May 8, 1997 - This week, Govenor Carlson signed into law, a 21-million dollar flood relief bill for the state. It's in ADDITION to three-million set aside by lawmakers this past winter when severe storms stretched local government dollars for such things as snow removal. But as the legislative session winds down, many agree this funding will only provide IMMEDIATE state relief...and lawmakers expect to reconvene to appropriate additional money. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 1114 | TIME: 4:00 | OUTCUE: "...soc." --------------------------------------------------------- The Governor has hinted at the probability of a special session later this year. Once officials know the total cost of the recovery, a session COULD be called for either late July or early August. The Bill Carlson sig
May 8, 1997 - By the end of this week, residents in East Grand Forks, Minnesota may be able to drink their water straight from the tap. The city's more than 8-thousand residents have been without drinkable water since flooding shut down their water treatment plant three weeks ago. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, city crews and an army of volunteers have been working around the clock to fix the problem and are now only days away from making life a little bit easier for everyone. 253 - Driving...Car doors slamming...10-4 clear Saint Paul Water Department tester Mary Hiber (HIGH-burr) drives through
May 9, 1997 - Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton gives a preview of her appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Letterman brought in the mayor, Kirby Puckett, and residents of Minneapolis as part of a running thematic series on his show of highlighting various cities across the country.
May 9, 1997 - Midday discusses issues facing the state legislature in the final days of the session with Minnesota Public Radio's political commentators DFLer Bob Meek and Republican Tom Horner. Topics include transportation, stadium debate, property taxes, surplus, and education. Listeners call in with questions.
May 9, 1997 - Remember the Minnesota Budget Surplus? The state's bookkeepers made a splash in the news when they said they expected to rake in 2-point-3 BILLION dollars more in tax dollars over the next two years than they'd anticipated. The announcement set lawmakers at the state capitol to claim some of the money on their pet projects. Now, as the legislative session draws to a close, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports on what's happened to the budget surplus: ((sound of taxes conference negotiations)) The details of the state budget have yet to be finalized in negotiations like this one, where House and Senate negotiators are slogging through hundreds of pages of new tax statutes. But you can already make out the general trend, and that's higher spending. K-12 spending is going up te
May 9, 1997 - As the Red River continues to recede, the extent of damage left behind emerges. Hundreds of Federal Emergency Management Agency Inspectors have surveyed more than 20-thousand homes damaged by the blizzards or the recent Red River flooding. Heidi and Maurice Borud live south of Fargo along the winding Red River. During the flood, the water came over their earthen dike and permanent floodwall... first filling the backyard swimming pool, then the yard itself... and ultimately both floors of the house. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher spoke with the Boruds and with a FEMA inspector. | D-CART ITEM: 1163 | TIME: 4:03 | OUTCUE: "...soc"
May 9, 1997 - In the aftermath of spring's record flooding in the Red River Valley, Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports on one of the most visible and immediate legacy of disaster…trash.
May 9, 1997 - THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN GRAND FORKS NORTH DAKOTA AND EAST GRAND FORKS MINNESOTA ARE BUSY CLEANING CLEANING MUD AND SOGGY BELONGING FROM THEIR HOMES. HUGE PILES OF DEBRIS LINE MOST RESIDENTIAL STREETS. BUT IN NEIGHBORHOODS CLOSE TO THE RED RIVER THERE ARE NO TRASH PILES..AND LITTLE ACTIVITY. THESE MOST DEVASTATED AREAS WILL LIKELY BE DESTROYED TO MAKE ROOM FOR A NEW SYSTEM OF LEVEES. RESIDENTS OF EAST GRAND FORKS WILL GET THE BAD NEWS AT A TOWN MEETING TODAY (FRI- 4PM) MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIOS DAN GUNDERSON REPORTS..
May 12, 1997 - MPR’s John Biewen profiles local composer Randall Davidson and the work of connecting artist with communities. For Davidson, that includes projects involving Hmong community and life stories of St. Paul public housing residents.
May 12, 1997 - In today's Odd Jobs feature the man who puts the "international" in Rochester International Airport. Wes Niemitalo (NEE-muh-tell-oh) is the sole U.S. Customs Agent at the aiport - paid for by the city and the Mayo Clinic. He spends most of his day waiting to check in well-to-do overseas travelers coming in their private or government aircraft to the clinic for medical treatment. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe talked to a man who gets an inside look at the lives of some rich and famous patients.