March 25, 1999 - Two million Muslims from around the world are in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca today for the annual pilgrimage known as Hajj. Muslims are obliged to participate in the Hajj rituals in Mecca at least once in their lives. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes talked with a Muslim man from Rochester who is making the Hajj for the first time.
March 25, 1999 - In the first of a series of reports, Mainstreet Radio's Brent Wolfe reports on the re-building of the trailer park in Le Center, after a devastating tornado a year ago.
March 26, 1999 - Internationally known Minneapolis architect Ralph Rapson discusses his 60 years of work, which is the focus of a major retrospective opening at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Weisman Art Museum. Tom Fisher, dean of the University of Minnesota College of Architecture, joins the conversation. Rapson and Fisher also answer listener questions.
March 26, 1999 - The Nicollet County Historical society had planned to organize a large exhibit on the tornado that ripped through St. Peter last march, but decided the town wasn't ready for it. Instead, they scaled back and have two small exhibits. Director Wayne Allen says many people in St. Peter are still rebuilding their lives and he says the Historical Society didn't think a big tornado exhibit would be tactful.
March 29, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from lobby of Nicollet Hotel in St Peter. Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion on efforts to re-build and preserve historic buildings with guests Judy Bell, of the St. Peter Heritage Preservation Commission; Charlie Nelson of the Minnesota Historical Society; and local residents.
March 29, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from lobby of Nicollet Hotel in St Peter. Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion on tornados and weather with Rich Naistat, of the National Weather Service; Mark Seeley, of the U of M and MPR; and Paul Douglas, of WCCO-TV.
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.