May 28, 1998 - Democratic Party Leaders are in the Twin Cities this week scrutinizing the Twin Cities's ability to host the Democratic National Convention in the year 2000. Minneapolis is one of seven cities under consideration as a site for the covention. The Democrats inspected the Minneapolis Target Center and Metrodome this morning, then lunched in St. Paul. They want to be sure not only convention delegates will be happy, but also news media from around the world. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports:
May 28, 1998 - Twin Cities United Healthcare announced it is merging with another major national health care firm, Kentucky-based Humana. Officials with the companies say the 5 and a half billion dollar deal will result in an unspecified number of jobs cuts. The company will be based in Minnesota, and retain the United Healthcare name, but observers say it's unlikely to have much affect on consumers or the health care industry in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
May 28, 1998 - With news Northwest Airlines Pilots have authorized a strike, travelers are increasingly uneasy about flying the nation's fourth largest airline even though it would be at least a month before any Northwest union could legally walk out. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik.
May 29, 1998 - On this segment of MPR’s Voices of Minnesota, Midday’s Gary Eichten profiles and talks with University of Minnesota historian Hy Berman.
May 29, 1998 - [WARNING! THIS PIECE MAY BE HOT! PLAY IN AUDITION AND CHECK LEVELS BEFORE AIRING.] If you're new to the Twin Cities and are looking for a way to get around, a map might be helpful, or maybe a guidebook which tells you where all the notable landmarks are. If you're interested in a publication that goes quite a bit deeper, you may consider picking up "A Definitive Guide to the Twin Cities, in Poetry and Prose." Its publishers describe it as the only guide to the Twin Cities that focuses on the experiences of its inhabitants. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
May 29, 1998 - [NOTE CORRECTED DCART NUMBER For Friday ATC] With three weeks to go before the Republican state convention, St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman says he's "optimistic" he's going to get the party's endorsement for Governor. But the Coleman campaign is careful not to declare victory too soon: campaign manager Chris Georgacas says he thinks the other two Republican front-runners, Joanne Benson and Allen Quist, may join forces. A socially-conservative, outstate coalition could be enough to stop the Coleman campaign in its tracks. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste takes a closer look at the race for the Republican endorsement: ((convention sfx, Coleman's voice in distance: "Hi, I'm N
May 29, 1998 - Vice President Al Gore and Retired General Colin Powell say Minnesota is at the forefront of an effort to improve the lives of at-risk young people. The two spoke to about fourteen-hundred Minnesota teens and adults at a statewide summit in Minneapolis yesterday. The event was part of the Minnesota Alliance With Youth - the state's follow-up to last year's presidents' summit in Philadelphia. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... A high-energy crowd of volunteers got pumped up for the vice-presidential visit with a performance by "Hip Deep" - a group of summit participants and professional entertainers. A member of Moore by Four led a Gore tribute... (bring up music - "Not a second banana, he's usually chipper, the reason we're told - he's married to Tipper...")
May 29, 1998 - Senator Paul Wellstone is definitely campaigning for health care reform and possibly for President. Wellstone has introduced a bill in the Senate that would provide health coverage for all Americans. He has been traveling around the country talking about his proposal.
May 29, 1998 - MPR’s Dan Olson profiles the local band Speaking in Tongues, a quartet which blends musical traditions from four different cultures. Olson interviews percussionist Marc Anderson and Chinese pipa master Gao Hong.
May 29, 1998 - The Steele County city of Owatonna is bustling today (Friday) with the grand opening of Cabela's, a massive retail hunting and fishing extravaganza. The grand opening is shared with a privately-funded museum that is a local man's vision-become-reality. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports. Owatonna is not a sleepy town, but it is still small enough to have its name on a water tower. After today, Minnesota residents from more than 200 miles around will be driving here. Outdoors enthusaists who used to order duck decoys and bait-casting reels from a catalog in the privacy of their own home, may just decide to get in the car and go to the Cabela's store