December 4, 2000 - NOTE: dated reference in story... A group of La Crosse, Wisconsin residents and city officials is scheduled to make a decision today (Monday) about what to do with a popular city landmark that's fallen into disrepair. It will cost tens of thousands of dollars to shore up the concrete statue "Hiawatha." But some critics say the statue represents an outdated and offensive view of Native Americans that the city should get of. Mainstreet Radio's Art Hughes reports.
October 30, 2000 - Republican Vice Presidential candidate Dick Cheney focused on education at a campaign appearance today (MONDAY) in Rochester. The stop at a Catholic high school comes at a time when polls show the Republican presidential ticket within site of winning Minnesota for the first time since 1972. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
October 23, 2000 - Voters in southeastern Minnesota face a rematch of the 1996 congressional race between incumbant Gil Gutknecht (GOOT-nekt) and challenger Mary Rieder (REE-der). Four years ago the candidates fought a fierce battle costing a record 1.5-million dollars. Rieder came within five-and-a-half percentage points of unseating Gutknecht. Both sides are again spending considerable amounts of money, but Gutknecht appears to have a strong hold on the seat as he ends his third term. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports:
October 9, 2000 - There was a time when a retiring farmer could count on his children to take over the business and carry on the family tradition. But farming is an unattractive career choice in Minnesota compared to many more urban occupations. But a program sponsored by the Land Stewardship Project is making small strides bringing new farmers to the state. Mainstreet Radio's Art Hughes reports. {Dairy farmer Dan French clearly loves what he does. On a breezy autumn day he turns a nozzle to fill a stock tank with water and spends a few silent moments just watching the thirsty Holsteins dip their noses in for a drink... (sound: thirsty cows)
September 27, 2000 - I'm Art Hughes in Rochester. While the DM&E project raises significant questions for communities all along the route, Rochester has consistently been the epicenter of opposition. Most cities---large and small---along the tracks have signed agreements with the railroad. But Rochester has steadfastly refused to comprimise.
September 13, 2000 - A New Ulm school board candidate says his conviction for a sex offense sixteen years ago should not prevent him from running for office. Small business owner Ben Thompson is one of twelve candidates for four school board positions in New Ulm. A recent Minnesota law bans convicted sex offenders from running for school board. The law was written by a New Ulm legislator after Thompson ran and lost in a 1998 school board race. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports. {Ben Thompson says he's a responsible citizen of New Ulm concerned about the state of his local school district. The 55-year-old proprietor of a lawn care and snow removal business says he served his time for two counts of sexual abuse and the state has returned his right to vote and hold public office.
September 12, 2000 - A new pest discovered in Minnesota in recent weeks is a significant threat for soybean farmers. An infestation of aphids previously seen only in Asian countries and Austrailia is spreading across the midwest. Farming experts are scrambling to learn what it means for a crop that has so far enjoyed a virtually pest-free existance in the United States. Mainstreet Radio's Art Hughes reports. (sound---soybeans, crickets)
September 8, 2000 - {I'm Art Hughes in Rochester. Today U-S Senate candidate Mike Ciresi launched his final campaign push before the primary election. Over the next four days Ciresi will attend pancake breakfasts, appear on radio talk shows and do what he calls 'mainstreeting'--shaking hands with voters in public places.
August 18, 2000 - About 10-thousand Al Gore supporters showed up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin this morning, where the Democratic presidential nominee and his running mate Joseph Lieberman embarked on a four-day riverboat trip to kick off the post-convention phase of their campaign. The candidates spiced their speeches with Midwestern references in their bid to both keep up the momentum from the convention, and to bolster lagging support in states that Democrats used to be able to rely on. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes has the first of two reports from LaCrosse.
August 9, 2000 - Citizens in Rochester are gearing up for the expected release of a key environmental document regarding the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad's expansion plan. It's the most important event so far in the contentious fight over plans to expand rail lines in Wyoming, South Dakota and southern Minnesota for coal trains. Rochester leaders are bitterly opposed to the plan and have formed a new group dedicated to stop it. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports the renewed opposition effort has considerable political might which sparks concerns from many rural residents who aren't included.