May 18, 1998 - Some state legislators and business leaders predict the "Year 2000 Bug" could have dire effects on the state. A special panel of legislators met today (MON) to evaluate the state's preparations for the bug, which is the result of a calendar shorthand that tricks many computers into confusing the year 2000 with 1900. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: The ad hoc panel of legislators is eager to make sure Minnesota business leaders are taking the Year 2000 Bug seriously -- to that end, it invited national expert David Hall to outline what he sees as the potentially catastrophic result of all those computer clocks cranking over to zero-zero. Hall estimates at least 400 million clock-based microprocessors will have unpredictable problems because of the bug, and will compromise everything from databases to prisons: ((State of CA almost released a violent felon who just last year
May 18, 1998 - Political foes of Minnesota Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Skip Humphrey say he should've disclosed all of the fees paid to attorneys in Minnesota's tobacco trial when he announced the settlement two weeks ago. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported over the weekend the Robins Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi firm will receive at least 100-million-dollars more than Humphrey stated. Humphrey supporters say the fees are a non-issue because the tobacco companies agreed to pay them on top of the settlement. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: When Humphrey announced the tobacco settlement on June 8th, he proudly told supporters tobacco companies would pay attorneys fees *on top* of the 6 billion dollar settlement. He said tobacco companies would pay attorneys 440-million dollars or about seven percent of the settlement. But the Pioneer Press reported over the weekend that Humphrey was quoting only the fe
May 18, 1998 - In a surprise announcement, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra appointed a new acting concertmaster. The selection of the violinist to lead the musicians in any orchestra is a complex, mysterious, process. Insiders expected the SPCO selection committee to take a year to choose a successor to Romauld Tecco, but they found someone they really wanted…Denver-based Steven Copes playing and they hired him on the spot.
May 18, 1998 - As many as 25,000 Twin Cities residents will be without power until tomorrow, four days after tornadoes and thunderstorms swept through the area. Northern States Power company says Friday's storms knocked out electricity to more than 400,000 customers in Minnesota and parts of the Dakotas. The utility says the storms affected more households than a l996 ice storm. Cleanup crews are hauling away debris and dealing with the thousands of downed trees caused by the storm. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. The beads of perspiration popping from John Schotzsnyder's forehead gleam in the midday sun. He welcomes a chance to take a break from storm clean up to show a visitor the damage to his Shoreview home and the trees on his lot. Several damaged boughs hang precarious
May 18, 1998 - (note: we aired this before we learned the meeting was cancelled. Also, cuts from this q/a were in circulation Friday so it's a dead horse now). Tom Clancy's bid to buy the Minnesota Vikings is on the agenda when a committee of N-F-L team owners meets in Miami tonight. The committee will consider the financing of the 200-million dollar sale to Clancy and more than a dozen other investors ... but NFL owners are not expected to vote on the proposed sale this week. There's been speculation in recent weeks that Clancy's deal might be unraveling. The best-selling author is going through a costly divorce that makes it unclear how much cash he can put toward a Vikings purchase. And some of the Vikings current owners have worried that one of Clancy's investors - Houston businessman Les Alexander - might eventually try to move the team to Texas. Alexander reportedly has the right of first refusal, meaning he could buy the team should Clancy decide to sell it. Wheelock Whitney, one of the Vikings ten current owners, plans to re-invest with the Clancy group. Whitney says it's premature to worry Alexaner would move the team to Houston:
May 19, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from the small community of Comfrey, Minnesota. Following the destructive March tornadoes that struck the area, Mark Steil talks with residents and local officials about recovery, rebuilding, and remembering. The topic of small towns in general and their economic health is also discussed.
May 19, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from the small community of Comfrey, Minnesota. Mark Steil takes a closer look at new laws governing the regulation of feedlots in Minnesota…laws which give more control over feedlots to local governments. Steil talks with State Legislators Steve Dille and Gary Kubly, as well as local officials.
May 19, 1998 - [note: Koch signed late Monday afternoon so this story is good for Tuesday m.e.] Officials for the Koch Refining Company will take their request for a new, flexible air quality permit before the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency citizens board today, for a second time. The permit could allow the company to expand operations at its Rosemount Refinery, at a time when it's under increasing fire for widespread contamination in Minnesota and in other states. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. Koch Refining Company's request for a new air quality permit first went to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency citizen
May 19, 1998 - THERE'S A CERTAIN MYSTERY TO THE WAY IN WHICH ARTISTS CREATE THEIR WORK. THE FINAL PRODUCT ON VIEW IN A MUSEUM OR GALLERY COMES WITH LITTLE EXPLANATION ABOUT THE HOW AND WHY OF A PIECE. BUT NOW, AT THE WALKER ART CENTER, THREE SCULPTORS ARE LETTING THE PUBLIC IN ON THEIR CREATIVE PROCESS. THEY'RE WORKING IN ONE OF THE WALKER GALLERIES...AND THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO STOP IN, WATCH AND ASK QUESTIONS. MARY STUCKY VISITED WITH ROBERT FISCHER THE FIRST OF THE THREE SCULPTORS IN WHAT THE WALKER IS CALLING "SCULPTURE ON SITE".
May 19, 1998 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles Native American blues band, Indigenous.