January 26, 1998 - Minnesota became the first state to litigate a case against the tobacco industry, when attorneys made their opening statements today. The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are suing major tobacco companies to recover the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses. The state's lead attorney called tobacco a greedy industry, while tobacco's lead attorney says even if the industry behaved badly, it didn't increase the state's health care costs. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... The state's lead attorney Michael Cerisi said the tobacco companie
January 26, 1998 - NORTHWEST AIRLINES TODAY ANNOUNCED AN ALLIANCE WITH CONTINENTAL AIRLINES. THE MOVE WILL BOOST REVENUES AND SOLIDIFY THE AIRLINE'S POSITION IN THE INDUSTRY. BUT IT MAY NOT REDUCE FARES. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S BILL CATLIN REPORTS. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER WHAT APPEARED TO BE FRACTIOUS, ON-AGAIN OFF-AGAIN DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN CONTINENTAL, NORTHWEST AND THE NORTHWEST PILOTS UNION ... WHICH HAS VETO AUTHORITY OVER THE DEAL. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PILOTS UNION DECIDED THE STRATEGIC ARRANGEMENT WITH CONTINETAL COULD BE PROFITABLE FOR NORTHWEST. HOWEVER, DELTA AIRLINES APPARANTLY LIKED THE IDEA AS WELL. C
January 26, 1998 - Muslims in Rochester are observing the holy month of Ramadan in a new mosque. A group of Muslims purchased the unassuming three-story brick building on the city's main thoroughfare and renovated it with some 650-thousand dollars. The new mosque's leaders say the larger space will acommodate Rochester's growing resident and visiting Muslim population. But they also hope it bridges a philosophical gap among Rochester Muslims that began more than four years ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports. Muslims never know the exact day during Ramadan that commemorates the Night of Majesty, when God revealed himself to the prophet
January 27, 1998 - Like the rest of the nation people in our area are talking about the goings-on in Washington. We asked folks in Bemidji, St Paul, and Sioux Falls for their opinions on the scandal and whether the President ought to talk about it in tonight's State of the Union speech.
January 27, 1998 - MPR's Cara Hetland reports from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the Minnesota Twins are utilizing a caravan to hopefully draw crowds to ballpark as the team fights for a new stadium… while at the same time cutting team player payroll and dealing with talk of selling/moving team. Players admit it's tough to sell tickets for what may be a lame duck season.
January 27, 1998 - Attorneys for tobacco companies are expected to finish their opening arguments this morning in Minnesota's landmark tobacco trial. The state's attorney told jurors yesterday the tobacco industry deceived the public about the dangers of smoking and put profits before health. The State and Blue Cross Blue Shield are suing the industry for nearly two-billion dollars in smoking-related health care costs. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The state's attorney Mike Ciresi told jurors minnesota's case comes down to what the industry knew about the dangers of smoking; when it knew it and what it did about it. He stood at a podium, spoke deliberately for about two hours and never veered far from his notes. The courtroom was packed with attorneys, public officials such as the attorney general and the u-s attorney and local and national media including the wall street journal and the LA times.
January 27, 1998 - MPR’s Karen Louise Boothe profiles Jesse “The Body” Ventura, who is jumping back into the political ring with his decision to run for governor on a Reform Party ticket. It's hard to pin a label on Ventura. He's not your typical politician.
January 27, 1998 - Asian students studying in Minnesota are facing an educational crisis as a result of the economic turmoil in South Korea, Indonesia, and other countries. Plunging currencies overseas mean many students cannot pay their bills here and some Asian students are dropping out. Others are desperately seeking ways to stay and the University of Minnesota is trying to help. Minnesota Publuc Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
January 27, 1998 - Tobacco companies say smokers won't buy safer cigarettes. Attorneys representing tobacco companies today denied claims they've made cigarettes more addictive, and say they've supported research into the health risks of smoking. Opening statements in Minnesota's case against the tobacco industry wrapped up today. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
January 27, 1998 - Political commentator David Gergen is in St. Paul tonight to speak to business leaders about the President's State of the Union and the crisis in the White House. Gergen is the editor of U.S. News and World Report, and served as an advisor to President Clinton and before him, Presidents Nixon, Ford and Reagan.