March 26, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Collins reports on a Ramsey County judge considering whether to order the Minnesota Twins and Major League Baseball to submit over 30 years of documents to Attorney General Skip Humphrey, whose office is investigating whether a threatened move of the Minnesota Twins to North Carolina violates federal anti-trust laws.
March 26, 1998 - Residents of the southeastern Minnesota community of Spring Valley are trying to make sense of the news that one of the boys accused of shooting and killing five people in a Jonesboro, Arkansas school yard comes from their town. Residents find themselves dodging televisions crews and reporters while trying to understand how someone they knew could be involved in such a grisly incident. Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports. Mitchell Johnson went to school at Kingsland Elementary school and belonged to a cub scout pack with Debbie Biers son.
March 26, 1998 - The Minnesota House has approved legislation to put a new constitutional right to hunt and fish on the ballot in November. The legislation passed with overwhelming support, but there seems to be some confusion over what it means. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: The House spent at least an hour today wrangling over whether "taking game and fish" should be enshrined in the state constitution as a "right" or a "privilege." After a couple of close votes, House members settled on "privilege." The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association had been lobbying for "right," which they think might carry more clout in court. They want to counter what they perceive as growing hostility to their hobby from animal rights groups and some environmentalists. Anoka Republican -- and Attorney General candidate -- Charlie Weaver told House members that hunters have a right to feel worried:
March 26, 1998 - The first defense witness in Minnesota's tobacco trial today underwent vigorous cross-examination from the state. Minnesota historian Hy Berman testified Minnesotans have long been aware of the health risks of smoking, but lead plaintiff attorney pointed out gaps in his research. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Tobacco companies are using their first witness to argue they aren't liable for the health care costs of smoking - as the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield claim - because smokers choose to smoke knowing the health risks. Over the past two days, history professor Hy Berman cited massive media coverage and public education in the 50s and 60s to conclude Minnesotans have been a
March 26, 1998 - Minnesota Opera Artistic Director Dale Johnson discusses Un bel di Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" as one of four operas selected as part of the 1999 Minnesota Opera season. The company will also perform Gounod's "Faust", Verdi's "Otello," and Britten's "Turn of the Screw."
March 27, 1998 - The Minnesota Supreme Court has let stand a lower court ruling requiring tobacco companies to turn over more internal documents in the state's tobacco case. The state's high court has given the companies until five p.m. next Wednesday to turn over 39-thousand secret documents to the state's attorneys. Hamline University Law Professor Joseph Daly says big tobacco has just one avenue left for appeal--the U-S Supreme Court: Hamline University Law professor Joseph Daly has been a frequent observer of Minnesota's tobacco trial. Sun 28-MAY 11:53:04 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 27, 1998 - The recovery from last spring's flooding is going faster in Breckenridge, Minnesota, than anywhere else in the Red River Valley. Dikes already line the river banks of two rivers in the city. The Army Corps of Engineers is studying the city's need for further dike protection. But city officials are concerned the community could experience spring floods for years while they wait for the study to be completed. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports. In the middle of downtown Breckenridge, the Bois De Sioux River and the Ottertail River converge to form the Red River. This spring the rivers look peaceful...the water is slowing moving through the channel. It's a much
March 27, 1998 - Both sides in Minnesota's tobacco trial claimed a University of Minnesota history professor boosted THEIR case. Defense witness Historian Hy Berman repeated a tobacco company theme that Minnesotans have long known about the health risks of smoking. But Berman also supported evidence that showed the industry misled the public. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: At times it was hard to know just who Hy Berman was testifying for. The tobacco attorneys had hired him but when Berman stepped down from the witness stand he gave a thumbs up and a warm handshake to state's attorney Mike Ciresi. Even after court Berman refused to take sides:
March 27, 1998 - This week, the Minnesota House passed a bill strengthening the state's Shield Law. As it's currently written, the Shield Law protects journalists' confidential sources from subpeona ... But NOT reporters unpublished notes, videotapes and photographs. The bill's supporters say changing the shield law to include protections for unpublished material would allow journalists to work more independently from law enforcement. The bill does include an exemption though, when the reporter is the only one with critical evidence that could not be obtained elsewhere... then it can be supeonaed. Barbara Cochran, President of the Radio-Television News Directors Association--or RTNDA-- says that's a pretty significant loophole. She says tough shield laws are critical to journalists' integrity. | D-CART ITEM: 9753
March 30, 1998 - Midday presents a special report on the tornadoes that destroyed large parts of St. Peter and Comfrey. MPR’s reporters detail the massive destruction in the Minnesota towns and provide updates on aftermath. Program also includes various interviews and accounts from listeners.