July 5, 2001 - Neighborhood groups across Minneapolis are coming to grips with the sudden loss of revenue for the Neighborhood Revitalizaton Project or NRP. The losses are the result of changes in the state tax code passed last week at the state legislature. The NRP was designed to take excess Tax Increment Finance money from big projects in the city, and give them to neighborhoods across the city to control and spend as they saw fit. Joining us on the line is Jeff Hayden, chairman of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association.
July 5, 2001 - IT'S TIME FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, AS POSTED ON OUR SOAPBOX PAGE, ON MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO DOT ORG. WE ASKED WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THE LEGISLATIVE IMPASSE, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. ANDREA WEILAND FROM ST.PAUL WRITES: " WHILE THE LEGISLATURE BICKERED OVER HOW TO SPEND A FEW MILLION DOLLARS, THEY REQUIRED STATE AGENCIES TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PREPARE FOR A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN....THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE BICKERING AND RESULTING IMPASSE. THE TAXPAYERS OF MINNESOTA NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS HIDDEN COST..AND REQUIRE THEIR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER AND BE STATE FOCUSED RATHER THAN SINGLE ISSUE FOCUSED." LAST WEEK, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S TOM SCHENK DID A STORY ON AN UPCOMING BUSH ADMINISTRATION DECISION ON WHETHER TO FUND STEM CELL RESEARCH. THAT PROMPTED A LOT OF COMMENTS ON OUR SOAPBOX. DANIEL OWEN FROM WASHINGTON D-C WRITES: "IT'S ABSURD TO EVEN THINK ABOUT NOT SUPPORTING EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH. FOR BUSH, IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF ETHICS, BUT SIMPLY OF FACILE ASSPEASEMENT FOR THE SAKE OF POLITICAL SURVIVAL. MEANWHILE, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TODAY SEE HOPE FOR A TRANSFORMATION OF THEIR LIVES WITH ADVANCES IN STEM CELL RESEARCH AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HEALTH CARE COSTS COULD BE SAVED WITH MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS.
July 5, 2001 -
July 5, 2001 - The US Department of Commerce is holding hearings in Virginia, Minnesota today to hear from Iron Rangers on how cheap steel imports have affected their industry. It's part of an investigation to determine whether the imports harmed national security, which would allow President Bush to protect the domestic steel industry. Samatha Grippe lives in Biwabik. Her father was recently laid off from LTV Steel Mining company, and she'll testify before the Commerce Department later today.
July 4, 2001 - The official announcement hasn't yet come, but the merger between United Airlines and US Airways appears to be off. The companies confirmed earlier this week they were talking about terminating the deal. The acquisition would have made United much bigger than any of its competitors. Now it seems United doesn't think it can get permission for the deal from the Department of Justice, where anti-trust regulators fear it would stifle competition and lead to worse service for millions of airline passengers. Congressman Jim Oberstar is former chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee and senior democrat on the House Transportation Committee. He's on the line now.
July 4, 2001 - For residents in Siren, Wisconsin, the 4th of July this year is more than just a chance to celebrate the nation's birthday. It's a chance to get away from the daily struggles of recovering from the tornado that hit the town about 2 weeks ago. Greg Hunter is one of the organizers of the day's festivities and the owner of a restaurant that was destroyed in the storm. He says many people have been calling to see if the festivitie are still on.
July 3, 2001 -
July 3, 2001 -
July 3, 2001 -
June 26, 2001 - Most Minnesotans know what the word Minnesota means. It means "sky-tinted water." It's a combination of the Dakota Indian words "mini," which means water, and "sota," which means somewhat clouded. But do you know how your city or town got its name, or that nearby lake or river? The Minnesota Historical Society recently published the third edition of the book, "Minnesota Place Names," which explains how cities and other places got their names. Ann Regan is the managing editor of the Minnesota Historical Society Press.