December 29, 1998 - Most farmers in our area will shudder when they think back on 1998. The agricultural economy moves in well defined peaks and valleys. 1998 was a valley. Nearly every farmer felt the disquieting unknown of economic hard times. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: The seeds of the farm slump were as farflung as the asian financial crisis and as down-home as weather, overproduction and disease. It was a year when Minnesota farmers took home their first billion bushel corn crop, a record soybean harvest and wagons full of red ink. The farm crisis o
December 30, 1998 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports on that Governor-elect Jesse Ventura spoke to reporters about his agenda for the 1999 legislative session, which begins next week. But Ventura did NOT get very specific, and he stopped short of presenting a short list of his legislative goals.
December 30, 1998 - Throngs of harried workers in hard-hats are scurrying about St. Paul's Union Depot trying to put the finishing touches on the much-hyped Titanic exhibit. Today, workers are filling a giant salt-water aquarium which will hold a 20-ton section of the ship's hull recovered from the ocean bottom this summer. When the exhibit opens to the public Friday, visitors will see dozens of relics ranging from the ordinary to the exquisite. Chunks of coal used to fire the ship's engines will be displayed alongside luggage, a steward's jacket, crystal decanters and diamond rings. Titanic Conservator Stephane Pennec (steh-FAHN pon-ECK) explained the story behind some of the relics during a recent tour.
December 30, 1998 - Minnesota's tobacco trial will go down as one of the nation's biggest legal stories of the year. Twin Cities lawyers took on what's historically been a tough industry to battle and secured nearly seven-billion dollars for the State and Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki looks back at the trial of the year.
December 30, 1998 - (For Wed. 12/30 M.E.) Minnesota legislative candidates made education their top campaign issue. Beginning next week, those who won get a chance to deliver on their promises. School funding, class sizes and high school graduation standards are expected to dominate the education debate in the legislature. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... During the last legislative session, lawmakers provided millions of dollars to implement new high school graduation standards, known as the Profile of Learning. The controversial new system was designed to measure how well students apply what they've learned by meeting standards in 1
December 31, 1998 - An MPR Special report, presenting the big Minnesota news stories of 1998. Highlights include Governor election, Comfrey and St. Peter tornado, farm crisis, mergers, the Northwest strike and the big tobacco trial. Program ends with brief remembrance segments on various individuals that made news in the year.
December 31, 1998 - An MPR Special report, presenting the biggest Minnesota news story of 1998...the election of Jesse Ventura as governor of Minnesota. Dean Barkley of the Ventura campaign; Eric Johnson of the Humphrey campaign; and Cyndy Brucato of the Coleman campaign, discuss the 1998 Governor’s race. Barkley, Johnson, and Brucato also answer listener questions. Program begins with a report on the Gubernatorial campaigns, and how the result of election came to be.
December 31, 1998 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports on Governor-elect Jesse Ventura meeting with "disenchanted voters." Ventura met with thirteen randomly selected Minnesotans who voted for the first time, or for the first time in several years, to understand what worked to draw voters out this year and what would keep them engaged in the future.
December 31, 1998 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that Minnesota lawmakers who've argued for less government regulation say 1999 could finally be the year they claim success. With a Republican-controlled House and a new Governor who campaigned on the issue, legislation cutting regulations may fare better than in previous sessions.
December 31, 1998 - ATC State Attorney General-Elect Mike Hatch doesn't take office until next week. But like other constitutional officers--he's been making his way through the transition with a very different style of management than his predecessor--Attorney General Skip Humphrey. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.