November 15, 1999 - The United States Supreme Court ruled today that it will not review a state antitrust case involving the Minnesota Twins. The decision effectively ends the Minnesota Attorney General's investigation into whether the Twins illegally tried to pressure lawmakers into subsidizing a new ballpark by threatening to move the team.
November 16, 1999 - Cass Gilbert is considered Minnesota's most famous architect, he got his start constructing mansions for St. Paul's elite along with churches, and ultimately, the state capitol. After establishing himself, he set out for New York, where he designed the Woolworth building, and the United States Supreme Court building. Since there has been very little published about Gilbert's EARLY work, the local Cass Gilbert Society is sponsoring a series of talks to expose the public to some of his lesser-known buildings. This evening, Cass Gilbert Society founder Tom Blanck will talk about Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, at the base of Ramsey Hill in St. Paul. Blanck gave me a tour of the church which he describes as a collection of various styles and periods.
November 16, 1999 - MPR’s Shirley Idelson profiles Minnesota's grape growers, who are experiencing a boom. Producers say 1999 season has resulted in a record harvest. While grapes are still a tiny portion of the state's agricultural economy, high prices and a strong market for wine means expansion for this cottage industry.
November 16, 1999 - Farmers from Minnesota and the Dakotas are meeting today in Fargo with their Canadian counterparts. Organizers say this "farm summit" conference is unusual because farmers will do the talking and politicians the listening.
November 16, 1999 - When the Federal government started issuing Social Security cards five decades ago, some people worried the Social Security number would evolve into an all-purpose, national identification system. They were right. These days, the number tracks everything from college students to video-store customers, and it's virtually impossible to get by without one. Still, many Americans resist it, believing the number has the power to unlock personal information. Privacy experts say people are right to guard their Social Security numbers, but they also warn that keeping the number secret is no guarantee of privacy.
November 16, 1999 - Across the globe the average temperature has been slowly but steadily rising. For years now scientists, citizens and industry experts have argued about the problem of global warming, first of all whether it exists, and then what to do abouyt it. This week in Grand Forks people from around the region have gathered to talk about climate change in the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region and how people can change the global warming trend.
November 17, 1999 - Several hundred IBM employees packed a Rochester school auditorium last night to discuss the company's recent change in pension plans, which many employees say hurts long serving workers. Senator Paul Wellstone attended to express his support for the workers, while Rod Grams was content to send an aide. Appearances by several other candidates demonstrated the likelihood that pensions will be an issue in upcoming campaigns.
November 17, 1999 - A proposal to temporarily halt mergers in agribusiness, put forth on the Senate floor by Minnesota's Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone, went down in clear defeat today. But the issue is far from dead on Capitol Hill. Emily Harris reports from Washington.
November 17, 1999 - This week, MPR is reporting on threats to personal privacy in the digital age in The Surveillance Society. In the workplace, the exploding use of computer networks, e-mail and the internet, and other digital technologies have made it easy for companies to monitor their employees. And a growing number of employers are starting to keep tabs on workers. But the results can lead to serious problems for management and labor.
November 17, 1999 - Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Criminals are using readily available personal information to steal billions of dollars, and make life miserable for hundreds of thousands of Americans. It's a crime that can be easy to commit, and very difficult to solve.