March 10, 1998 - Midday continues a second hour with Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist, who answers listener questions about the weather. Topics include weather guide, ball lightning, and weather cycles.
March 11, 1998 - Some state lawmakers say Northwest Airlines misled the Legislature last year when it asked for a change in a Minnesota law. The change could save the Airline from paying out millions of dollars in a lawsuit. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Joseph O'Donnell, a bankruptcy trustee in Portland, Maine, says Northwest Airlines misled the Minnesota Legislature last year to defend itself from a $30-million dollar lawsuit in Maine. He says Northwest convinced the Legislature to change a Minnesota law in a way that would make it easier for the airline to defend itself -- but the airline never told legislators about the lawsuit... even when they made a point of asking. O'Donnell says the airline used the state legislature: ((30:43 What I object to, is Northwest's attemp
March 11, 1998 - If you don't pay you don't play. That's the message Minnesota home schoolers say they've been getting from public schools when they try to enroll their kids in school-run sports programs. The K-12 funding bills approved by the House and Senate include requirements that schools charge the same price for home schoolers as enrolled students to participate in sports and other extra curricular activities. However, some home schoolers are worried this might actually reduce access for their children. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
March 12, 1998 - Minnesota's two Olympic hockey gold medal winners, Alana Blahoski and Jenny Schmidgall, talk about their Olympic experiences and the future of women's hockey.
March 12, 1998 - Minnesotas House of Representatives is expected to take up its largest bonding bill ever today or tomorrow (Thursday or Friday). The package of capital projects weighs in at just under a billion dollars, but it doesnt contain key items the governor wants. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen report: The House capital investment bill is different from the one passed by the state Senate last week. At $945 million dollars, its a little smaller than the Senate package. It uses bonds to pay for the bulk of projects, while the Senate version would spend almost entirely cash. It includes state money for a St. Paul civic center and hockey arena that the Senate version doesn't, and doesnt include a major University of Minnesota research facility that IS in the Senate plan. Neither version is well received in governor Arne Carlsons
March 12, 1998 - MINNESOTA'S LARGEST HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS - HEALTH PARTNERS AND MEDICA - HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE SUING THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN AN EFFORT TO RECOVER MONEY SPENT TREATING SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES. THE NEW LAWSUIT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE CASE NOW BEING HEARD IN SAINT PAUL, BUT CONTAINS THE SAME CONSUMER FRAUD ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN REPORTS.
March 12, 1998 - Huge images of young immigrants will dominate the atrium of the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis for two days. They are part of a video installation by artist Laurie Phillips who says she wants to give visibility to the powerless and allow them to tell some of their own stories.
March 13, 1998 - National Public Radio's Ray Suarez, host of "Talk of the Nation,” is interviewed via satellite from Washington DC. Topics include Lewinsky scandal, state of journalism, and talk radio. Suarez also answers listener questions.
March 13, 1998 - In a federal courtroom in St. Paul, Minnesota's challenge against tobacco companies is mid-stream. And it might be providing inspiration overseas, for similar challenges against Big Tobacco. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on a legal battle that's shifting to countries across the Atlantic
March 16, 1998 - Bernie Omann, Governor Carlson's chief of staff, visits the MPR studios to talk about the Governor's priorities for the final weeks of the legislative session. Topics include hockey arena, light-rail transit, taxes, and university funding. Omann also answers listener questions.