February 23, 1998 - MPR's Amy Radil reports that Minnesota mushers are bringing dogsledding to a whole new audience…women seeking winter adventure. The Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon race in Duluth and Alaska's Iditarod have increased the sport's visibility. Now, mushing trips for novices are one way sled dog owners can educate people about the sport and pay their bills.
February 23, 1998 - As part of the continuing MPR series Voices of Minnesota, a presentation of conversations with James Griffin, one of Minnesota's first Black police officers and first deputy police chief for St. Paul; and Hennepin County Judge Pamela Alexander, Minnesota's first Black female judge.
February 24, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. This year's race for Governor is already shaping up as the most wide-open in years. It's a race without any clear favorites -- a fact Joanne Benson is well aware of. Benson may be Arne Carlson's Lieutenant Governor, but she's hardly his heir apparent. Minnesota Public Radio's Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has this profile of the candidates.
February 24, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. Political reporter Eric Jansen prepared this profile of DFL candidate Ted Mondale: BackAnnounce: Our series of candidate profiles continues tomorrow morning on Morning Edition when Karen Boothe follows the Mike Freeman campaign. And at this time tomorrow evening, we'll hear about Republican Alan Quist.
February 24, 1998 - Ted Mondale is currently running second to Skip Humphrey in a poll of likely Democratic primary voters. A Minnesota Public Radio/KARE 11/Pioneer Press/ poll finds 35-percent of likely voters favor Humphrey while Mondale has 11-percent, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman has nine-percent, Mark Dayton- seven, State Senator Doug Johnson --six, and State Senator John Marty --five. Twenty-seven percent of the voters are undecided. On the Republican side, 37-percent of likely primary voters favor St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, 14-percent favor Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson, eleven-percent back Allen Quist, and four-percent backed state Senator Roy Terwilliger who dropped out of the race today. Thirty-four percent of these voters are undecided. If the election were held today, Humphrey would edge out Coleman. The poll's margin of error is three-and-a-half percent. Democratic political consultant Pat Forciea says its a bit early to put much stock in the numbers.
February 25, 1998 - Next Tuesday night Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for governor. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on Republican Allen Quist's efforts to seek the office he sought, also, back in 1994.
February 25, 1998 - A fumigation company already under investigation for pesticide spraying which officials believe killed one man and injured three others in Minneapolis has agreed to move chemicals it was storing out of Minneapolis. Industrial Fumigants Company took the action at the urging of officials who recently discovered what they say were unsafe storage condictions. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
February 25, 1998 - The first political advertisement in the governor's race aired today on Twin Cities television and radio stations. The thirty second spot by candidate Ted Mondale focuses on education.
February 25, 1998 - A Twin Cities speech by public radio host Ira Glass, host of "This American Life." He spoke as part of the MPR Broadcast Journalist Series, and talked about radio story-telling.
February 26, 1998 - (Thursday 2/26 M.E.) A new era in statewide testing begins today at schools throughout Minnesota. Three weeks ago, all 8th grade students in public schools took the state's basic skills tests in reading and math. Now state officials are conducting first-time tests to see how well third and fifth grade students are doing. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... State education officials say the new tests for third and fifth grade students, called the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, should not be confused with the 8th grade basic skills tests. The 8th grade tests measure literacy and whether students have yet learned the min