October 29, 1999 - The U.S. Forest Service has unveiled new planning regulations which emphasize public participation, long-range planning, and sustainability as priorities for national forests. Agency officials visited Duluth Thursday for one of 23 meetings around the country seeking public comment on the rules. Conservation groups have greeted the proposal with cautious enthusiasm, while members of the timber industry and motorized recreation groups are skeptical.
October 29, 1999 - The balance of power on Duluth's school board could be about to change. Tuesday's election has major implications for the three Duluth schools run by the Edison Project, a private New York-based company, and charter schools in general. Several candidates strongly oppose those options, and the new school board must vote next spring on whether to renew the company's charter. The election has sparked a bitter debate between pro-Edison candidates, and those candidates endorsed by labor unions.
October 14, 1999 - Duluth's Young at Heart record store has been described as a popular music mecca, a time machine, and a Valentine to vinyl. Duluth resident Richard Wozniak dedicated his life to the store, serving up pop music platters to the youngsters of the city since the late 50's. But Wozniak is in declining health and has moved to a senior citizens' home. After 43 years the store is closed and Wozniak's niece is seeking buyers for the massive record collection. Grateful customers and friends say Young at Heart was a place like no other, and will be sorely missed.
October 6, 1999 - The legal turmoil around Donald Blom continued in Carlton today, with judges and defense lawyers seeking to have each other removed from his case. Judge Dale Wolf went one step further, seeking to have the public defender boss Fred Friedman removed from his JOB. Motions and appeals are mounting over who should represent Blom in his trial for the kidnapping and murder of Katie Poirier. And in the middle of the wrangling Minneapolis lawyer Anthony Torres, one of Blom's former attorny's, is back on the scene, although he says he doesn't know for how long.
September 23, 1999 - correct version Donald Blom's story took another twist in Carlton today when Blom declined to enter a plea to charges of first-degree murder in the death of Katie Poirier. The case is now headed to a jury trial, still several months away. Blom has confessed to killing Poirier, as part of a plea agreement. That agreement collapsed and, so the confession will likely be inadmissable as evidence. Poirier's friends and relatives say the latest series of negotiations has left them bewildered and upset.
September 16, 1999 - Duluth's Edison charter schools are expanding into three locations this fall, providing spots for a total of 800 students. Their parent company, Edison Schools, Incorporated, a for-profit firm based in New York, is expanding nationally too. This year Edison will operate 77 schools around the U.S. Edison promises better education, But critics say the firm's ability to improve student test scores is still unproven. The company's decision last month to make an initial public offering will likely bring even more scrutiny to its controversial enterprise.
September 13, 1999 - In tomorrow's election primary, West Duluth voters will narrow the number of people seeking to replace the late Representative Willard Munger at the state legislature. Six candidates are vying for the seat. The character of the campaign has varied by political party, with some candidates getting personal... and others offering a unified voice.
September 10, 1999 - Hundreds of people filled the pews of Moose Lake's Hope Lutheran Church last night for a special prayer service for Katie Poirier and her family. The church has served as the headquarters in the search for Poirier since her disappearance from a Moose Lake convenience store last May. Wednesday the Poiriers learned Donald Blom confessed to kidnapping and killing their daughter, and the search headquarters became instead a place for grief and consolation.
September 9, 1999 - Members of the Poirier talked to the press today, less than 24 hours after Donald Blom confessed to killing 19 year old Katie Poirier. More facts about the case also emerged, including Bloms willingness to talk with investigators about other killings where he is a suspect.
September 9, 1999 - What exactly prompted Donald Blom to confess to the kidnapping and killing of Katie Poirier is unclear. But after more than two months in prison, Blom gave a statement to authorities yesterday in which he confessed he kidnapped Poirier and said the human remains found on his property are hers. Blom's attorneys discouraged him from making the plea agreement, since he'll still likely face life in prison without parole. But Blom said he wants to get the matter behind him.