April 20, 1998 - The special session is over for the Minnesota Senate. It's approved the twelve million dollar social spending bill, and approved a bill to help out Warroad-based Marvin Windows with a change in the state law governing certain kinds of lawsuits. Marvin asked for the change to make it easier to win a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against one of its suppliers...a lawsuit company officials say they NEED to win. The House has yet to take up either bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste joins us now from our state capitol bureau.
April 21, 1998 - Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson reports that while farmers across the region are getting their machinery lined up for an early start on spring planting, in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, hundreds of farmers are lining equipment up to be sold at auction. Some are angry…but many are relieved.
April 22, 1998 - Gustavus Adolphus students are adjusting to trailer-classrooms and Saturday classes. This is their first week back on campus, after what turned into a three week spring break, thanks to the tornadoes that struck their campus while they were gone. Karen Delgehausen, is a Gustavus Senior who spent her spring break touring with the college orchestra. Her off-campus house was so badly damaged it's already been torn down. But despite it all, she says it's good to be back.
April 22, 1998 - A new study finds the timing of menopause is probably a function of how long it takes a female to raise her offspring. The longer it takes to rear an infant, the earlier menopause sets in....which could be nature's way of making sure young are mature before their mother dies of old age. University of Minnesota Ecology Professor and study co-author, Craig Packer, based his findings on research on baboons and lions, two mammals that take a relatively long time to raise their young.
April 22, 1998 - Today's the last day of a special legislative session at the state capitol -- at least, that's the hope of most House members. The Senate wrapped up its special session work and went home two days ago, but the House has been caught up in a three-day partisan squabble over a $12-million-dollar social programs bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste joins us from the capitol bureau.
April 22, 1998 - Web work pays well, according to a new study by the American Electronics Association. The A-E-A says average salaries for Web-related jobs range from about $40,000 to $120,000 a year That's for positions such as electronic commerce manager, web publisher and graphic artist. Paula Silva is a Vice President for the A-E-A.
April 24, 1998 - MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews Dylan Hicks, a local songwriter. Hicks has always relied on his zany sense of humor to draw attention to himself and his music, but on his CD "Poughkeepsie" he is presenting a more serious side, and critics are responding favorably. Segment includes various music clips.
April 27, 1998 - The Minnesota State University faculty are one step closer to a strike. They've been involved in contract negotiations since last June. With six of the seven campuses reporting, 90% of those voting, have approved a strike. Dave Abel is with the Inter-Faculty Organization, the union representing the three thousand faculty at the Minnesota State Universities.
April 28, 1998 - As part of MPR's month-long series of programs and reports on "Religion in Everyday Life,” this program presents various reports, interviews and commentaries compiled from the series, and looks at the contemporary impact and influence of religion in America.
April 29, 1998 - MPR’s Todd Moe reports on a narration service known as 'audio description' being utilized at the Guthrie Theater. Audio describers provide information on things sighted theatergoers take for granted -- costumes, lighting effects and movement.