September 17, 1999 - Doctors at the Mayo Clinic are reporting dramatic successes with an experimental treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. Some patients suffering from acute MS episodes, seem to respond better to plasma exchanges than the usual drugs. While fewer than half of the patients they treated got better, researchers say their study offers hope and some hints about the causes of MS.
September 20, 1999 - The Minnesota Vikings stumbled yesterday, losing their home opener to the Oakland Raiders 22 to 17. Players and coaches seemed to shrug off the loss, but many fans were clearly upset by the team's performance.
September 20, 1999 - The state's largest school district is coping with another large wave of new immigrants. Minneapolis school officials say the fastest growing segment of their enrollment remains recent arrivals, who speak little if any English. Nearly three weeks after the start of classes, immigrant students are still showing up to register.
September 21, 1999 - Minnesota has about two weeks to appeal a preliminary federal decision to punish the state for failing to do enough to prevent teen smoking. Last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala recommended the state lose about eight million dollars in chemical abuse money because it hasn't met goals it set for itself to reduce teen smoking. Tom Moss is Deputy Commisioner of the State Human Services Department. He says Minnesota has a good long term anti-smoking campaign in place, but just hasn't seen the quick results the federal government is looking for:
September 21, 1999 - A Senate committee hearing in Washington today focuses on a controversial pension plan that many large corporations have adopted or are considering. Recently IBM employees launched a campaign against the company's switch from a traditional defined-benefit plan which rewards long service, to a cash-balance plan favoring younger, more mobile workers. As Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports, IBM workers from Rochester testify at today's hearings bolstered by recent victories.
September 21, 1999 - El Salvador made daily headlines in the 1980s during the country's bloody 12-year civil war, especially the government's 'death squads'. Today, one former member of the country's notorious Treasury Police, Rene Hurtado, begins a three day deportation hearing in Bloomington. Hurtado gained attention for speaking out --in Minnesota and nation-wide-- against US involvment in his country's civil war.
September 21, 1999 - A survey of farmers in Swift County in west central Minnesota shows that agriculture is rapidly becoming a landlord-tenant system rather than the familiar independent family farm. That trend has accelerated as farmers economic problems intensify. The survey and what it means for the local economy will be discussed tonight at a meeting in Benson as county officials look for ways to keep farmers in business.
September 21, 1999 - Northwest Airlines says it plans to cut back on flights around New Year's eve NOT because it fears Y2K computer problems but because of decreased demand for travel. Today at the Minneapolis St.Paul International Airport officials with the industry association that represents major airlines held a news conference in hopes of assuring travelers it'll be safe to fly in the New Year.
September 21, 1999 - Minneapolis police are trying to find out if the killing of two teenage boys over the weekend is gang related.
September 22, 1999 - The accordian is seldom seen as cutting edge. For many it's an instrument deeply rooted in the past. But for a North Dakotan Family living just west of Bismark the accordian is a passport to the future... which has taken its members all over the country, and now they are looking to make their fortune with their accordians at home.