June 9, 1998 - Wall St. today lost some interest in the merger of Norwest Corporation and Wells Fargo. The stocks of both companies declined in heavy trading. At the same time, Minnesotans are sorting out what it means to lose the headquarters of another large Minnesota corporation. Bill Catlin has this report. Norwest officials say it makes sense to go to California, which has nearly 4 times the new company's deposits as Minnesota. The move affects 830 corporate jobs, out of Norwest's Minnesota workforce of ten thousand. The Midwest banking operations will remain headquartered here. Bill Cooper, the head of TCF Financial says he was surprised that Norwest would agree
June 10, 1998 - On the opening day of the World Cup Soccer Championship, Alan Merrick, former pro player and coach, who now runs the Alan Merrick Soccer Academies, in Bloomington. Merrick discusses the various styles of play throughout the world. Merrick also answers listener questions.
June 10, 1998 - MPR's Lynette Nyman reports from Owatonna, where there are fights breaking out between some of the new and the old residents. That includes clashes against Somali members of the community.
June 10, 1998 - Scott County and the city of Savage have abandoned their plan to extend a highway through a rare wetland known as the Savage Fen. The proposed road was blocked by the state Department of Natural Resources in order to protect the wetland and its rare and threatened plants. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. SFX bird sound The Savage wetland is what scientists call a
June 10, 1998 - Representatives from Northwest pilots union met face to face with the company for the first time since contract talks broke off at the end of May. A federal mediator ordered both sides to the bargaining table in Washington D.C. today to begin three days of talks. The contract disagreement has become very public of late, with the company taking out ads criticizing the pilots for rejecting their offer. The pilots are asking for forteen percent raises the first year, and five percent annual raises thereafter. Steve Flanagan is a Northwest pilot who wears a union cap as well. He says the negotiations are playing a large role in his personal life.
June 10, 1998 - Tribal elections were held on the White Earth Reservation yesterday, despite efforts by a group of band members to put a stop to the voting. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji.... Two days ago it looked doubtful that the scheduled election would take place on White Earth. A group of protesters took control of tribal headquarters Sunday, vowing that they would use any means necessary to stop the election. The group contends that three tribal council members have been holding office illegally since 1996. Those officials, with about 70 supporters, entered and reclaimed control of the building just before sunrise Tuesday.
June 11, 1998 - Kate Trewick of the Department of Children, Families, and Learning, and Joe Nathan, Director of the Center for School Change discuss Third and Fifth grade basic skills test results and the implications. Trewick and Nathan also answer listener questions. Among the topics is levels in tests, public vs private, and role of parents.
June 11, 1998 - Harry Browne, 1996 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate, speaking at 1998 Libertarian Party of Minnesota State Convention.
June 11, 1998 - Minneapolis officials say an environmental impact statement for expansion of the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport is flawed. They'll work today on the city's official response, incorporating comments from a public hearing last night. As Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports, Northwest Airlines' domination of the market was a key topic last night: City council member Dore Mead says among her chief criticisms of the Environmental Impact Statement is that its estimates of future airport usage about 600,000 flights per year by 2010 -- are, in her words, "way off base.": "Were asking them to admit theyre low we all know it.
June 11, 1998 - (Saint Paul) The state will no longer invest new pension money in tobacco and may divest itself of tobacco holdings ALL TOGETHER. The state board of investment passed the resolution on a 4-1 vote. . Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: Secretary of State Joan Growe rejected notions that the proposal was fueled more by politics than sound investment advice. She said that in light of the state's seven Billion dollar settlement with tobacco companies in the recent lawsuit, and a pending national tobacco settlement...tobacco stocks are too risky: Bite:4260 Governor Carlson voted against a similar resolution in September of 1996.