May 23, 1997 - Federal and city inspectors have begun condemning flood-damaged houses in Grand Forks. Demolition of the unsafe structures is expected to start within a week. One neighborhood along the bank of the Red River is nearly a total loss, and the line of proposed new dike would prevent any rebuilding there. As the housing loses mount, Grand Forks city officials are looking for ways to provide affordable replacements. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
May 23, 1997 - One month ago, President Clinton told Grand Forks flood evacuees their hardest days were still ahead, as the reality of the devastation sinks in. In that crowd were three residents of the Lincoln Drive area, which was one of the first neighborhoods to flood. Before the President's speech they talked to MPR about their experiences, and we wanted to check in with them again. Since the president's visit, two neighbors have begun the messy clean-up process; the third knows her home will likely be condemned, because Lincoln Drive will probably be on the wrong side of a proposed new dike. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 23, 1997 - *****ATC VERSION****** High school seniors in Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota are back home this weekend for graduation. The school year ended abruptly last month in both school districts when the Red River consumed the two cities. Some students fled to finish out the school year elsewhere. Others spent their unexpected vacation helping clean up flood damage. School administrators, teachers and students say they expect these graduation ceremonies to be an especially emotional end to a traumatic spring. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports | D-CART ITEM: 3508 | TIME: 2.45 | OUTCUE: "...soc
May 23, 1997 - Residents of Texas can now sue their managed health care plans if they've been injured by benefit delays or denials. Texas is the first state in the nation to pass such a law. Supporters say the law allows patients to hold their health plans accountable.... but Critics warn it will lead to a rash of lawsuits and ultimately higher health care costs. So far, there has not been any similar proposal in Minnesota. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, the state's managed health plans are coming under more intense public scrutiny and regulation:
May 23, 1997 - Baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy former Minnesota Twins great Jim Kaat share their thoughts on the problems with Twins pitching. The root of it may lie in their inability to take good prospects in the minor leagues and turn them into good major leaguers pitchers.
May 26, 1997 - A Voices of Minnesota interview with Joe Gomer, one of the Tuskegee Airman during World War II. Also Walter Benjamin of Hamline University, author of "War & Reflection." He looks back on his experiences as a member of the Navy in World War II and the ongoing meaning it has in his life.
May 28, 1997 - More than a hundred outraged veterans came to the capital today to voice their opposition to the balanced budget agreement passed by Congress last week. As part of the budget, more than two BILLION dollars is being cut from the Veterans Administration...which is mostly for health care. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, some veterans fear the cuts will do irrepairable damage to a medical system already struggling to compete in today's health care market. Initially, the V.A. thought Congress would freeze its spending for the next five years. But, in what some veterans describe as back room politics, Congress and the President decided at the last minute to cut more t
May 28, 1997 - MPR’s Mariann Sullivan interviews Twin Cities singer Lucia Newell, who discusses her passion for Brazilian music. Newell also demonstrates the different vocal and rhythmic styles.
May 28, 1997 - Minnesota's first Mexican-American school principal is out of a job. The St. Paul Board of Education last night voted to fire Humboldt High School principal Larry Lucio (LOO-see-oh). The move came after several hours of testimony from Lucio's supporters - mostly Hispanics from St. Paul's West Side. Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon reports. Lucio's backers came out in force to convince the school board he's a good principal who's raised test scores, cut the dropout rate and made Latino students feel better about themselves. But it did no good: the Board voted 6-to-1 to support Superintendent Curman Gaines recommendation NOT to renew Lucio's contract after his two-year probationary period.
May 28, 1997 - Little if ANY progress was made today, when Governor Carlson met with legislative leaders again (wed) in an effort to find common ground over their differences for K-12 Education funding. Lawmakers passed a bill this session, but the Governor says he'll veto it unless 150-million dollars in tax credits and deductions gets added to the mix. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, the two sides are as far apart as they were the last night of the session: The Carlson Administration pulled out all the stops for it's hour long presentation, to lay the groundwork for the Governor's proposal. The Governor talked at length about his concern for children's success in school BITE: :15-secs "and who are failing: red 4