December 24, 1998 - Minnesota's older teenagers are supposed to be hitting the books, at least if they want to legally ride a snowmobile. A new law requires all teenagers to pass a safety course before operating a snowmobile on public land. But few of the older teens have signed up for training, and public safety officials fear many are unaware of the law, or intend to ignore it. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports ..... The snowmobile season got off to a slow start this winter.... SFX: (vroom - ratta tat ratta tatta tatta - vroom) For two days in November at the annual Snowcross races just outside Duluth
December 24, 1998 - On this Midday program, a presentation stories of the holiday…including Bob Potter reading "How The Grinch Stole Christmas", Kate Smith reading "The Fir Tree", Dan Olson reading the letter in the Sun Newspaper--"Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus;" the late Dave Moore reading "James Thurber"; and Greta Cunningham reading "A Brooklyn Christmas."
December 28, 1998 - As Governor-elect Jesse Ventura’s administration prepares to begin, MPR's Mike Mulcahy has a look back at the Arne Carlson’s years as Minnesota governor. Carlson will be remembered for the record number of bills he vetoed, his love of the Gophers' basketball team, and for his flamboyant ex-wife…but the Carlson legacy will be also be marked by the record budget surpluses that piled up during his watch.
December 28, 1998 - On Sunday March 29th a huge storm tore across more than 60 miles of south/central Minnesota. The storm took out much of the small town of Comfry. Then, around 5:30 pm, an F3 tornado, carrying winds of up to 206 miles per hour, smashed through St. Peter. Two people died--one, a boy just six years old.
December 28, 1998 - * for Monday 12/28 ** With 19-98 drawing to a close, there is bound to be more and more talk about 'Y-2-K'... the 'year two thousand' dilemma. Big companies have spent millions of dollars and years trying to get their systems ready for 2000...and with just over a year left, most are in the final stages of preparation. But for small business owners the situation is quite different. Many are just starting to think about Y-2-K. Mainstreet Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports. The Small Business Adminstration's Year 2000 website opens to a
December 29, 1998 - Walter Mondale, former vice-president, and his son Ted Mondale, former state senator and gubernatorial candidate, talk about politics and politicians...then and now. Topics include leadership, trust, and necessity of genuine debate. The Mondale’s also answer listener questions.
December 29, 1998 - In the past, mining towns in northeast Minnesota were the battlegrounds in hard-fought labor disputes. One weapon used by the steel companies was a vast, intricate spy system among their workers. Chisholm native Tom Selinski has created a video documentary, "Spies in Steel," describing that era, and how the spy network was ultimately exposed. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports. Today union offices occupy some of the most prominent buildings in Iron Range towns. But in the early part of the century, union meeting places were makeshift -- and clandestine. Workers met in storefronts and basements, knowing they'd be fired by the mining company if their union membership was revealed. Raising the stakes, and increasing the risks were company spies...in barber shops, hotels, and among their own members. Tom Selinski grew
December 29, 1998 - Lawmakers want uniform laws in the four states to help independent producers stay on the farm. State lawmakers from Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota sponsored an organizational meeting in Sioux Falls today to combat low hog prices. Farmers are seeing prices as low as they were in the 1950's. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: Seven hundred hog producers, bankers and state officials packed a three-hundred seat cattle barn at the Sioux Falls stockyards. Many of these hog farmers are facing record low prices. If a 250 pound hog sold today a farmer would get 37-dollars and 50 cents. Four months ago that same hog brought 82-50 to the farmer. On the short term farmers want disaster assistance in order to make loan payments.
December 29, 1998 - Molnau = MOLE now The two new transporation leaders in the Minnesota House of Represenatives share the view that Twin Cities suburbs need more roads. Representatives Carol Molnau (MOLE now) from Chaska and Tom Workman from Chanhassen say the additional lanes are needed because traffic congestion in the suburbs is a problem. Minnesota Public Radio Radio's Dan Olson reports. Republican Representative Carol Molnau, a farmer from Chaska, says when she moved there nearly three decades ago, only 20 vehicles a day used the road by her place. Since then, she says, the road has been paved but not widened and Molnau says the traffic count has risen to 16,000 vehicles each day. She says the suburbs need more lanes.
December 29, 1998 - Honey, we can't afford to fix the car! Right now we need every penny to pay our taxes!..)) Jesse Ventura didn't make a lot of specific campaign promises on the election trail last fall... but he did get specific on the subject of tax relief, in radio ads like this one: