July 6, 1999 - One of the most respected lawyers in Minnesota has died. Solly Robins practiced law for more than 60 years in the state. He founded the firm that won the six-point-six billion dollar settlement in Minnesota's tobacco trial. Robins died yesterday, at the age of 86, from complications caused by a massive stroke he suffered earlier this year. He came from a poor immigrant family in St. Paul but went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota law school. In 1938, he formed the world-famous law firm now called Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi. Today, the firm has more than 250 lawyers in Minneapolis and six other major metropolitan areas. In 1995, Robins told Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Freisen why he chose to specialize in civil law.
July 12, 1999 - Minnesota's oldest serving lawmaker died Sunday. Eighty-eight-year-old Duluth DFLer Willard Munger was diagnosed with liver cancer this spring, in the middle of his 43rd year in the Minnesota House. No House member has ever served longer. Widely acknowledged as a leading state and national environmental leader, Munger was also deeply respected for his support of people and social issues.
July 26, 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.” This segment is a profile of the Mayo brothers.
August 30, 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.” This segment is the the story of Rhoda Emery, a young woman who thought she would never make it as a schoolteacher, but ended up dedicating 50 years to the profession.
September 13, 1999 - Former Twin Cities media mogul, Otto Silha died Saturday of a heart attack. He was 80 years old. Silha got his start at the Minnesota Daily newspaper. In 1940 he took a job as a copy editor at the former Minneapolis Star and eventually became chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Cowles Media, the former owner of the Star Tribune. Silha was involved in many things from city planning to the Republican party. But journalism was his first love. In his retirement, he helped found the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota, his alma mater. Director, Bill Babcock, says Sihla started the Center because he wanted the media to be more accountable.
September 27, 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.” This segment is the the story of a woman who had mixed success as a novelist but eventually found her voice in the character of Betsy, whose antics and adventures mirrored Maud's real-life childhood in Mankato at the turn of the century.
September 27, 1999 - Ron Offutt, aka Sultan of Spuds & the Lord of the Fries, grows more potatoes than anyone else in the world, and the potatoes are perfect for French fries. But his success has a price. Growing the perfect French fry has an environmental downside, as people in small towns near Offutt's potato farms have learned to their dismay.
October 8, 1999 - The men heading up the partnership to buy the twins are no strangers to professional sports. Glen Taylor owns the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Robert Naegele is managing partner of the Minnesota Wild hockey team.
October 21, 1999 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen profiles Calvin Griffith, former owner of the Minnesota, who passed away on October 20th, 1999. Report presents various remembrances from players and family.
October 28, 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.” This segment is the the story the notorious outlaw Cole Younger.