August 14, 2000 - Dutcher speaks at Democratic National Convention about how she switched from Republican to Democrat.
August 7, 2000 - The Minneapolis police are asking anyone with information in the shooting death of 11-year old Kevin Brewer to come forward. Brewer was caught by stray bullets last week when a fight errupted at a park in the Jordan, neighborhood in North Minneapolis. Police are investigating, but haven't made any arrests in the case. Captain Rich Stanek is supervising the investigation. He says that the investigation is intense.
August 7, 2000 - Mendota Heights native Tom Mal-CHOW already has the world record in the 200-meter butterfly. Now, he has his sights on an Olympic gold medal. He'll take the first step toward that goal this week at the U-S Olympic Swimming trials in Indianapolis, Indiana. At 19 years old, Malchow was the youngest member of the U-S swimming team at the Atlanta Olympics four years ago. He brought home a silver medal. Now, a seasoned 23-year old, Malchow says setting the world record puts him in a great position going into the trials: (or -- setting the world record was an amazing experience)
August 4, 2000 - The Vikings open their preseason play at the Metrodome tomorrow night, with a game against the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper will make his first start and is eagar to prove he can lead the team to a winning season. Jeff Agrest is an editor at pro-sports weekly. He says the crowd at tomorrow's game won't be dissappointed:
August 3, 2000 - Some big-name performers have found a way to get out of paying sales taxes on concert tickets when their tours stop in Minnesota. Tina Turner, Metallica and The Judds are among the acts to discover that allowing a non-profit group to sponsor their show can save tens of thousands of dollars. A state law says events put on by non-profit groups aren't subject to state and local sales taxes. The revenue lost to the state is in the millions of dollars. State auditor Judi Dutcher says the exemption was originally intended to make it easier for non-profit organizations to sponsor events.
August 2, 2000 - A new online venture hopes to cash in on the slow lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Autotabsonline-dot-com is offering to process license tabs renewal on the internet for a fee of $4.95. It takes about five minutes to sign up. Ron Anderson is partner in the company, which is based in Pequot Lakes. He is betting Minnesotan's will jump at the chance to save time.
August 2, 2000 - Minnesota farmers appear to be headed for another bumper crop. The weekly crop report says most crops, including corn, soybeans and spring wheat are healthy and maturing fast. Tom Rothman is the Farm director of Minnesota Farm Network. He's in Redwood falls for Farmfest, a trade fair and policy forum that draws farmers from across the state. Despite the good harvest forecast, Rothman says even the healthiest crops in the state could use some rain.
August 2, 2000 - The Republican National Convention re-convenes for its third day later tonight when the party's vice-presidential candidate, Dick Cheney, will address the delegates. Meanwhile, across town, an independent "Shadow Convention" is competing for attention. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has an update from Philadelphia.
August 1, 2000 - Neighborhoods activists are gathering together tonight to celebrate National Night Out, a movement dedicated to lowering crime rates by strengthening ties between neighbors. Thirty-two million people participated across the country last year. Lynn Norgren, community block club leader for the Hawthorne neighborhood, says that her block will be playing goofy-golf and croquet, and barbequing.
July 27, 2000 - The National Weather Service has classifed the tornado that hit Granite Falls on Tuesday as an F-4, meaning it reached approximately 200 miles an hour at its top speed. The funnel was on the ground for nine miles. It killed one person, destroyed 41 homes and damaged up to 350 homes. Craig Edwards, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, was on the team that has spent the last two days assessing the tornado's force.