August 27, 1998 - Minnesota's first-ever Rural Summit continues today (THURSDAY) in St Cloud. The event brings together state officials and community members from throughout the state to discuss affordable housing, job training and the growing farm crisis. Some of Minnesota's guebentorial candidates attended the Summit to discuss how they would bring economic development back to rural areas. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Kathryn Herzog reports, many audience members saw the event as more entertaining than productive. The candidates for governor slowly trickeled in to the Rural Summit on Wednesday. All complained of traffic backups between the Twin Cities and St Cloud. The crowd seemed somewhat amused and annoyed as candidates arrived late and fumbled to find the right microphones. DFL endorsed candidate Mike Freeman arrived on time but left after one question, saying he had p
August 27, 1998 - (UPDATED FOR THURS M.E.) Reports flew Wednesday that Northwest and its pilots are close to settling a two-year old contract dispute and possibly averting a strike tomorrow (Friday). The strike would cripple air service in Minnesota and strand thousands of travellers. But Northwest announced it's cancelled 400 weekend flights and has already stopped accepting cargo. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: Despite a flurry of reports ranging from a settlement was close at hand to both sides had reached a tentative agreement...Northwest management and pilots were quick to deny any settlement was near: Northwest's Jon Austin: (talks are continuing we continue to put reasona
August 27, 1998 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports on the struggle to find temporary workers for the many exhibitors and booths at the Minnesota State Fair this year. The Minnesota State Fair is big. One of the top five in the nation. Last year the fair broke its own attendance record with more than 1.6 million visitors. This year there's been some concern about how LATE the fair has its run. The calendar has pushed the dates back by nearly a week. As a result, while the fair is on, thousands of students will have to head back to the classroom.
August 27, 1998 - stpaul FOR THURSDAY M.E. Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98". Leading up to next month's primary, we're presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. THIS week, we're focusing on economic development. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe profiles DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton: NEXT week, our Campaign 98 focus on the issues will weigh crime prevention proposals by the gubernatorial candidates.
August 27, 1998 - In dueling advertisements, Northwest Airlines and its pilots union are trading shots over the value of stock the pilots' received in return for a pay cut that helped the company avert bankruptcy. The stock was part of nearly 900 million dollars in wage and benefit concessions negotiated in 1993 with the airline's largest unions. As a strike deadline tomorrow night approaches, both sides accuse the other using advertisements to mislead the the public over what the pilots got. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has more. Ads placed by the Airline Pilots Association in today's major twin cities dailies refer to the concessions and a fifteen and a half percent pay cut the pilots accepted. It also says Northwest executives
August 27, 1998 - Along with cancelling hundreds of flights, as of eleven last (WED) night, Northwest Airlines also stopped taking any additional cargo shipments, putting many Minnesota businesses in a bind but it seems those businesses are making do. Minnesota Public Radio's John Rabe reports.
August 27, 1998 - U.S. Stocks plunged today on word the economic crisis in Russia is deepening. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 357 points, its third biggest point loss in history. In the broader market, declining issues swamped advances three to one on heavy volume of 940 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street took its direction from overseas stocks, which woke up to find that Russia's financial crisis took on a more political bent as pressure mounted for President Boris Yeltsin to quit. Ruble trading was also suspended for the second successive day. The Russian market plunged 20 percent, and the selling spilled over to other markets. Pete Anderson with American Express Financial Advisors in Minneapolis says events in Russia compound an already bad situation internationally, but he also says he considers today's activity a correction, and not the beginning of a bear market: | D-CART ITEM: 8987
August 27, 1998 - Negotiators for Northwest Airlines and the Airline Pilots' Association are talking now around the clock... hoping to avert strike set to begin tomorrow night at 11:01 central time. Both sides deny they're close to agreement on a contract. However Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports significant progress has apparantly been made toward a settlement. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM:8985 | TIME: 3:48s | OUTCUE: soc ---------------------------------------------------------
August 28, 1998 - An MPR Special presenting interviews with all seven major party gubernatorial candidates on economic development, followed by listener reaction to the candidates. Program begins with brief reports on the various candidates.
August 28, 1998 - George Wozniak, travel agent and president of Hobbit Travel in Twin Cities, returns to further discuss what travelers can expect in the event of a strike, and how best to strategize. Wozniak also answers listener questions. Program begins with a brief report on status of pending strike and what the negotiators are going through.