January 18, 1999 - In addition to their superbowl hopes, the Vikings have been pining for a new stadium. Owner Red McCombs has said while there's nothing physically wrong with the Metrodome, the team need a more profitable stadium to remain competitive. McCombs and Vikings management have been holding meetings in recent weeks with business leaders and lawmakers to cultivate support for a new facility. Minneapolis Star-Tribune sports writer Jay Weiner is writing a book on the history of Minnesota's stadium struggles. He says the Vikings loss may have a silver lining.
January 18, 1999 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on Madeline Island’s Windsled. Fewer than 200 people live year 'round on the Island just off the southern shore of Lake Superior near Bayfield, Wisconsin. While island life revolves around the mainland ferry schedule most of the year, islanders can drive across the ice during the depths of winter….but for a few weeks each year, the trip to shore has to be made in the island's unique water transportation vehicle.
January 18, 1999 - In the movie "You Got Mail" the central characters carry on a relationship over the internet long before they ever meet in person. Even in these cyberlinked days this might seem a strange way to connect but consider the case of a Minneapolis woman who is using email to write novels together with an author in Montreal a man she'd never even met face to face until after they'd written 3 books together.
January 18, 1999 - It is unofficially a day of mourning for Minnesota Vikings players and fans who saw their super bowl dreams shattered yesterday by the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the Metrodome. The final score of the NFC championship game was 30-27, thanks to the foot of Falcons kicker Morton Anderson. Vikings players and coaches say the team's loss shouldn't be blamed on kicker Gary Anderson. Anderson had record forty-six straight field goals until he missed a thirty-eighty yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
January 18, 1999 -
January 18, 1999 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on Jesse Ventura’s lively inaugural bash as the 38th governor of Minnesota. Segment includes sounds and music clips from the event.
January 19, 1999 -
January 19, 1999 - St. Paul civic and business leaders have unveiled plans for a business-oriented charter high school to open in downtown St. Paul next year. Former Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson will be its top administrator.
January 20, 1999 - Federal investigators reviewing last December's Holidazzle accident have found no evidence of mechinical problems with the police van that accelerated into a crowd of parade watchers, killing two people. Their report is part of a state investigation is still underway. An attorney representing families of the victims says criminal charges should be filed against the officier who was driving the van.
January 20, 1999 - State lawmakers have started the debate over a proposed overhaul of Minnesota's high school graduation standards. The House Education Committee is considering a bill to scale back the controversial Profile of Learning, which is being introduced in the schools this year. Some legislators say the bill would hurt the state's education reform efforts. Others say they'd rather slash the entire Profile system.