May 6, 1998 - NORTH CAROLINA VOTERS' REJECTION OF A PLAN TO RAISE TAXES FOR A BIG LEAGUE BALL PARK MAKES THE MINNESOTA TWINS' FUTURE AS MURKY AS EVER. YESTERDAY VOTERS IN THE TWO COUNTIES THAT MAKE UP THE PIEDMONT TRIAD RESOUNDINGLY DEFEATED THE TAX PROPOSAL THAT COULD HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR A TWINS' MOVE TO NORTH CAROLINA. THAT REJECTION MAY LEAD TWINS OWNER CARL POHLAD TO LOOK MORE CAREFULLY IN MINNESOTA FOR A NEW BUYER AND/OR A NEW STADIUM. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN REPORTS... YESTERDAY'S VOTE MEANS THE TWINS WILL NOT BE PLAYING BASEBALL IN THE PIEDMONT TRIAD ANY TIME SOON. BUT IT DOESN'T RESOLVE WHERE THEY WILL PLAY. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TWINS SAYS TEAM EXECUTIVES ARE INV
May 6, 1998 - The judge presiding over Minnesota's tobacco trial today gave jury instructions that tobacco companies say are grounds for appeal. The case is rapidly winding to a close, despite continuing rumors of an out-of-court settlement. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Judge Kenneth Fitzpatrick's instructions to the jury should come as no surprise - they're consistent with his previous rulings. He told jurors when considering damages, they shouldn't take into account any of the state's revenues from cigarette excise taxes. He said they shouldn't consider whether smokers had other risky habits that might have raised health care costs, and said tobacco companies can't use as a defense what individ
May 7, 1998 - Fishing enthusiast Chet Meyers answer listener questions about fishing techniques, in advance of fishing opener. Topics include fishing for specific species, fishing lines, new regulations, shore fishing, and weather indicators.
May 7, 1998 - This program is titled "Tomorrow's Children” and considers the complex relationship between reproductive technology and people with disabilities…in the present and in the past century.
May 7, 1998 - Recovery from a natural disaster takes time. Sometimes years. Since the tornado hit southern Minnesota last March, people across the region have been working to make life normal, or at least comfortable. Over the next few months we will be visiting with some of the people of St Peter, to see how they are doing. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman went back to meet cafe owner Tom Gravelin who is now living in a FEMA trailer. Tom Gravelin knows a lot of people in St. Peter. Those he knows best are artists, writers, and musicians...people who until recently had their own studios. Now they're knocking on the door of th
May 7, 1998 - Speculation about how the jury might decide the tobacco trial has already started, even though it is still possible for the two sides to reach a settlement. George Annas is a Professor of Health Law at Boston University. He says a jury verdict for the state might not yield as much money as a settlement, but it would be impressive symbolically. Sun 28-MAY 11:20:20 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
May 7, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on Lighthouse for the Blind, a Duluth plant that manufacturers a plain, white and rather sturdy roll of toilet tissue. But one of Duluth's most widely-distributed exports is in danger, as are the jobs of dozens of Minnesotans who are sight-impaired .
May 7, 1998 - ** use this version ** Until fairly recently, people with disabilities often tried to hide their disability or were kept from public view by a society uncomfortable with their condition. But with the passage of the American with Disabilities Act in 1990 and the rise of the disabilities movement, people with disabilities have moved more into the public eye. This is particularly apparant in the number of individuals with visible disabilities who have chosen a life in public office. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports. Franklin Roosevelt casts a long shadow for any person with a disability who aspires to public office. With few photos of him in his wheelchair and almost no public acknowledgement of his disability, Roosevelt set a hard to overc
May 7, 1998 - Closing arguments began today in Minnesota's tobacco trial. Settlement talks have collapsed, and the chief executive of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota says chances of a settlement are "extremely slim." He said one problem was tobacco companies' demand that they be protected against lawsuits by Minnesota counties. Hennepin County commissioners are informally debating whether to sue the tobacco industry to recoup county costs for treating sick smokers. Commissioner Randy Johnson says the immunity issue is moot: Hennepin County Commissioner Randy Johnson.
May 7, 1998 - Tobacco company attorneys present their closing arguments this morning in Saint Paul amidst rumors of settlement talks. Minnesota Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Skip Humphrey sounded like he'd prefer to settle Minnesota's tobacco trial but also said he's prepared to let the jury decide. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: Humphrey spoke before an audience of public health professors at the University of Minnesota giving few clues as to whether he's close to settling the case. Settlement rumors have been flying since Monday when the St Paul Pioneer Press reported parties for the state, blue cross/blue shield and tobacco companies had outlined an agreement. That agreement reportedly called for the industry to pay five-billion-dollars over the next 25 years and submit to marketing restrictions to teenagers.