail traffic, so supporters say it's just a matter of moving trains onto the tracks. But some people think the Northstar line is an inefficient use of money, and that it won't ever carry enough passengers. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
August 10, 2000 - The University of Minnesota's organ transplant team has published an article examining a new transplant procedure. Researchers at the U of M created a protocol allowing strangers to donate one of their two kidneys to a transplant patient. In the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers discuss the ethical and medical implications of such a procedure. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
August 14, 2000 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone speaks from the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Program also includes clips of speech Wellstone gave at "shadow convention.”
August 14, 2000 - MPR’s Michael Choo reports on a speech Walter Mondale made at The Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Several Minnesotans will play prominent roles in the opening session, including state auditor Judi Dutcher who left the Republicans for the DFL last winter. Former Vice-President Mondale spoke during a breakfast with Minnesota delegates.
August 14, 2000 - Dutcher speaks at Democratic National Convention about how she switched from Republican to Democrat.
August 14, 2000 - Former Presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole is in the Twin Cities today, campaigning on behalf of Republican Senator Rod Grams. Dole is appearing at a fundraiser for Grams at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis. She says Republican candidates like Grams are doing a good job attracting the attention of women voters:
August 14, 2000 -
August 14, 2000 - Farmers, environmentalists and members of the Army Corps of Engineers crammed into the conference room of a giant barge this morning in Wabasha to talk about the future of navigation on the Mississippi River. Today's annual meeting of the Army Corps' Mississippi River Commission marked one of the first public gatherings since a high ranking official accused the agency of "cooking the books" in a bid to expand the lock and dam system. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this report. {Early this morning, in the shadow of the 241-foot, cream and red Army Corps vessel, a handful of environmental groups held a press conference to call attention to the plight of the Mississippi River. Representatives from the Sierra Club, the Audobon Society, and others spoke in favor of conservation and against the expansion of the lock and dam system. The Sierra Club's Dean Rebuffoni says expansion would help big business and hurt the river. In fact he says big business is lying to help its cause.