July 27, 1999 - The Senate Agriculture Committee today began investigating why breakfast cereal prices are rising when farmers are seeing some of the lowest prices ever for corn, wheat and other grains. Cereal producers say their prices have been going up because marketing and packaging costs have increased. The President of the Minnesota Corn Growers' Association, Gerald Tumbleson, doesn't doubt that explanation, but he says the Senate hearing is still a good idea.
July 28, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from the International Wolf Center in Ely. Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion about wolves with Bill Route, a wildlife biologist at the International Wolf Center; Ron Refsnider, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist; Mike Don Carlos, wildlife specialist with Minnesota DNR; and State Senator Gary Laidig.
July 28, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from the International Wolf Center in Ely. Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion about black bears with Dave Garshelis, of the Minnesota DNR; Lynn Rogers, a bear researcher; and Bill Lea, president of American Bear Association. Program begins with a report on bears in Minnesota from MPR's Leif Enger.
August 5, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast of Minnesota Citizens’ Forum, live from FarmFest in Redwood Falls. In the first hour of program, Minnesota Farm Radio Network’s Tom Rothman hosts a discussion of the importance of a strong rural economy to Minnesota.
August 5, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast of Minnesota Citizens Forum, live from FarmFest in Redwood Falls. In the second hour of program, Minnesota Farm Radio Network’s Tom Rothman hosts a continuing discussion of the importance of a strong rural economy to Minnesota.
August 10, 1999 - Supporters of a new St. Paul ballpark plan to send area civic leaders on tours of several new retro-style ballparks hoping they'll come back ready to drum up enthusiasm for the local proposal. Mayor Norm Coleman's staff is considering trips to Jacob's Field in Cleveland, Camden Yards in Baltimore and Coors Field in Denver. The cheer leaders have their work cut out for them. Polls have consistently shown Minnesotans are overwhelmingly against building a new baseball stadium. Ed Schiappa, a professor of communication studies at the University of Minnesota, has written a book on the stadium debate in Minnesota. He says this lastest push isn't likely to fare much better than the last one.
August 13, 1999 - He's been on the job guarding the entrance of the Science Museum of Minnesota for 21-years. Now it's time for him to take some time off and do some sightseeing. Iggy, the 40-foot Iron Iguana, is being hoisted onto a flatbed truck next Wednesday. He's going to stop by the Gillette Children's Hospital, take a drive down the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis , and eventually settle into his new home at the new science museum overlooking the Mississippi river in St. Paul. Nick Swearer is Iggy's creator. He started building the giant sculpture when he was just 15 years old. I asked Swearer where the inspiration for Iggy came from.
August 23, 1999 - Back on his day job today, Governor Ventura is facing some criticism at the capitol. Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe says Ventura's performance as a referee in the main event of last night's Summer Slam wrestling show was demeaning and distasteful. Ventura got better reviews from wrestling fans. Wade Keller edits and publishes the Pro-Wrestling Torch Newsletter in Minneapolis . He was at last night's event.
August 26, 1999 - Minneapolis Star Tribune business writer Jill Barshay, a native New Yorker, decribes her attempt at winning a Minnesota State Fair blue ribbon by submitting a fried sauerkraut dessert.
August 27, 1999 - A "Talk of Minnesota" program, presenting the views of MPR listeners on tax rebate checks. Topics include questions of what should be done with them; should the government have kept the money; should overall taxes be cut; who should get the credit for the nation's biggest tax cut.