March 20, 2001 - When the Minnesota Twins last made a major push for a new ballpark, team officials argued they needed the facility to make them financially competitive with the rest of the league. In the four years since that effort failed at the Legislature, player salaries have risen so high that the team now concedes that revenue from a new ballpark alone won't balance their books.
March 19, 2001 - Legislators announcing a Twins stadium at the Capitol today (MONDAY) promise no public money would go into the 300-million dollar proposal. Even so, opponents are already lining up, objecting to a substantial state loan that wouldn't require the team to pay interest. The plan also lifts the sales tax burden for all businesses in and around the park. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
March 14, 2001 -
March 7, 2001 - An alternative to Napster-style file sharing that can be harmful to computer drives.
February 26, 2001 - The weekend's big winter storm prompted new snow emergency declarations in the Twin Cities. In Minneapolis the snow emergency comes on top of additional winter restrictions recently enacted because of the heavy snow accumulations. As Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports, the regulations have many residents wondering if there's anyplace left to park in Minneapolis.
February 15, 2001 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton kicked off her re-election campaign with a bus tour designed to highlight the successes of her administration and her plans for a third term.
February 9, 2001 - MPR’s Art Hughes provides a summary report on Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton’s 2001 State of the City address. the mayor highlighted successful city initiatives, lower unemployment and crime, downtown construction, and a strong arts in downtown.
January 29, 2001 - Two notable tragedies last year in which people struggling with mental illness were shot and killed by Minneapolis police, have prompted the department to consider key changes in training. A bill scheduled to be introduced this week would help bring those changes about. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
January 17, 2001 - Officials from around the state broke ground today (Wednesday) on the eleven-and-a-half mile Hiawatha light rail line in Minneapolis. The ceremony marked the start of construction on the massive $675 million dollar transit project which begin carrying passengers in about three years. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
January 16, 2001 - The Twin Cities' Metropolitan Airports Commission took a small step today (Tuesday) toward building a link with the Rochester airport as a way to ease congestion. The commission agreed to spend 25-thousand dollars to see if the idea has any support. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports. {Rochester airport officials have been busy in recent years developing their facility. One runway was recently lengthened to 75-hundred feet and another is scheduled to be expanded to nine thousand feet to accomodate larger planes. Rochester has a new cargo facility, the main terminal is being expanded and just this week TWA began flights to St. Louis. Rochester Senator Shiela Kiscaden appeared before the Minneapolis-St.Paul Airports Commission to begin what she calls a 'formal alliance' to see whether Rochester and the Twin Cities can compliment each other's air traffic needs.