May 5, 1998 - Health officials in the Red River Valley are reporting a dramatic increase in deaths, miscarriages and other illnesses. Some are blaming last years flooding... but researcher say it will take months of study to know for sure... or even the extent of the problems. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports... Victoria Rinerson (Rye-ner-son) sings with about a dozen other residents gathering at a morning worship service at the Sunnyside Nursing Hom
May 5, 1998 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports on RADIO REY, a Spanish-language radio service that broadcasts more than thirty hours a week from a grocery store on Concord Street in St. Paul’s West Side.
May 5, 1998 - [Desk attempted to smooth out levels on the last piece from Robertson but they are still a little wild. Operator should ride them, especially transitions from actualities to middle voice track.] The upper midwest's warm dry spring continues to cause concern about grass and forest fires. In northern Minnesota, forest fire crews have been on standby for weeks... newly planted seedlings may die without rain... and the summer construction season is in full swing a month ahead of schedule. This is one of the driest springs in ten years for northern Wisconsin, where strict fire restrictions are in place. Minnesota Public Radio's Todd Moe has the first of several reports on the effects of the dry weather around the region.
May 6, 1998 - St. Paul trial attorney Ron Rosenmbaum helps sort through the legal questions on whether the lawyers in the tobacco trial should settle the case, or let the jury decide. Rosenmbaum also answers listener questions. Program begins with MPR reporter Laura McCallum presenting latest from the federal courthouse.
May 6, 1998 - This program is titled " The Overdue Revolution” and studies how the identity of people with disabilities has evolved, the communities in which they have lived, and the emergence of the disability civil rights movement.
May 6, 1998 - Warm, dry weather has helped spring fieldwork progress rapidly in the Dakotas and Minnesota. At least 81 percent of Minnesota's corn crop is in the ground -- one of the earliest planting seasons ever. In South Dakota, about 20 percent of the corn is in the ground...and the dry spring is allowing some South Dakota farmers into fields they haven't planted, for years. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: There are high hopes out in the farm fields this season. Mild weather and dry soil are allowing some of the earliest planting on record. On Bob White's farm in eastern South Dakota the red tractor has been working overtime,
May 6, 1998 - Nationally-known testing experts are joining state education officials in defending Minnesota's 8th grade reading exam. The basic skills test came under fire last week, when the Association of Metropolitan School Districts claimed it's harder than an 8th grade reading level. Representatives of the association and state leaders squared off yesterday during a House subcommittee hearing on the test debate. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... Thousands of Minnesota students have failed the 8th grade basic skills tests each of the past three years. But the scores are rising. Results from this year's tests, released last week, showed a nine percent jump in reading, while math scores improved just one-percent for a year ago
May 6, 1998 - As Minnesota's tobacco trial enters its final days, attorneys for the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield have introduced into evidence a final batch of formerly-secret tobacco industry documents. They include research into the smoking motivations of children, and lawyers' memos about smoking and health research. The state contends tobacco companies marketed to underage smokers, and covered up research linking smoking and disease. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... The state's legal team hinted some of the most incriminating company documents would come in this last group of memos, many of them from the
May 6, 1998 - As tension between Twin Cities-based Northwest Airlines and its unions mounts, many travelers who typically fly almost exclusively on Northwest are looking for other options out of concern about possible delays and flight cancellations. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
May 6, 1998 - A group out to reduce tobacco use in Minnesota says the state should get tough on enforcing the law which prohibits smoking under age 18. In addition Minnesota Decides wants to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. The group is described as "a community health partnership" led by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Anti-smoking activists welcome the report. They say Minnesota has fallen behind other states in smoking prevention. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 7175 | TIME: 4:13 | OUTCUE: "...SOC --------------------------------------------------------- We brag about surviving cold winters and coping with mosquitoes and we point with pride to our 25 year old anti smoking law. The Minnesota Clean Indoor Act, the first in the nation, regulates smoking in public places including restuarants and work sites. Most winters are still cold and mosquitoes still bite but the state's anti smoking effort has been