December 6, 2000 - Minnesota author Vince Flynn is out with his third political thriller called THE THIRD OPTION. Flynn's previous two books TERM LIMITS and TRANSFER OF POWER were both on the New York Times Best-sellers list. THE THIRD OPTION opens with the President trying to battle terrorism in Libya and Iraq. Since diplomacy and military intervention--are not working, the President and his security advisors are forced to employ "the third option"-- covert action. Flynn's expert C-I-A spyman Mitch Rapp--known by the code name "Iron Man" reappears to save the day. Flynn says he realizes critics have complained that Rapp is the perfect spy--maybe too perfect---but Flynn says that's all part of his job as an author.
November 24, 2000 - Holiday's are a time for families to gather together to share memories and stories. Minnesota author Richard Jorgensen's new book, "Reading with Dad," taps into that experience. The story follows a father and daughter who share their love of reading throughout their lives. Richard Jorgensen is a Lutheran pastor in Faribault. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham he wanted his book to show the power fathers and literature have in a young child's life.
November 1, 2000 - They say it's a tale as old as time....the Disney musical "Beauty and the Beast" is opening tonight (Wed.) at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. The Broadway-style show is offering Minnesotans some local flavor -- one of the lead characters grew up in Minnetonka. Jay Russell plays the candelabra named "Lumiere." He says he's looking forward to the chance to perform before a hometown audience:
October 30, 2000 - A teenager shot by an Apple Valley police officer over the weekend had allegedly taken the drug LSD before the officer arrived to investigate a reported disturbance. The boy is listed in fair condition but may be paralyzed from the waist down. Police say he was shot when he tried to take the officer's weapon. Pat Harrison is the co-director of Health Care Research for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She says nationally about 5-thousand emergency room visits are connected with LSD use. Harrison says alcohol and marajuana are still the most popular drugs of choice for Minnesota teens---but LSD use is not uncommon:
October 27, 2000 -
September 22, 2000 - More than 10,000 new words appear in Fourth Edition of The American Heritage Dictionary. From "mommy track" to "domain name" the editors of the dictionary have tried to keep pace with America's ever changing lexicon. The last edition of the dictionary came out about eight years ago. Joe Pickett is the Executive Editor of the American Heritage Dictionary. He says that new words come from many sources.
July 31, 2000 - No new talks have been scheduled a day after Pepsi bottlers in Burnsville rejected the company's latest offer. Just 18 Members of Teamsters Local 792 cast their votes in favor of the proposal while 314 rejected it. This is the second offer rejected by the workers. Some say they liked parts of the contract, but they continue to hold out for better wages and benefits. Pepsi Bottling continues to bus in workers from its other operations throughout the country to keep the plant going. Kelly McAndrew, director of Public Relations with Pepsi Bottling group, says that the company is disappointed.
July 27, 2000 - The Granite Falls tornado highlighted the need for people to have ample warning before severe weather strikes. The national weather serivce provides a warning network for homes or businesses that will automatically turn on radios when severe weather strikes. But not everyone in Minnesota is covered by the service. WCCO meterologist Paul Dougas says the service is centered in big cities, but the coverage gap is about to close. A bill that passed in the last Legislative session provides money to build 13 transmitters to make sure the entire state is covered. George Wilcox is a public affairs officer with the National Oceanic and Atmostpheric Administration or NOAA -- the organization that oversees the National Weather Service. He says NOAH weather radios operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
May 24, 2000 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Walter Mondale, former U.S. ambassador to Japan and former vice-president, on congressional bill that would allow China permit normal trade status. Following Mondale interview, David Foster, director of the NW quadrant of states for the United Steelworkers of America, shares his view on the bill and its impact.
May 22, 2000 - Critics have called it a modern day "Midsummer Night's Dream." Charles Baxter's new novel "The Feast of Love" opens with a sleepless character--also named Charles Baxter--meeting his insomniac neighbor Bradley. The two men are in a park at 4 o'clock in the morning and begin talking about love and relationships. Bradley suggests that Charles should write a book about him--and call the book "The Feast of Love." The novel charts Bradley's ups and downs in relationships. It also lets characters linked to Bradley to tell their story. His neighbors, his employees and his two ex-wives all appear in the book. Charles Baxter is a Minneapolis native and a Macalester College graduate. He's appearing at this alma mater tonight.