December 20, 1999 - Central High School in Pipestone, is one of the worst school buildings in the state. Several classrooms and the auditorium are closed by order of the fire marshal. In theory, everyone agrees the school is in bad shape and the consolidated district needs a new one. What they can't agree on is a plan for the new school, and if the town's agricultural-based economy can afford it. Residents vote tomorrow on a 20 million dollar bond referendum. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland says the issue that's divided the town, has also left students at Central thinking about the future.
December 20, 1999 - Only twelve days to Y2K. Do you know where your bottled water and ramen noodles are ? Your money? Do you know how to keep your computer happy? There are some things you can try to ward off the millennium bug, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon reports, you just might beat it by doing nothing at all.
December 20, 1999 - Cable television company Media One says it is now offering local telephone service to residents of twelve St. Paul suburbs.
December 20, 1999 - Minnesota's Mormons are celebrating a new temple in Oakdale. Once the temple is dedicated in January, Mormons approved by the bishop will be able to perform rituals they previously had to travel at least as far as Chicago to carry out.
December 21, 1999 - If someone has registered your trademarked name on the internet, you can now avoid court by taking the so-called "cybersquatter" to arbitration. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers--called ICANN-- has named two firms to arbitrate cases of cybersquatting. One of them is the Minneapolis -based National Arbitration Forum. Curtis Brown is the General Counsel.
December 21, 1999 - The Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad is planning to merge with the Canadian National Railway. Railroad officials say the merger will help freight users, but the announcement is worrying some grain shippers and regulators and drawing outright opposition from at least one U.S. Senator.
December 21, 1999 - The days of the independent country veterinarian are nearly at an end. The lone doctor has been replaced by large clinics, or "animal hospitals", businesses that do everything from treating sick animals to managing farms. As livestock operations become larger, the types of medical assistance they need have changed, leaving little room for a solitary doctor with an easy farm yard manner.
December 21, 1999 - Belle Plaine motorcycle manufacturer Excelsior Henderson plans to file today for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors. The company has ceased operations and layed off nearly all of its staff. Its creditors include Minnesota taxpayers.
December 21, 1999 - MPR’s Brent Wolfe reports on health experts at the Mayo Clinic embarking on an effort to cutting the fat in Olmsted County. They want to prove they can change the lifestyle of an entire community and decrease the rate of heart disease in the county.
December 21, 1999 - A special task force on Minnesota jury compensation issued its report to lawmakers today. The legislature ordered a study following reports of extreme financial hardship endured by some of the Minnesota tobacco trial jurors. But after studying the matter, the task force recommends Minnesota's juror pay should stay as is.