January 13, 1997 - As part of a series on poverty, MPR’s John Biewen looks at the growth of so-called 'fringe banks'…pawnbrokers and check-cashing shops. A growing number of low-income Americans are relying on 'fringe banks' in place of traditional banking services.
January 13, 1997 - As part of a series on poverty, MPR’s John Biewen reports that while the Minnesota legislature passed regulations in 1996 designed to control interest rates so pawn customers wouldn't have to pay ten or fifteen times the rates charged for credit card loans, some of the state's pawnshops are using a loophole in the law to charge more than 200%.
January 13, 1997 - Governor Carlson's allies today floated the idea of increasing the state's cigarette tax to pay for a new Twins Stadium. Senate Republican leader Dean Johnson says the Governor is interested in adding ten cents to the price of a pack of cigarettes... But as Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports, the idea isn't going over very well at the Capitol: The cigarette tax for the Twins is the very definition of a political trial balloon. Nobody has actually to endorsed the idea, but the Governor's staff says Carlson does find the idea "intriguing," Senate Republican leader Dean Johnson was the one who brought the subject up. He says the Legislature should consider the idea -- although he stopped short of actually proposing it.
January 13, 1997 - A Voices of Minnesota interview with Tom Webber, Director of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota and South Dakota. Webber discusses his work on women's reproductive health issues. Also, a recorded interview with Margaret Atwood, author of "Alias Grace".
January 14, 1997 - Midday’s Gary Eichten discusses crime, criminal defense, punishment, and crime prevention with newly-appointed Hennepin County Chief Public Defender William McGee. Program includes listener call-in questions.
January 14, 1997 - A new report by the state Department of Economic Security sheds a positive light on job prospects for welfare Recipients who'll SOON be required to seek work. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: The report says Minnesota's favorable economy will benefit those on A-F-D-C, because as they move from welfare to WORK under new guidelines of federal reform, they'll find more OPEN doors than closed ones. The report says the influx of some 15 thousand welfare recipients into the job market this year ALONE, will have minimal affect on the job opportunities for other job seekers or on the level of COMPETITION for jobs.
January 14, 1997 - As part of a series on poverty, MPR’s John Biewen looks at the "rent-to-own" industry and issues regarding interest rates.
January 15, 1997 - MPR’s John Rabe interviews local composer Paul Siskind about his composition “Fantasy-Variations.” The piece started off as a music school assignment, and sat on the shelf for a few years. Now the Minnesota Orchestra, under Eiji Oue, will give the world premiere performance of Siskind's “Fantasy-variations : on a fragment by Schoenberg.”
January 15, 1997 - Saint Paul loses another small community hospital today (WEDNESDAY). After 70 years, Midway Hospital is shutting down. HealthEast, which owns Midway, decided to close it and open a new facility in a more populated suburban area. The decision came as no surprise to many employees who knew Midway Hospital was financially vulnerable. But as they told Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson, the Midway closing could signal the end of a unique era in hospital care.
January 15, 1997 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports on the debate over potential removal of the children’s book series “Goosebumps” in some Minnesota school libraries, including titles such as “The Horror at Camp Jellyjam.” The Goosebumps debate began last Spring at Johnsville Elementary School in Blaine.