February 16, 1998 - Jay Weiner reports from the Olympics in Nagano on men's hockey, Minnesota ski jumper, speed skater Amy Peterson, and women's figure skating.
February 16, 1998 - Today is President's Day, the day we honor the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. When Washington became President he appointed Alexander Hamilton as the first Secretary of the Treasury. These days politicians talk a lot about the importance of balancing the budget and reducing debt, but Hamilton had a different view. He called the national debt a blessing and Hamilton's Blessing is the name of a new book that looks at the role of the national debt through history. Author John Steele Gordon talked to Bob Potter about how this tradition of borrowing got started.
February 17, 1998 - The United States upset Canada 3-1 in the first ever women's Olympic ice hockey final earlier today. Sandra Whyte set up a pair of powerplay goals and ended the high drama with an empty net third score with eight seconds remaining to set off a wild and emotional U.S. celebration on the ice. Karyn Bye has been the leading scorer on the US team. She is also a native of River Falls, Wisconsin, where schoolkids and residents have been cheering her on for the last week. Patrick McCardle is the Principal at Greenwood Elementary School in River Falls and a good friend of Karyn Bye. He joins me now.
February 17, 1998 - When Norm Coleman officially announced his candidacy for governor on Sunday he said he would seek the endorsement of the Republican party and promised that he would not run in the primary if he didn't get the endorsement. Four out of the five republican candidates for governor have made that pledge at a time when many pundits were suggesting that the endorsement process had become almost meaningless in the political process. Carleton College Political Science professor Steven Schier discusses the current state of the endorsement process.; When Norm Coleman officially announced his candidacy for governor on Sunday he said he would seek the endorsement of the Republican party and promised that he would not run in the primary if he didn't get the endorsement. Four out of the five republican candidates for governor have made that pledge at a time when many pundits were suggesting that the endorsement process had become almost meaningless in the political process. Carleton College Political Science professor Steven Schier discusses the current state of the endorsement process.
February 18, 1998 - Last night the Norwood Young America School Board voted to fire teacher Robert Pannier who has been charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct. Meanwhile, The Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning says it will begin spot checking teachers' records and reviewing all new license applications in order to ease worries over teacher credentials. The department is responding to the revelation that Pannier forged his transcript to get a job. Commissioner Bob Wedl joins me now.
February 18, 1998 - A new airline will begin scheduling flights from the Twin Cities to Europe in April. Icelandair is announcing plans to offer service to England, Scandinavia and continental Europe with stops at its hub in Keflavik, Iceland. Northwest Airlines and its partner KLM already dominate Twin Cities-to-Europe routes. Joining me to discuss the new venture is Gunner Ecklund of Icelandair.
February 19, 1998 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports that Governor Carlson has asked Major League Baseball to give Minnesota one more chance…and one more year, to try to save the Twins. Debate continues at the Capitol on how that could happen.
February 19, 1998 - U-S athletes Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski are leading the field in the competition for the Olympic gold medal in women's figure skating after yesterday's short program. But it was a tough day for a couple of Minnesota athletes. Star Tribune writer and MPR commentator Jay Weiner is in Nagano covering the Games.
February 19, 1998 - While the stadium bill appears to be dead for now, Legislators are scrambling to keep other bills alive. All legislation must pass out of a policy committee in the House AND Senate by tomorrow. Lobbyist Maureen Shaver has been busy keeping track of it all. She represents many organizations including the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association and the Minnesota Trucking Association.
February 20, 1998 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on Canned Goods play and interviews playwright Silas Jones.