November 20, 1997 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles the Gay 90’s and the unanticipated consequences of non-gay crowd changing the scene at Minneapolis bar. Roberts interviews individuals about the reasons and its social impact to LGBTQ community.
December 9, 1997 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on the disturbing history of Canton Insane Asylum…and of the dead from institution that are now buried in the middle of city's Hiawatha golf course.
December 9, 1997 - The McKnight Foundation is issuing more than 15 million dollars in grants to help move welfare recipients in Minnesota into work. The foundation is funding twenty-one partnerships around the state made up of local employers, community groups and branches of government. The money is intended to help an estimated 34 thousand welfare recipients get job training, child care, transportation and other services they need to find and hold down a job. The Headwaters Regional Development Commission in Bemidji was the first partnership to receive its grant last September. David Hengel is the Economic Development Director.
December 12, 1997 - Nowadays the Lake Mille Lacs region is best known for its walleye fishing, but since the days of Father Hennepin and before, it has had immense historical and archaeological significance...and as a result it's one of the most studied areas in the state. Archaeologists first explored the region back in the 1880s and crews have continued to visit to dig and explore ever since. Despite all the work, there has yet to be a book or single source which brings all this research together...that is, until now.
December 12, 1997 - Capitol DFL Legislative leaders today, accused Governor Carlson of threatening to undermine the state's lawsuit against tobacco companies. Senator Majority Leader Roger Moe and House Speaker Phil Carruthers reject Carlson's call for a settlement in the case.
December 12, 1997 - At the beginning of the month, the FBI began testing out a DNA registry designed to catch sex offenders by matching their genetic profiles to DNA found at crime scenes. The National DNA Index System already contains the genetic profiles of 75-thousand convicted felons and it's being tried out first in Minnesota and seven other states. 36 states already have their own DNA registries, but the national system is intended to help catch offenders who cross state lines. But some concerns remain about the fallibility of DNA matching. We talk to John Sheehy, a defense attorney and partner with Meshbesher and Spence, and prosecutor Steve Redding, Assistant Hennepin County Attorney.
December 12, 1997 - One hundred and fifty-seven collisions occurred at railroad crossings last year in Minnesota. That's the seventh worst record in the country. The Minnesota Department of Transportation and 3M are collaborating on a system intended to prevent crashes between trains and other vehicles. It's a warning device that can be installed in a car, bus or truck and is triggered by a radio signal from a transmitter located at the crossing. The system is being tested on school busses in Glencoe. We talk about it with Lynn Ihlenfeldt of 3M, one of the project managers.
December 17, 1997 - Minneapolis City officials now say there's hope of saving the historic Shubert Theater in downtown Minneapolis . The classic-revival style Shubert sits vacant on Block E across from the Target Center. City officials are leaning toward approving a retail/cineplex and parking complex on block E that can't accomodate the Shubert. But today, Council President Cherryhomes and Rebecca Yanish, executive director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency announced a possible solution to the development versus historic preservation fight.
December 19, 1997 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on Penumbra's Black Nativity. Every family has their holiday traditions, but few are as complex as one Minneapolis family, whose season revolves around the Penumbra Theatre's annual production.
December 25, 1997 - This PRI Special, “Voices of the West: A Cowboy Christmas,” presents a collection of thoughts, commentary, and music of the rural great west. Program is hosted by author Hal Cannon.