September 25, 1997 - The Stroh Brewery Company told 365 workers this afternoon it's shutting down its St. Paul brewery November 24th. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
September 25, 1997 - When the flood of '97 forced the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks to evacuate, the University of North Dakota closed its doors early for the school year and sent students home without a graduation. Now five months later, the campus is nearly back up to speed, with only a slight dip in enrollment. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Just months ago, the UND campus was an island in the midst o
September 26, 1997 - Gay-themed movies and T-V shows generally address the most broad themes of gay life, like the difficulty of coming out. Edmund White's latest book, "The Farewell Symphony," digs deeper into the trials and tribulations faced by homosexuals in American society today. Yet, taking a mentor's advice, White keeps you at a little distance, letting you draw your own conclusions. "The Farewell Symphony" is an autobiographical novel about White's repressive Midwest childhood and his life as a usually struggling writer in New York and Europe ... during which time he had sex with thousands of men. In the title, White may be saying farewell to Brice, his lover of five years, who died of AIDS in 1994. This was White's first reciprocated love affair and you'd think he'd be more prominent in the book, but Brice makes only cameo appearances in "The Farewell Symphony." We learn why he's mostly quiet about Brice when White is reunited with an old flame.
September 26, 1997 - The Immigration and Naturalization Service is staying open til midnight Tuesday to accomodate the flood of illegal aliens trying to beat the deadline to apply for permanent residency. Illegal aliens with a current visa number must apply for permanent residency by the end of the month and pay a thousand dollar penalty. Otherwise, they must return to their home country, and apply through the U-S consulate there. Many of the people in this situation are in the country illegally, but are married to U-S citizens, or green card holders. Karen Ellingson is an attorney with Officino Legale, a non-profit legal office that serves the east metro area. She says she's been advising her clients to apply before the deadline and pay the thousand dollar penalty:
September 26, 1997 - The Hennepin History Museum is re-opening to the public this weekend. It's been closed for sixteen months, while board members scurried to secure a future and funding for the 39-year old museum. Susan Larsen-Fleming is one of the board members who rolled up her sleeves during those months and took care of the collection. She says the shutdown had one benefit.
September 26, 1997 - Last summer, researchers at the 11th International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver were practically bursting with excitement over new drugs that had reduced HIV in some patients to undetectable levels. A year later, the drugs have worked their magic on thousands of AIDS patients bringing many back from the brink of death. The treatment successes have prompted sudden changes in patients lives, government health insurance plans and prevention programs. Tomorrow Minnesota AIDS activists will discuss these changes during the 1997 State of AIDS Conference in Minneapolis and plot their next step in dealing with the disease. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, most are still optimistic about the treatment breakthroughs even though new data is beginning to dispel the notion that these drugs can cure AIDS.
September 29, 1997 - An article in today's New York Times explored the possible link between chemicals in the environment and rising cancer rates in children. For the past twenty years researchers have noticed a moderate but steady increase in childhood cancers, averaging about one-percent per year. But little is known about what's causing the increase. Much of the cancer research has been conducted at the University of Minnesota. Professor of Pediatrics, Dr. Les Robison, told Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson researchers believe the rising childhood cancer rate is real, and not a function of increased reporting.
September 30, 1997 - Student Aishah Jackson, external president of the Black Liberation Affairs Committee at Macalester College, comments on Macalester administration's reaction to racial incident on campus.
September 30, 1997 - Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have found the first direct evidence of a link between contaminated water and the outbreaks of deformed frogs first reported in Minnesota in 1995. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
September 30, 1997 - Grand Forks and East Grand Forks residents who say buy-out offers from the federal government for their flood-wrecked homes are insufficient may get another chance. Today a class-action suit was filed on their behalf in federal courts in Minnesota and North Dakota. The suit aims to force local officials to use eminent domain to buy-out homeowners. The hope is that eminent domain--a legal concept that allows government buy property for the civic good--would offer homeowners a better deal: more money, relocation benefits, and a smoother process. Though few property owners are named on the suit, hundreds are eligible, and could join later. Cheryl Phelps is one East Grand Forks homeowner who's already on board: