September 8, 1998 - MPR’s Amy Radil reports that Duluth's Lake Superior Zoo is on the lookout for Mel, a kangaroo that jumped the zoo's 8-foot fence Saturday morning. West Duluth residents have called in a few sightings, but zookeepers have yet to lay hands on their missing marsupial. Zoo visitors pursued him, but kangaroos can hit 45 miles an hour, and Mel soon vanished down a bike trail.
September 8, 1998 - As part of a series of stories following the path of the "Father of Waters,” aka the Mississippi River, Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson has this Mainstreet report on the river's first city…Bemidji.
September 8, 1998 - When election time rolls around many people depend on the League of Women Voters for information about candidates and issues. For decades, the League has played the role of a non-partisan information source for voters. Now, in many communities, the all volunteer League of Women Voters is struggling to keep going. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports how in one Northern community the League has given up. Mary Davies helped organize debates, research issues and monitor local government in Moorhead for 32 years. This fall will be a little less hectic for Mary. The Moorhead League of Women voters has disbanded..
September 8, 1998 - LEAD: Over the past year, the number of genetically engineered crops grown in Minnesota has increased dramatically. Soybeans, corn and wheat have all been genetically altered to withstand disease and pests. But a growing consumer movement is fighting to ban the foods from grocery store shelves. Mainstreet Radio's Kathryn Herzog reports. Minnesota Morris Experiment Station to view the latest variety of Roundup Ready soybeans.The beans were created by the Monsanto corporatio
September 8, 1998 - Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98." From now to the primary in September, we're presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. This week we're focusing on the environment. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste talks with DFLer and former state senator TED MONDALE: BACK ANNOUNCE: You can hear the next segment of our Campaign 98 focus on the issues tomorrow on Morning Edition when when Karen Louise Boothe talks with Mark Dayton about the environment. Ted Mondale says the government agencies charged with
September 8, 1998 - Minnesota voters go to the polls one week from today (TUES 9/8) in this year's primary election... or at least, SOME Minnesotans will go to the polls. Voter turnout has been very low in other states this year, and the pundits are predicting the same here... a turnout that might dip below twenty percent. Strategists at all five DFL gubernatorial campaigns are assuming a low voter turnout, and some think it might even cause an upset in the governor's race. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: ((montage of phone bank callers: "Hello, I'm calling for Skip Humphrey, etc.)) If you've received one of these phone calls lately, your name is probably on a list of likely DFL primary voters. The DFL is the only party with a real primary contest for governor, and the five campaigns are fighting tooth-and-nail over a relatively small minority of Minnesota
September 8, 1998 - Northwest Airlines says it will help its regional airlines Mesaba and Express One resume flying.....within the constraints of its current pilot strike. That comes in response to a federal transportation department order last Friday. Mesaba and Express One shut down their operations last week saying they were too intertwined with Northwest to fly when Northwest pilots were on strike. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The department of transportation ordered Northwest to provide its regional airlines with the same resources it gave them *before* Northwest pilots went on strike. That includes: ticketing; scheduling, banking and ground services. Northwest said it cannot guarantee how long or to what it extent it will help Mesaba and Express One...but it will *try* to help both airlines get back in the air.
September 9, 1998 - The Democratic-Farmer-Labor gubernatorial candidates Ted Mondale, Skip Humphrey, Mark Dayton, Mike Freeman, and Doug Johnson debate on the Minnesota News Network (MNN).
September 9, 1998 - Throughout this election season, Minnesota Public Radio is examining campaign advertising for the state's gubernatorial candidates. With less than a week to go until the primary, the candidate who's leading in the polls - Democrat Skip Humphrey - has finally started running television spots, and Ted Mondale came out with the first candidate attack ad in the race. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
September 9, 1998 - The first public meeting to tell people about plans for the proposed Hiawatha Avenue light rail transit line will be held tonight in Minneapolis. The meeting is at the Air National Guard base next to Twin Cities International Airport. It's one of the first opportunities for people to learn about plans for buildling light rail through several Minneapolis neighborhoods from downtown to the Mall of America. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. Tonight's open house is being billed as an information not a planning session, and Longfellow resident Duane Townsend has some questions. Plans call for three light rail stations in his Minneapolis neighborhood. Townsend is the Longfellow Community Council president and an LRT supporter. He says the station plans he has seen don't include parking spaces for cars. LRT planners want to use buses to bring lrt riders to stations. Townsend says many riders