April 6, 1998 - Many businesses in the tornado battered town of Le Center plan to resume operations this week. Le Center's industrial park south of town and a nearby mobile home park were hardest hit in the storms. The town has been successful at luring small manufacturing firms which brought an estimated 400 jobs to Le Center. As Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports, repairing as much as 15 million dollars worth of tornado damage is an added challenge for small companies struggling to expand their businesses.
April 6, 1998 - The mayor who led Grand Forks through last years flooding offered sympathy and encouragement to tornado victims in St. Peter Sunday. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. and vividly described the disaster that struck HER community almost year ago, when the dikes protecting GRand Forks began to give way.
April 6, 1998 - (For Monday M.E. 4/6) *REVISED* Tobacco attorneys hope the U-S supreme court will block the release of nearly 40-thousand secret industry documents today (Monday). The tobacco industry will have to release those files to the state by 4 pm unless the high court intervenes. The state of minnesota and blue cross blue shield want the files for use in the state's lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Minnesota public radio's elizabeth stawicki reports: The tobacco companies had asked Justice Scalia to delay indefinately an order they turn over the secret files. Scalia then turned the matter over to the full court. those files are expected to include industry research relating to smoking and health, underage smokers, and tobacco companies' pr
April 6, 1998 - Gustavus Adolphus College alumni and students spent the weekend cleaning up the destruction from last week's tornado. The tornado damaged many of the college's buildings and has forced an extension of the college's spring break. But it didn't keep people from breaking out the "gustie spirit" to help the college begin the process of recovery. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman has this report. 31:00 ambience of crowd
April 6, 1998 - Minnesota's House of Representatives has approved more than $27 million dollars worth of tornado relief aid to communities in south central counties. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the state capitol: Representatives acted swiftly and unanimously today in appropriating $27.6 million to help communities in south central Minnesota rebuild from tornado damage sustained 8 days ago. $8 million of that aid package will qualify five counties to draw approximately $24 million more from the federal government. St. Peter Representative Ruth Johnson says that although residents are carrying on the Minnesota tradition of doing what needs to be done, there is a lot of work ahead:
April 6, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Potter talks with Reverends David Johnson and Ronald Smith. The pastors say they've been trying to lead a joint church - and the broader community - in a difficult process called racial reconciliation.
April 7, 1998 - Ken Morris, president of the State Board of Education, discusses education and state's "Profile of Learning" graduation standards. Morris also answers listener questions.
April 7, 1998 - On this Midday, a broadcast of Theodore Shaw, associate director and counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund speaking at Annual National Conference of Education Writers Association, held in San Francisco. Shaw states the anti-affirmative action movement has misrepresented Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.
April 7, 1998 - MPR's Mary Losure talked to kids at an afterschool daycare program for a child's eye view of the severe storm and tornado that hit St. Peter, Minnesota.
April 7, 1998 - Feedlots have been among the most contentious issues at the legislature this session, and lawmakers say they need more information before deciding whether to pass a moratorium on new ones. They've asked the legislative auditor to review the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's oversight of feedlots. News reports have raised questions about the make-up of the MPCA, as well as the number of permits that have been granted. Roger Brooks is with the legislative auditor's office. He says of all the issues the legislature works on, only a handful sift to the top and merit this kind of investigation: Roger Brooks is with the legislative auditor's office.