January 21, 1999 - Five companies are vying for the right to develop one of the Twin Cities' largest and most controversial pieces of real estate. The land on Minneapolis ' near north side was the object of a housing discrimination case. A $117 million out of court settlement included demolishing two public housing projects and redevelopment of the land. But a major component of the case - replacing the public housing that was demolished - is behind schedule.
January 21, 1999 - Criticism is mounting over the new Camp Ripley Adult Work Program. The legislature created the program last year as a low-cost alterative to jailing low-level male offenders. Many county officials and judges complain the program is a carbon-copy of their LOCAL corrections programs. And they're upset the state is mandating they participate in and pay for sending prisoners to Camp Ripley.
January 22, 1999 - The Mayor of East Grand Forks Minnesota is proposing his city change its name. Lynn Stauss says his city is always confused with its larger neighbor to the west, Grand Forks, North Dakota. Stauss says the confusion became a real problem during the disastrous floods of 1997.
January 22, 1999 - The Minnesota House has voted to allow snowmobiles with studs back on public lands and rights-of-way. The vote is a victory for snowmobile groups, which complained that a ban on snowmobile studs passed last year has made the sport more dangerous and has hurt tourism. But some Democrats say the House is giving in to the snowmobile groups too quickly.
January 22, 1999 - A House committee today approved legislation banning lawmakers from lobbying at the state capitol immediately after they leave office. The so-called "revolving door" bill is the pet project of the new Republican Speaker, Steve Sviggum, who says it will help "clean up" life at the capitol. But the bill's critics say the it attempts to fix a problem that doesn't exist.
January 22, 1999 - Many consumers recognize their homeowner and auto insurance premiums are based on risk; if you've totaled 10 cars in the past 10 years you can expect to pay higher auto insurance rates. But insurance companies are using another tool to set rates and in some cases, deny coverage: your credit rating. Attorney General Mike Hatch wants the practice stopped and will propose legislation later today prohibiting insurance companies from using credit information.
January 22, 1999 - The amount of electricity produced by wind power will continue to grow in Minnesota under a decision yesterday by the state Public Utilities Commission. The PUC ordered Northern States Power to double its wind capability as the utility searches for the additional power it will need to meet growing demand.
January 25, 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, a look back at the Battle of Sugar Point…a fight between the U.S. Government and Chippewa Tribe over timber.
January 25, 1999 - With last week's release of a federal report indicating driver error was to blame in last December's Holidazzle accident, the focus is now turning to the city of Minneapolis 's potential liability. A police officer was behind the wheel of the van when it accelerated into a crowd injuring eleven people and killing two others.
January 25, 1999 - Twin cities based 3M today reported 4th quarter and year end profits that represented a decline from last year's results. Even so, the profits were better than Wall Street analysts expected, and 3M's stock closed up 5 percent after trading even higher during the day.