October 1, 2001 - A strike of janitors, food inspectors, accountants, and highway workers began striking today. Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (Council 6) are fighting for their rights.
October 3, 2001 - Packing food for animals was usually done by union workers. Now that the strike is happening, managers and non-union staff is taking over that job.
October 3, 2001 - Contract talks between the government and the two largest unions (AFSCME and MAPE) broke down over both wages and health insurance, but for many employees, they are focused on benefits.
October 4, 2001 - Minnesota has more than 100 state-run health care facilities that employ more than 6,000 employees that went on strike this week. National Guard and temporary workers are filling their places.
October 5, 2001 - Harry Hull, Minnesota's state epidemiologist, on if Minnesota's public health system prepared for a biological or chemical attack.
October 5, 2001 - Since September 11th, power plants have stepped up their security.
October 8, 2001 - As the state workers strike enters its second week, developmentally disabled patients in state-run treatment homes have National Guard troops as replacements for their normal care providers. As Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz reports, many striking employees of these homes feel they've been placed in a difficult position.
October 9, 2001 - A bill introduced would cost $1.6 billion for all 50 states. This bill is an answer to the terrorist attacks.
October 10, 2001 - FBI agents wearing white moon suits and gas masks scoured the newspaper offices of two men whose exposure to anthrax has prompted heightened fear of bioterrorism across the country. The search turned up no further sign of anthrax in Robert Stevens' Florida office since traces were discovered on his computer keyboard. Stevens, a photo editor with the Sun tabloid newspaper, died last week of inhaled anthrax, a rare, particularly lethal form of the disease. Anthrax cases are rare in humans. The disease is much more commonly found in animals. Today, the University of Minnesota's Center for Animal Health and Food Safety is sponsering a teach-in on bio and agro-terrorism. Dr. Will Hueston (Houston) is the director of the Center. He says his veterinary students could play a key role in the fight against terrorism.
October 10, 2001 - Hundreds of striking state employees rallied at the state Capitol this morning (WEDNESDAY), one day before contract talks resume between the state and its two largest employee unions. Neither side is publicly showing any sign of movement - striking workers say they'll walk the picket line as long as it takes to get a better contract, while Governor Ventura says the state is standing by its final offer. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...