July 27, 1997 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports outside All God’s Children’s Metropolitan Church, where picketers from Fred Phelps anti-gay group were met by hundreds of gay rights supporters. Attenddees at service included four of the DFL gubernatorial candidates.
July 28, 1997 - Gary Sudduth, the 44-year-old president of the Minneapolis Urban League died today. Sudduth... who is believed to have had a history of heart problems, collapsed while working out at the Northside YMCA. Friends and co-workers call Sudduth a far-sighted civil rights leader who understood the battle against racism is a long-term struggle.
July 29, 1997 - Minneapolis Mayoral candidates addressed a public forum today, called by some of the city's black leaders and north side residents. It was the FIRST time DFL-Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and her KEY challenger, Independent Barbara Carlson squared off in public since Carlson entered the race.
July 29, 1997 - There's not much dissent to be heard when it comes to the new agreement to cut taxes and balance the budget. Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott says it will mean a "new era of freedom" for Americans. It includes tax breaks that will mainly benefit families with children, students, and investors. President Clinton says it's "very, very good" for the country. At least three groups in Minnesota stand to benefit: legal immigrants, those on Medicare, and flood victims. The agreement includes a guarantee from the federal government to pick up more of flood recovery costs. FEMA's disaster aid formulas are population based, and Minnesota Mayors along the Red River had complained they were only getting 75-percent coverage, while their neighbors just across the water in North Dakota were getting 90-percent. The new budget agreement raises Minnesota aid to 90-percent, too. East Grand Forks mayor Lynn Stauss says extra help is extremely welcome news.
August 1, 1997 - With Roland Wilson accompanying him, Robert Robinson sang for the 1000 people at the funeral of Minneapolis Urban League president Gary Sudduth. The service was held at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis to accomodate a large crowd. Senator Paul Wellstone, Governor Arne Carlson and many other elected and public officials attended. So did contingents of black firefighters and police officers along with a broad cross section of business and neighborhood leaders. Among those remembering Sudduth, Minneapolis City Council member Jackie Cherryhomes, Burch Jones, the principal of North High School - Sudduth's high school, and his daughter Elisha Sudduth.
August 8, 1997 - The Blandings Turtle is never going to attract attention like an eagle can, or a timberwolf, or a peregrine falcon. Turtles personify the low profile; but Blandings turtles are nevertheless a threatened species here. Now, researchers at Camp Ripley are tracking the reptiles' movements -- and taking their temperatures -- in a two-year study they hope will improve the turtles' modest hold in Minnesota.
August 9, 1997 - Outside, inside or on a couch...wherever you find yourself--Weekend Edition film critic Rob Nelson says a movie should be showing nearby. First on Rob Nelson's list is The Uptown Rooftop Cinema--this event salutes Minnesota filmmakers The Coen Brothers.
August 16, 1997 - A St. Paul author is vying to become the next Tom Clancy. Vince Flynn's new book "Term Limits" is an espionage thriller set in Washington, DC. This self-published book is receiving a lot of attention--not bad for a guy who tended bar at O'Gara's by night so he could write by day.
August 21, 1997 - MPR’s John Biewen presents the second of two reports on how the growth of the black population is affecting race relations in the Twin Cities. Report includes commentary from residents, politicians, and academics.
August 29, 1997 - A coalition of black leaders in Minneapolis spoke out today on the latest developments in the police shooting of a Minneapolis teenager. 15-year-old Lawrence Miles Jr. was seriously wounded by police on August 16th when an officer thought the boy was aiming a gun at his partner. The weapon turned out to be a pellet gun. The Minneapolis Police department originally reported the boy had been shot in the chest, but the Minneapolis Fire Department contradicted that report, saying the boy was shot in the upper back. Today a group of black leaders called for an independent investigator and prosecutor to be appointed to the case, and brought in its own forensic pathologist to examine the boy.