October 16, 2000 - Gus Hall, the American Communist Party leader and frequent presidential candidate has died. He was 90 years old. Hall was born Arvo Gustav Hallberg in Virginia on Minnesota's Iron Range. Both his parents were immigrants from Finland. Hall joined the local Communist club when he was fourteen because his father was the head of the group. He told Minnesota Public Radio in an interview several years ago... his support for socialism and unions started in northern Minnesota lumber camps. Workers there, he said, were paid a dollar a day and were virtual prisoners in the isolated, tar-paper-shack encampments.
October 16, 2000 - Two-term North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer's surprise announcement he was not seeking re-election set the stage for a tight race this fall. Republican John Hoeven, the former Head of the state owned bank of North Dakota wants to keep the office in the hands of the GOP. Democrat Heidi Heitkamp is hoping voters will make history by electing her North Dakota's first female governor. The polls show the result is likely to be close, with gender and Heitkamps recent stuggles with cancer likely to be important issues. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha Reports...
October 17, 2000 - The final presidential debate will go on as scheduled despite the sudden death of the Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan. We asked two local political analysts how the town hall style debate, with questions from audience members, will affect the candidates. Democrat Sara Stoesz expects Gore to thrive in the format: Republican Tom Horner expects that Bush will do better tonight than in either of the earlier face-offs.
October 17, 2000 -
October 18, 2000 - Clyde Bellecourt, co-founder of the American Indian Movement, discusses his views on voting in U.S. government elections.
October 18, 2000 - Using email to stop torture to political prisoners. Websites are being created to help push human rights for prisoners.
October 18, 2000 - Doctors at the University of Minnesota say a unique bone marrow transplant conducted 3 weeks ago was a success. The case involves a Colorado couple who's daughter suffered from a rare and often fatal genetic disease. The parents employed a unique genetic embryo test to produce a child that would be a bone marrow match to their daughter. Scientists are applauding the research...but bioethicists and abortion opponents worry some may take the measures too far. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
October 19, 2000 - Many Saint Paul residents are getting more vocal in their complaints about the odor problem emanating from the Gohper State Ethanol plant on the city's West End. Last night (Wed) the city council held a public hearing in a school near the plant. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports council members heard plenty of anger from citizens living with the smell...
October 20, 2000 - Republican vice-presidential nominee Dick Cheney says he's pleased by a new poll showing the Bush-Cheney ticket with a slight lead among likely Minnesota voters. Cheney made a brief campaign stop in the Twin Cities this morning to call attention to promote the GOP ticket, but state Democrats say they aren't conceding anything. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
October 23, 2000 - Republican Senator Rod Grams appears to be facing the toughest fight of his relatively short political career this year. DFLer Mark Dayton, who has outspent Grams four to one since the primary, has opened a wide lead in the polls. But Grams, a former television anchorman, has proven the pundits wrong before, when he won a Congressional seat on his first political attempt, and won election to the Senate after just one term in Congress. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the career and campaign of Rod Grams.