March 12, 1998 - Minnesota's two Olympic hockey gold medal winners, Alana Blahoski and Jenny Schmidgall, talk about their Olympic experiences and the future of women's hockey.
March 12, 1998 - Minnesotas House of Representatives is expected to take up its largest bonding bill ever today or tomorrow (Thursday or Friday). The package of capital projects weighs in at just under a billion dollars, but it doesnt contain key items the governor wants. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen report: The House capital investment bill is different from the one passed by the state Senate last week. At $945 million dollars, its a little smaller than the Senate package. It uses bonds to pay for the bulk of projects, while the Senate version would spend almost entirely cash. It includes state money for a St. Paul civic center and hockey arena that the Senate version doesn't, and doesnt include a major University of Minnesota research facility that IS in the Senate plan. Neither version is well received in governor Arne Carlsons
March 12, 1998 - MINNESOTA'S LARGEST HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS - HEALTH PARTNERS AND MEDICA - HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE SUING THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN AN EFFORT TO RECOVER MONEY SPENT TREATING SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES. THE NEW LAWSUIT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE CASE NOW BEING HEARD IN SAINT PAUL, BUT CONTAINS THE SAME CONSUMER FRAUD ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN REPORTS.
March 12, 1998 - Huge images of young immigrants will dominate the atrium of the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis for two days. They are part of a video installation by artist Laurie Phillips who says she wants to give visibility to the powerless and allow them to tell some of their own stories.
March 13, 1998 - National Public Radio's Ray Suarez, host of "Talk of the Nation,” is interviewed via satellite from Washington DC. Topics include Lewinsky scandal, state of journalism, and talk radio. Suarez also answers listener questions.
March 13, 1998 - In a federal courtroom in St. Paul, Minnesota's challenge against tobacco companies is mid-stream. And it might be providing inspiration overseas, for similar challenges against Big Tobacco. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on a legal battle that's shifting to countries across the Atlantic
March 16, 1998 - Bernie Omann, Governor Carlson's chief of staff, visits the MPR studios to talk about the Governor's priorities for the final weeks of the legislative session. Topics include hockey arena, light-rail transit, taxes, and university funding. Omann also answers listener questions.
March 16, 1998 - When an explorer sets off on a new adventure these days, it's a sure bet students are going along too, albeit from their classrooms via the internet. Computer technology allows today's adventurers to instantly share photographs and written accounts of their discoveries. Most schools with computer-savvy, creative teachers have tapped into some form of adventure learning. They say it a great way to motivate students. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
March 16, 1998 - The Guthrie Theater announced its new season this evening. Artistic Director Joe Dowling selected seven plays ranging from "The Magic Fire" a new play by Lillian Garrett-Groag, to a new adaptation of "The Venetian Twins" which transplants the 18th century Italian comedy to present-day Minnesota. The seaon will also include classics like Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest," "Summer and Smoke" by Tennessee William, "A month in the country" by Turgenev , Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar:"
March 17, 1998 - Steven Schier, political science professor at Carleton College, discusses poll taken in Minnesota which showed that not many people know who their U.S. Senators are. Does this matter? Why does it happen? Schier also answers listener questions.