April 19, 1997 - Living in an artists loft may be your secret dream...this weekend you'll get the chance to see if the reality lives up to your expectations. Over 160 artists are opening their lofts and displaying their work as part of this weekend's ST. PAUL ART CRAWL. Craig Thiesen is a photographer living in the Northern Warehouse. He says even as a young artist he always dreamed of living in a Lowertown loft. He says loft living may not be as exotic as people think.
April 21, 1997 - President Clinton wants all children reading by third grade. His two-point-75 billion dollar "America Reads" proposal would place one-million tutors, including thousands of college students, in elementary classrooms throughout the nation. Minnesota colleges are making plans to get their students involved in the project. These volunteer tutors face a tough assignment helping children reach their proper reading level. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... 5604 (Sound of readers) In the library at Richard R. Green Central Park Elementary school
April 21, 1997 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on the major impact Red River flooding has had on Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Red River will crest today in Grand Forks at 54 feet - more than double its normal depth. The flood has forced the evacuation of Grand Forks and the city across the river, East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Over the weekend, there was also a big fire in Grand Forks. Fire trucks couldn't get to it, so helicopters dumped buckets of floodwater on the fire.
April 21, 1997 - Bonnie Wallace says the way things worked on the Fond du Lac reservation when she was a teenager there 30 years ago is the Bureau of Indian Affairs told boys they'd be auto mechanics and the girls would be hair dressers. Today on our Voices of Minnesota interview we hear Bonnie Wallace talk about education for American Indians. Wallace left the reservation as a young adult. Now, she's back as chair of the board for the tribal college. She talked recently with Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson about attitudes toward American Indians when she was growing up.
April 22, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil reports that the Minnesota legislature is considering a measure which changes how rights of way are managed. Utilities can run their cables and pipes under our roads because they're part of the right of way. Some city officials say the companies leave a mess when they're through. A compromise before the legislature gives cities more control over rights of way but leaves a major issue unsettled…rent.
April 22, 1997 - The Legislature is getting closer to figuring out your tax bill for next year. The Senate finished work on its tax reform package today (Tues), which cuts property taxes by almost 2 Billion dollars over three years. At the same time, the House Taxes Committee has unveiled its own tax reform package, which makes more modest cuts. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Senate Taxes Chairman Doug Johnson has been fighting for a week to keep his huge tax reforms together -- and so far, he's succeeding. His combination of deep cuts in property taxes for business and apartment buildings and generous property tax refunds for homeowners withstood a barrage of amendments from Senators trying to change the mix -- including a fierce battle on Monday over the new "business activity tax" which pay
April 22, 1997 - Some Minneapolis school district residents say they think the school board should resign for failing to improve student test scores. African American parents and community leaders today criticized board members and district administrators for the recent poor performance in statewide tests, especially among minority students. Minnesota Public radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The Minneapolis school board was scheduled to discuss plans for improving student achievement in the coming school year. But members of the African American community came to get answer about this year. Results of this year's basic skills tests in Minneapolis show about one third of all studen
April 22, 1997 - State and local public health officials are offering reassurances about potential infectious disease risks to residents of flood-stricken areas. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: Many residents of flood stricken regions are worried they're being exposed to infectious disease in the flood...but state health department spokesman, Buddy Ferguson says their fears are unfounded. BITE: He says in this bite, often people think that in the case of fires and floods,then surely pestilence must follow...however...that is NOT the case! Ferguson says skin contact with flood water will not lead to to giardia or hepatitus A...two health hazards linked to contaminated water.
April 23, 1997 - Two weeks ago, we brought you the story of Harwood, North Dakota, a town of 6-hundred near Fargo. They built a dike around their entire town. About two-thirds of the residents left, and the rest stayed behind to wait out the waters. Now Harwood is opening some of its empty homes to Grand Forks flood victims. Janet Mack is answering phones at the flood center in Harwood, and trying to match refugees with housing: Janet Mack of Harwood, North Dakota. Sun 28-MAY 19:47:24 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
April 23, 1997 - The plight of the people in Grand Forks and East Grand forks has held media attention rivited for the last week. The struggles faced by the people upriver in Fargo have melted from the tv screens.... but the stuggles still go on. The Reverend Craig Hanson has been sharing his thoughts with us from his home on the banks of the Red River. Here is the latest installment of his flood diary. Reverend Craig Hanson lives on the banks of the Red River in Fargo. One hopeful note we should add.... Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports that as he was leaving from the Hanson's today.... a duck was spotted standing atop the neighbor's shed. Sun 28-MAY 19:47:29 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001