November 3, 1999 - Voters in St. Paul have rejected an attempt to eliminate about half the city's billboards. 53-percent of voters said no to a measure that would have removed billboards from city streets and prohibited new signs. The billboard industry says the result shows people don't want to get rid of a legal form of advertising, but billboard opponents say they're not giving up.
November 3, 1999 - Now that St. Paul voters have rejected a stadium tax to lure the Minnesota Twins to the Capitol city, attention in the stadium debate is shifting back to Minneapolis . Community leaders there say the time has come for them to find a solution that will satisfy the Twins' and the Vikings' needs. But they also say a firm proposal may not come forward until the 2001 legislative session.
November 3, 1999 - Two-hundred-three of the state's 344 public school districts held elections Tuesday for school board seats, bond issues or tax levies. Voters made changes to the school boards in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. And the state's third largest school district approved a huge bond issue for more school space.
November 3, 1999 - People from countries along Africa's north east coast make up one of Minnesota's fastest growing populations. Most are from Somalia, but a small percentage is from Ethiopia. The newcomers depend on Ethiopians who've been here for a while for traditional goods and services. One place they often go first is a grocery store on Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis.
November 4, 1999 - The Consumer Federation of America is out today with a new study on consumer problems associated with Internet shopping. Guests include Jack Gillis of the Consumer Federation and Robert Ellis of the Center for the Study of Services, a non-profit consumer research organization in Washington DC.
November 4, 1999 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews gay poet Mark Doty about his book “Firebird: A Memoir.” Doty reads a selection from the book, recalling how the lyrics to Petula Clark's song "Downtown" gave him hope.
November 4, 1999 - Over 200 mandolin players from North America and Europe are in Minneapolis to attend annual convention of the Classical Mandolin Society of America. Jack El-Hai formed the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra in 1991, and talks with MPR’s Bob Potter about mandolins.
November 4, 1999 - The City of Burnsville and the Minnesota Wild hockey team have announced plans to build an amphitheater along the Minnesota River. The Black Dog Amphitheater is one of four proposed amphitheaters in the metro area. Burnsville and Minnesota Wild officials say, if approved, their amphitheater might be the first to open in the Twin Cities area.
November 4, 1999 - Some state lawmakers say changing the way teachers are paid in Minnesota could ease a teacher shortage and improve student achievement. Members of a House subcommittee heard testimony today on the touchy issue of linking teacher pay to job performance, rather than years of service.
November 5, 1999 - Latest edition of the Voices of Minnesota series with retired University of Minnesota Journalism Professor Don Gillmor and retired Star Tribune political reporter Betty Wilson.