August 26, 1999 - The Duluth media market has a new player. Red River Broadcasting of Fargo has bought one television station and four radio stations in recent months. The move gives Duluth its first local Fox-TV affiliate -- plus a strong group of radio stations to help promote it. The company's entry into Duluth broadens the public's programming choices but will also heat up competition for advertising sales.
August 26, 1999 -
August 26, 1999 - A Goodhue County judge set bail today for Michelle Swanson and her boyfriend, Dale Jenson. Jenson is accused of kidnapping Michelle's 3 year old daughter, Jessica, in 1995 and police believe he killed the girl. Swanson is charged with being an accomplice after the crime. Authorities are examining the remains of what appears to be a young child they found yesterday at the site where they say Jenson told them he dumped the body. But Jenson's lawyer says his confession and the evidence of the body may have to be thrown out if police denied his right to an attorney during the interrogation.
August 26, 1999 - Searchers looking for the body of three year old Jessica Swanson found skeletal remains wrapped in a sheet yesterday evening at a site about ten miles from her former Cannon Falls home. Authorities arrested Swanson's mother and her boyfriend yesterday morning in connection with Jessica's disappearance four years ago and the Goodhue County Sheriff says the boyfriend confessed to killing the girl and led investigators to the site where they unearthed the remains.
August 27, 1999 - Northwest Airlines flight attendants have REJECTED a tentative contract agreement by a wide margin. The Teamsters union announced the results of the ballot last night in Detroit, home to Northwest's largest hub. The union and the airline say they're hopeful a new agreement can be reached without work interuptions like the pilot's strike which shut down the airline a year ago.
August 27, 1999 - A Goodhue County judge set bail yesterday for Michelle Swanson and her boyfriend, Dale Jenson. Jenson is accused of kidnapping Michelle's 3 year old daughter, Jessica, in 1995 and police believe he killed the girl. Swanson is charged with being an accomplice after the crime. Authorities are examining the remains of what appears to be a young child they found Wednesday at the site where they say Jenson told them he dumped the body. But Jenson's lawyer says his confession and the evidence of the body may have to be thrown out if police denied his right to an attorney during the interrogation.
August 30, 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.” This segment is the the story of Rhoda Emery, a young woman who thought she would never make it as a schoolteacher, but ended up dedicating 50 years to the profession.
August 30, 1999 - The comfort level in many schools changed forever last April when 14 students and a teacher died in Colorado's Columbine High School. The school year ended last spring under a cloud of fear and confusion. Threats and rumors of violence disrupted the routines in many Minnesota schools. Most Minnesota students return to school this week, and school administrators say they're trying hard to assure parents their children will be safe.
August 30, 1999 - Coach Ventura returned to the football field today. The governor is beginning his fifth year volunteering as the conditioning coach for the Champlin Park Rebels. Last season, Ventura managed to keep up his duties, even as he campaigned for governor. The Rebels made it to the Class 5-A championship game, where they lost to Woodbury. Tim Herman is Champlin Park's head football coach. He says he was surprised Governor Ventura could set aside the time to come back this year.
August 30, 1999 - Rural Minnesota still lags behind the metro area when it comes to internet access. According to a new Minnesota Public Radio/Pioneer Press poll, 61-percent of metro residents compared with 47-percent of greater Minnesotans have access to the internet. Overall, 55-percent of state residents use the information super highway, a rate slightly higher than the national average. Bill Bomash, Information Technology Leader for the University of Minnesota's Extension Service has been trying to close the gap between Minnesota's metro and rural areas. He says cost is becoming less of a barrier.