March 31, 1998 - People left homeless by the tornadoes in southern Minnesota are just beginning the process of finding a temporary place to live while their homes are repaired. Many are living in two shelters set up by the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Life in those shelters can be tedious and frustrating. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports on how residents at the shelter in Le Center are adapting. Dining room sound most of the residents eating lunch at the Salvation Army.
March 30, 1998 - Tornadoes caused considerable damage in the communities of Comfry and St. Peter as they skipped east across south central Minnesota last evening. Their last stop on the ground was in Le Center in Le Sueur County. Several businesses and residences in Le Center were badly damaged but residents feel lucky the town escaped with only two minor injuries. Today, residents of Le Center were busy cleaning up and as Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports, Hispanic agricultural workers in the town face the biggest loses. SOUND OF TRUCK YANKING A TOPPLED TRAILER OFF ANOTHER TRUCK.
March 26, 1998 - Residents of the southeastern Minnesota community of Spring Valley are trying to make sense of the news that one of the boys accused of shooting and killing five people in a Jonesboro, Arkansas school yard comes from their town. Residents find themselves dodging televisions crews and reporters while trying to understand how someone they knew could be involved in such a grisly incident. Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports. Mitchell Johnson went to school at Kingsland Elementary school and belonged to a cub scout pack with Debbie Biers son.
March 23, 1998 - Minnesota's gubernatorial candidates will be stepping in to tricky territory when they try to outline their education proposals, judging by comments at a recent Minnesota Public Radio/Star Tribune/KTCA TV citizens forum on education. Citizens complained that the state's education system isn't meeting the needs of today's children and demanded the next Governor do something about the problem. But many said the problem with schools is that theyre being micromanaged by the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports on the mixed messages and candidate questions that came out of the forum. TAG: Tune in to Midday this morning at 11 for more on education and the governor's race. We'd like to know what education qu
March 19, 1998 - When most of us get ill, we expect a doctor to be able to figure out what's making us sick. But in some rare cases, doctors are baffled. It's especially troubling when someone gets seriously ill or dies. Since 1995, the Minnesota Department of Health has catalogued 22 cases where people got critically ill or died for no known reason. As Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports, scientists hope studying the cases will help them prepare to fight new diseases before they have a chance to spread. RUSTY LEE HAGAN AND IM EIGHT YEARS OLD (he
March 4, 1998 - Republican Party officials in Rochester- one of the party's strongholds in the state- were disappointed that turn out was light for party caucuses last night. They said people probably stayed home because there was no straw poll for Republican gubernatorial candidates and those candidates don't have differing views on divisive issues like abortion. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports on the caucus meeting of Rochester's largest Republican precinct.
February 24, 1998 - A new Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press-Kare 11 TV poll shows Attorney General Skip Humphrey with the most support in the race for the DFL gubernatorial nomination and St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman with the most support on the Republican side. Among people polled who say they're likely to vote in the DFL primary, about a third said they'd vote for Humphrey, a third split among the other candidates, and a third are undecided. Among people likely to vote in the Republican primary, Coleman leads Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson and conservative Allen Quist by 12 percentage points. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports.
February 9, 1998 - Last year's Twins stadium debate generated some of the most vociferous public reaction ever to a legislative issue. And the lawmakers listened, voted "no" and said it was a good example of democracy in action. Others say all the participation is actually hampering the democratic process. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports the situation has rekindled debate over whether legislators should cast their vote based on what their constitents want...or what the legislator feels is best for them. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 0719 | TIME: 6:28 | OUTCUE: soq --------------------------------------------------------- Senate Majority leader Roger Moe says he was el
February 3, 1998 - The top athletes in the sport of curling will compete for an Olympic medal for the first time this year in Nagano, Japan. Among those vying for a medal with the American men's team are two curlers from St. Paul and two from Wisconsin. One of those is Mike Peplinski (puh-PLIN-ski). He lives in Eau Claire and teaches seventh grade in Alma along the Mississippi River. This summer he faces another battle. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports. Sound of Peplinski practicing- sliding along the ic
January 29, 1998 - President Clinton spoke at rallies in Champaign, Illinois and La Crosse, Wisconsin yesterday in an effort to focus the nation on the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union speech. Rather than unveiling new initiatives or giving more detail on his plans, the President used the rallies to reiterate his proposals and try to build enthusiasm for them. He recieved a rousing welcome in La Crosse. Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports.