April 28, 1998 - The Department of Natural Resources and other agencies predicted a severe fire season in northeast Minnesota, and over the weekend they were proved right. Fire fighters finished "mop-up," or putting out remaining embers, on wildfires near the towns of Cotton and Grand Marais late Monday. And the continued dry weather is keeping the DNR and the Forest Service on alert for more. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports from Duluth. Almost 1,500 wildfires have already been reported in Minnesota this year, with 37,000 acres of wilderness burned. Normally fire season does not even begin until late April; this year it started in mid-March. Jean Bergerson with the Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids says lack of moisture is the culprit. Bergerson: We went into winter with very little p
April 28, 1998 - The Saint Paul Saints may be the hottest ticket in town. In fact, the team has gone so far as to send out a press release saying it will not allow ticket buyers to line up at Midway Stadium until noon Thursday to buy single game tickets. They go on sale Saturday at 8 a.m. Eric Webster is with the Saints front office. He says the team did not want anxious fans to get hurt: Again, if you want to buy single tickets, DON'T show up until noon on Thursday, and bring your tent. Tickets go on sale Saturday morning
April 28, 1998 - The latest 8th grade test scores will not be released until Thursday, but school districts and state officials are already battling over what the results mean. An organization representing 24 metro-area school districts is accusing state officials of misusing and distorting the test scores to advance a political agenda. But state officials struck back today, defending their testing policies and their motives. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... This was the third year of 8th grade testing in reading and math...but the first every school in the state had to participate. Last year, about one third of all students tested failed, prompting a public outcry...a
April 29, 1998 - As KSTP-TV celebrates 50 year anniversary, Stanley S. Hubbard, the chairman and CEO of Hubbard Broadcasting, visits Midday program to talk about the early days of television. Hubbard also answers listener questions.
April 29, 1998 - The lack of rain this spring is prompting more concern about fires in Minnesota. The Department of Natural Resources has now imposed buring restrictions on the northern two-thirds of the state extending as far south as Anoka County and parts of Washington County. Dave Schuller is with the Department of Natural Resources Forestry division. Sun 28-MAY 11:23:56 MPR NewsPro Archive
April 29, 1998 - The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is embroiled in a controversy that is sweeping museums across the country. Last night on ABC's "Nightline" program, a French family claimed one of the M.I.A.'s paintings was stolen by the Nazis' during World War II, and belongs to them. The Institute has launched its own investigation into the history of the painting, and believes it may have uncovered evidence that conflicts with the family's claim. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts has more.
April 29, 1998 - MPR’s Todd Moe reports on a narration service known as 'audio description' being utilized at the Guthrie Theater. Audio describers provide information on things sighted theatergoers take for granted -- costumes, lighting effects and movement.
April 29, 1998 - Each day there's another boarded up window reglazed after nailed into place in Saint Peter. But complete recovery from the tornado last month is a long way off. While many residents are concerned with the immediate work... some are looking to the longer term future. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports. The clean-up was easy. Hundreds of people from all over the state came to cart away the debris from the streets of Saint Peter. It happened so fast people were shocked the city looked so good so soon after the tornado. But clean-up is not rebuilding, and that is what Saint Peter
April 29, 1998 - What is organic food? That question is at the heart of a fight between the U.S. Agriculture Department and organic farmers. New rules proposed by USDA leaves open the chance "organic" may include genetically modified food and items currently banned from carrying the label. A public comment period on the nation's first organic standard ends Thursday (April 30). Thousands have commented, a majority oppose a broad definition of "organic". Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports. : Most of the nation's organic farmers agree some sort of national definition of organic is needed. Right now organic is whatever individual state or private agencies say it is and that varies a great deal. Far
April 30, 1998 - Chris Farrell, MPR's Senior Business and Economics Editor, and V.V. Chari, University of Minnesota Economics professor, examine the stock market and concern of a "the bubble economy." Farrell and Chari also answer listener questions. Program begins with a brief report on definition and example of a “bubble market.”