March 29, 1999 - To close out the millennium, Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered presents a look back at Minnesota life in 1900 via a 12-part series, entitled “A Minnesota Century.” In this segment…the story of Lincoln Fey.
March 30, 1999 -
April 1, 1999 - The University of Minnesota library is 12,500 books larger than it was yesterday. Former governor and University Regent Elmer Andersen contributed four truckloads of books to the U. An article in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune says Andersen has a history of donating rare and valuable books to his alma mater. Thomas Shaughnessy is University librarian.
April 1, 1999 - On this special date, MPR’s Amy Radil reports that the Duluth Port Authority is scrambling to respond to unconfirmed reports of whale sightings in the Duluth Ship Canal. Biologists speculate a scarce food supply has driven a whale far inland during the spring breeding season. Authorities are trying to determine whether the whale poses a shipping hazard and how the marine mammal made its lengthy journey.
April 6, 1999 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports the Minnesota Twins roster for 1999 season feature several unproven players who are new to Major League Baseball…the consequence of owner Carl Pohlad’s decision to slash the Twins' payroll over the winter. The move puts Twins management in the position of trying to raise interest in the team amid low expectations.
April 6, 1999 - If you step into a bookstore these days, chances are you'll encounter the Sunday morning talk shows in book form...former Clinton advisor George Stephanopolos is out with his tell-all about being a close Clinton aide. Newsweek's Michael Isikoff has written about his role as a reporter hot on the trail of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, and of course, Monica Lewinsky's book made quite a splash when it came out earlier this year. Washington Post book critic and columnist Jonathan Yardley is in Minneapolis for some speaking engagements. I asked him what he thinks of the latest round of inside-the-beltway books.
April 7, 1999 - The Minnesota Twins opened their 1999 season with a win, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 at the Metrodome. The victory comes amid low expectations for this year's team which includes a large number of rookies. 10 of the 25 names on team roster are new to Major League Baseball. MPR's Michael Khoo reports the lack of star power hasn't dampened fan enthusiasm.
April 7, 1999 - Behind the scenes, the Science Museum of Minnesota is awash in dollies, crates, and styrofoam packing material. Throughout 1999, museum curators and volunteers will pack hundreds of thousands of fossils and priceless objects to be shipped to a new home located along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. Most visitors won't notice a big change in the exhibit since museum curators are starting with items that are not currently on display. The exception though is the dinosaur exhibit. Already an 82-foot diplodocus and 30-foot triceratops stand headless. Paleontologist Andy Redline is directing the science museum's dinosaur move.
April 13, 1999 - MPR’s Eric Jansen reports on community complaints regarding Minneapolis Police Department’s CODEFOR program. Minneapolis’ mayor and police chief say CODEFOR has dramatically reduced crime in the city. Critics and civil rights groups claim the computer-assisted program that targets neighborhoods based on crime patterns encourages police harassment and makes some residents feel like prisoners in their own homes.
April 14, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura visits the MPR studios to talk about his first 100 days in office and answer listener questions.