May 21, 1998 - Airline industry experts expect tomorrow to be the busiest day in aviation history. The experts say more than two-million people are expected to get on a plane at the start of the Memorial Day weekend. For the week ending next Tuesday, more than 12-point-five million people are expected to fly to their destination. The Air Transport Association, representing the biggest U-S carriers, says the proportion of seats filled on flights systemwide could be as high as 83 percent. Amy Rea (Ray) is a travel analyst with Schilling Travel in Minneapolis. She says the high numbers predicted by the industry surprise her. Amy Rea, a travel analyst with Minneapolis-based Schilling Travel.
May 21, 1998 - Mainstreet Radio's Catherine Winter reports on Cass Lake-Bena school district, a small district on the Leech Lake Reservation that has struggled with racial tension for years. The district is trying to serve its Native students better, but the case is still not settled.
May 22, 1998 - Larry Buboltz, Director of the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program, and Earl Wilson, Deputy Commissioner of the MN Dept of Economic Security, discuss summer jobs. Topics include what's available, who can get them, what employers are looking for, pay and skills required, and the job market.
May 22, 1998 - Tobacco legislation in the U-S Senate faces a roadblock, as Senate members have signaled their opposition to limit the industry's liability from lawsuits to eight billion dollars a year. Meanwhile, Senate conservatives have attacked the bill's tax increases. The tobacco bill's chief author, Arizona Senator John McCain, says he will continue to push the legislation. Those price increases are the subject of current television ads sponsored by the tobacco industry. The ads feature portrayals of working people who smoke asking why Congress is singling them out for another tax. David Logan, law professor at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina says the ads are a smart strategy by the tobacco industry.
May 22, 1998 - Northwest Airlines employees angry about not having contracts in place, picketed the airline today in several cities. The airline's largest union, the machinists, held a rally near the Twin Cities airport to protest the slow pace of contract negotiations. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
May 22, 1998 - The historic Arts and Heritage building in St. Peter is about to come down. It will be demolished due to lack of money to repair extensive tornado damage sustained March 29th. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports, the building will leave the largest hole yet in St. Peter as residents continue recovery efforts. Some say that every resident in St. Peter has a connection to the old Central School building, known more recently as the Arts and Heritage Center. Built in 1870, the building served as a school for over one hundred years, the longest any school building has continuouly held classes in the state of Minnesota. So it seems many residents or their parents or
May 22, 1998 - The Minnesota Thunder, the state's only pro soccer club, plays its home-opener tomorrow night (SAT). The team has started the season with a 4-and-2 winning streak on the road, and team managers are hoping that will translate into profits -- something the team has not yet seen in its 8-year history. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: ((BANG of ball hitting chainlink, cheers, followed by predictable soccer practice soundbed)) Attacker Amos Magee is on a hot streak -- he's scored five goals in his last four games, something akin to a baseball player getting a hit every time he walks up to the plate. During team practice at the National Sports Center soccer stadium in Blaine, Magee's coach and teammates treat him as the star of the moment... but the St Paul native is careful not to crow:
May 25, 1998 - As a special Memorial Day program, Larry Powell, photo-journalist and Vietnam veteran discusses his photo essay book “Hunger of the Heart: Communion at the Wall”. Powell shares his experience in Vietnam and perceptions of the wall. He also answers listener questions.
May 25, 1998 - (AIR ON MONDAY MAY 25 - MEMORIAL DAY) Marching Bands, floats, and antique cars will make their way through West Duluth today for the annual Memorial Day Parade. The Duluth-Based Northwind Drum and Bugle Corps will be there. Once common; community-based Drum and Bugle Corps are few and far between. Members of the Northwind Drum and Bugle Corps are getting on in years, and worry whether they can muster enough healthy musicians to continue another season. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher Reports: It's as American as Apple Pie. Think of a parade and you think of flag brigades; flying batons, and brassy music belted out by br
May 25, 1998 - The Chippewa National Forest in northern Minnesota is celebrating its 90th anniversary this weekend. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson takes a look at the history of the forest, and why thousands of visitors come back year after year. Teddy Roosevelt was in his seventh year in office when the Chippewa National Forest was established in 1908, the first national forest reserve established east of the Mississippi River. It followed a heated debate between the logging industry, eager to harvest the timber, and a growing number of conservationists who believed strongly in setting the lands aside. With the help of the Minnesota Federation of Womens Clubs, the conservationists were victorious in establishing what was then known as the Minnesota National Forest.