August 8, 2000 - While the midwestern economy has grown strongly in recent years, it still lags other regions because of labor shortages and the farm crisis. Legislators from 11 states have been airing problems and seeking solutions at the Midwestern Legislative Conference this week in Minneapolis. Experts told them one way to help the region catch up is to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
August 8, 2000 - The St. Paul school board voted unanimously Monday to terminate its sponsorship of the Right Step Academy charter school. The board says because of its financial mismanagement the school lacks the means to implement its own improvement plan. Academy officials asked the board to keep its doors open, and teachers and students testified the school has succeeded with hard-to-serve students. But board members say with school just weeks away, they lack confidence the school could repair its problems in time. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
August 3, 2000 - St. Thomas University is one of the oldest landmarks in the Summit Avenue neighborhood of St. Paul, but residents say the university's planned expansion would hurt the area's historic character, as well as their quality of life. The university wants to build a series of academic and residential buildings along two blocks of Summit. About 200 homeowners attended the university's unveiling of revisions to its plan Wednesday, meant to appease their concerns, but most weren't persuaded. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
July 19, 2000 - Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig visited the Twin Cities Tuesday in the wake of a report calling for baseball's "haves" to give more to the "have-nots." Appearing before the Twins-sponsored group Minnesotans for Major League Baseball, Selig promised changes will be implemented to ease the disparities between rich and poor teams and to make the game more competitive. But Selig mostly repeated his familiar message that the Minnesota Twins must have a publicly funded ballpark to survive -- a message the newly formed committee says it's not yet ready to consider. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
July 18, 2000 - Minnesota's D-F-L candidates for U.S. Senate faced some of the toughest questions of the campaign Monday when they met with activists and retired politicians in their own party at a Minneapolis drug store. A group known as "Tom's Salon" for Schneider Drug owner Tom SenGupta has been meeting at the drug store for the past twelves years to argue thorny policy issues. About 45 people crowded into the drug store's awkward spaces between greeting cards and figurines to put the candidates through their paces. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this report.
July 10, 2000 - Sara Jane Olson celebrated the judge's removal of her gag order Sunday, appearing at a benefit concert for her legal defense fund in Minneapolis. She blasted the conspiracy charge against her as an attempt by prosecutors to "rig" her trial, and said the 25-year-old allegations amount to settling an old score. Attendance was light for the benefit, which organizers blamed in part on the city forcing them to change locations on short notice. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
July 5, 2000 - Candidates vying for retiring Democratic Congressman Bruce Vento's seat hit St. Paul's festivals and parades over July Fourth, taking what could be seen as a break from the fundraising that has occupied them in recent weeks. D-F-L candidates say the race hasn't grabbed voters attention yet, but they hope by meeting and greeting citizens they can build support in time for the party's primary election September 12. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
June 30, 2000 - billion gallons of groundwater into the Minnesota River over the next two years while it builds a series of airport tunnels. The board took no action on the permit, but may eventually require a number of conditions be met to address citizen concerns. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
June 27, 2000 - In honor of what would have been former governor Rudy Perpich's 72nd birthday today , a long-sought-after portrait of Perpich and his wife Lola will be unveiled at the state Capitol. The unconventional portrait was rejected in Perpich's lifetime, but subsequent action by the legislature paved the way for the couple's likeness to hang amidst the solitary portraits of governors past. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
June 26, 2000 - Jim Gibson will formally launch his campaign as the Independence Party's endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate today at the state capitol, joining the sizeable group of challengers for Republican incumbant Senator Rod Grams. Gibson won his party's endorsement for U.S. Senate with ease, but faces a daunting race ahead. The Edina-based software developer faces at least two competitors in his party primary, and party officials are hinting others may still enter the race. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.