July 1, 1999 - The Minnesota Zoo has announced plans to build a four and a half million dollar exhibit honoring the family farm. Zoo officials say the farm will help city kids better understand the importance of agriculture. Critics say it looks like another money-losing venture for the state facility.
July 1, 1999 - Reports in the British press say Twin Cities based Control Data Systems is being sold to British Telecommunications, Britain's largest telephone company. There has been no official confirmation of the buyout. But an announcement is expected at a news conference scheduled for this afternoon in Minneapolis . Control Data Systems is the smaller of two companies resulting from the split of the original Control Data corporation in 1992. The old firm was a world leader in the manufacture of mainframe computers and was central to Minnesota's evolution as a center of high technology.
July 1, 1999 - Farmers gathered in Thief River Falls today to share their concerns with Minnesota Ag Commissioner Gene Hugoson and other officials. Heavy spring rains continuing into early summer have prevented farmers from planting millions of acres in northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. For many area farmers it's another in a string of bad years and it may be the last straw for hundreds. Farmers say federal disaster aid is the only thing that will keep them going another year.
July 1, 1999 - A new poll commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and KARE-TV shows significant opposition to ballpark plans in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. Roughly two-thirds of respondents in both cities object to current proposals to use tax dollars to finance a new ballpark for the Minnesota Twins. Stadium supporters on both sides of the river say they are not surprised by the findings, but they still believe a stadium package could be crafted in the public interest.
July 1, 1999 - The man accused of kidnapping Katie Poirier now faces federal charges as a convicted felon in possession of firearms. If convicted Donald Blohm will face a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years in prison, with the possibility of life. Investigators also announced today they found human remains at a search of Bloms property near Moose Lake.
July 1, 1999 - The sports facilities commission is left with a Metrodome that neither the Twins nor the Vikings want to call home. Dennis Alfton is the director of operations for the Commission. He says the Commission knows the Vikings have been unhappy with the dome for some time.
July 2, 1999 - The Fourth of July is a mere four days away -- that means small-town parades, back-yard barbeques, and, yes, fireworks. Fireworks have been illegal in the state since 1941, but each year Minnesotans flock to Wisconsin and return with bottle rockets, sparklers, and firecrackers. Governor Jesse Ventura says they should be able to make those same purchases here at home. But others warn legalizing fireworks will only lead to more accidents and injuries.
July 2, 1999 - Even as cost estimates for a proposed light rail transit system rise, Minneapolis and St. Paul residents continue to show strong support for the idea. A new poll commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and KARE-TV shows well over two thirds of those responding to the survey support light rail.
July 2, 1999 - Minnesota Twins officials have thrown their support behind St. Paul efforts to build the team a new ballpark. Mayor Norm Coleman had said he needed a commitment from the team before he asked St. Paul voters approve a .5% sales tax increase to pay for the project.
July 2, 1999 - First Lady Terry Ventura took over as host of Governor Ventura's weekly radio show today. The talk radio rookie dedicated about half of her debut to discussing stress-management with an chiroprator, then moved on to the farm crisis.