August 18, 1997 - Families who lost their homes in spring flooding hope to find permanent housing before cold weather arrives. Many are still living in trailers or other temporary shelter. In the Minnesota River valley in the southern part of the state, flood repairs continue. Some people though are finding few housing options available. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports: Pettijohn street in Montevideo is nearly deserted. Most of the houses will be torn down, after being soaked by (in) six feet of flood water. Some homes are swathed in yellow police tape, condemned to the wrecking ball. Behind one house, there are signs of life:
August 18, 1997 - The Minnesota State Fair starts this Thursday and the fairgrounds are alive with activity in preparation for opening day. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik interviews various members at the State Fair on what this year holds.
August 18, 1997 - A Midday call-in program about ecumenism in religion and other trends in organized religion with studio guest Clark Morphew, St. Paul Pioneer Press religion writer and nationally syndicated columnist.
August 19, 1997 - At the University of Minnesota's Division of Epidemiology, Alex Wagenaar has been researching drinking on college campuses. The Grain Belt deal, he says, is nothing new.
August 19, 1997 - The Minnesota Brewing Company is making what it describes as an unprecedented advertising effort by paying the University of Minnesota $75,000 a year for the next three years for promotional space. You'll see the Grain Belt Premium logo at all the Gophers' games, and in many bars and restaurants alongside the Gopher's logo. It may seem natural to pair a local product with a local team, but is it wise policy to advertise alcohol at events sure to be attended by thousands of underage students? Minnesota Brewing Company president Jack Lee shares his thoughts on the deal.
August 19, 1997 - United Parcel Service says it will start ramping up to full service tomorrow now that it appears as though a strike is drawing to an end. Labor is claiming victory in the tentative settlement and observers say the struggling labor movement stands to benefit from the walkout. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
August 20, 1997 - capitol Lawmakers completed their work of the special session in one day...and sent three major pieces of legislation to the Governor. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: Lawmakers in BOTH houses quickly passed the main bill BEHIND the special session...a 124-million dollar flood relief package that frees up money for home buyouts, flood prevention projects and economic development strategies aimed at keeping Minnesota businessness in the state. Governor Carlson calls the aid package, "unprecedented" while Republican Representative Tim Finseth says it gives flood victims a Hand UP not a hand OUT. BITE: green one Finseth, whose district in the northwestern corner of the state was hit h
August 20, 1997 - Its been almost six months since Phillip Bither came from the Flynn Theater for the performing arts in Burlington Vermont to be curator of Performing Arts at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. He knew that replacing his predecessor John Killacky was going to be a huge challenge, and one of the reasons he has kept such a low profile so far is because he has been hard at work preparing his first season. Now he is ready... promising a series of cutting edge music, performace art and dance featuring such well known as the Wooster Group and the Sun Ra Arkestra as well as those less well known in the U.S. such as the Teatro Tinglado puppets from mexico and the DV* Physical Theater from Britain. I spoke with Bither this afternoon and asked how the performers he might bring to the Walker might be different from those John Killacky presented.
August 20, 1997 - The New London City Council has declared a state of emergency over problems in the town's water system. For the last two weeks, the residents of the Central Minnesota town have had to boil their water. A coliform bacteria is alive and well in the water system and failure to boil the water could mean persistent stomach aches and diarrhea. The community's 1000 citizens get their water from a well and they are no strangers to orders to "boil the water", particularly in the summer. But this summer, numerous efforts to clean the well haven't worked, so community officials face a costly but necessary fate: they must build a new well. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports.
August 20, 1997 - Over the last two years dozens of communities around the state have constructed indoor hockey rinks with help from the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. But the ice rink boom may be coming to an end. Communities don't seem quite as eager to get their hands on the "Mighty Ducks" grants, named after the "all-heart" hockey pee-wees of the popular Disney movies. One town has even voted down a Mighty Ducks project. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.