August 24, 2000 - The chief executive of Medtronic is retiring. Bill George made the announcement at the company's annual stockholders meeting today. George has been instrumental in turning the company into the world's largest manufacturer of medical devices. Since he became c-e-o in 1991, the company's stock price has soared nearly 14 hundred percent. Art Collins has accepted the substantial job of filling George's shoes. He says he's looking forward to the challenge:
August 25, 2000 - D-F-L Senate candidate Mark Dayton spent nearly three million dollars on his campaign in the past seven and a half weeks. That's nearly twice the spending of his nearest financial competitor among the D-F-L Senate candidates. Dayton used the bulk of the money on television ads that have been saturating the airwaves and may have led to his recent bump in the polls. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 28, 2000 - The four major DFL Senate candidates squared off at the State Fair in one of the few remaining opportunities for them to try to distinguish themselves before the September 12th primary. Only a handful of differences emerged, and the four seem more willing to attack Republican Senator Rod Grams than each other, despite the fact that one of them has emerged as the leader in the race.
August 28, 2000 - When Minnesota's Reform Party broke away to become the Independence party last spring, self-employed software developer and political newcomer Jim Gibson seemed assured of being its lone candidate for U.S. Senate. But in the meantime a more competitive primary race materialized within the party. Environmental activist Leslie Davis has joined the fray, as has Buford Johnson, a former party official and military veteran. And while the candidates in the D-F-L have similar views on many of the issues, the Independence party candidates have run more idiosyncratic -- if low-profile -- campaigns. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this report.
August 28, 2000 - A new state law that takes effect next year will make Minnesota the first state to require welfare and health care case workers to report illegal immigrants to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Legislators who wrote the bill say the policy will discourage immigrants from entering Minnesota illegally and gaining access to state welfare services. Critics say the law targets all immigrants, including those in Minnesota legally. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports
August 28, 2000 - Minnesota voters say education is the most important issue facing the state, but they generally feel public schools are already on the right track. Results of a new Minnesota Public Radio, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, KARE-TV poll also show mixed feelings about statewide testing and graduation standards. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
August 28, 2000 - The high cost of prescription drugs is becoming a key issue not only for Congress, but also for the Minnesota Legislature. House and Senate Democrats say passing a bill that lowers drug costs for Minnesotans without drug coverage is their top legislative priority, and Republicans say they're also concerned about the problem. But the drug industry is certain to oppose a state solution. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 29, 2000 - After several years of falling C-section rates, Caesarean births are increasing again. The national C-section rate is close to 22-percent of all births. The rates have been rising for the past three years, with a 4-percent increase last year alone. Dr. Bill Gold is the Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield. He says he's not sure why c-section rates are going up.
August 29, 2000 - By a 257-to-114 vote, union members approved a contract last night with the Pepsi Bottling Group, ending a two-month old strike by workers at the Pepsi bottling plant in Burnsville. Union officials had previously rejected two contract offers from the company. The union was seeking a three-year, four percent annual pay raise. They also wanted better retirement and health care benefits. Larry Yoswa is the head of Teamsters Local 792, and he's on the line now.
August 29, 2000 -