October 10, 2000 - A Mayo Clinic study has found that women with a family history of breast cancer are more likely to get the disease if they took oral contraceptives. For years, researchers have expressed concern that the hormones found in birth control pills may heighten women's risk of getting the disease. But there was little hard evidence making the link between family history and the "pill." Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
October 12, 2000 - A bill that would increase protection for women and children who are victims of international sex trafficking is headed to president Clinton after passing in the Senate yesterday. The CIA estimates that as many as 50,000 women and children who enter the United States illegally each year are forced to work as prostitutes, forced laborers, and servants. This legislation has been a priority for Senator Paul Wellstone. He says his wife Shelia deserves credit for getting the bill through Congress.
October 12, 2000 - The candidates for Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District seat sparred today (THURSDAY) during their first public debate since the primary. The hottest topic was funding for sports stadiums, despite the fact that it's not a federal issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
October 13, 2000 - It's been four years since U.S. immigration officials began jailing everyone seeking political asylum. Nationwide, thousands of asylum seekers may await a decision on their status from a cell. Because relatively few try to enter the country through Minnesota, the number who end up in our county jails and state lockups is small -- only nineteen. But Minnesotans who have worked on the cases say they illustrate the problems with the system.
October 13, 2000 - DFL Senate candidate Mark Dayton has now put 6.7 million dollars of his own money into his campaign. Dayton loaned his campaign 3.3 million dollars in September, and spent nearly all of it. He outspent Republican Senator Rod Grams more than four to one. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
October 13, 2000 - The wife of Republican vice-presidential candidate Dick Cheney is in the Twin Cities today. Lynne Cheney is attending a fundraiser this evening, but she began her Minnesota visit with a trip to the Seed Academy and Harvest Preparatory School in Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
October 13, 2000 - The three principle candidates for U.S. Senate were joined last night by four lesser-known contenders in what was the first, and likely the last,- forum to feature all seven candidates with ballot access. The debate, held at the University of Minnesota and hosted by Governor Jesse Ventura, was also a chance for the seven to make a pitch to a younger demographic. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
October 13, 2000 - Hundreds of mourners came to St. Paul to pay a final tribute to Bruce Vento, who passed away on October 10th, 2000. The former school teacher and twelve-term Congressman was hailed as a champion of the environment, the working class, and the needy. Vento died at the age of 60 from a rare form of lung cancer, as a result of exposure to asbestos.
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...