January 26, 1998 - Minnesota became the first state to litigate a case against the tobacco industry, when attorneys made their opening statements today. The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are suing major tobacco companies to recover the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses. The state's lead attorney called tobacco a greedy industry, while tobacco's lead attorney says even if the industry behaved badly, it didn't increase the state's health care costs. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... The state's lead attorney Michael Cerisi said the tobacco companie
January 26, 1998 - Four years after Minnesota filed its lawsuit against the tobacco industry, opening statements in the trial begin this morning (Monday) at the federal courthouse in St. Paul. The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are suing the major tobacco companies to recover the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses over the past two decades. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
January 23, 1998 - In Minnesota's case against the tobacco industry, the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield are seeking to recover the costs spent treating the ailments of 90-thousand smokers. But that number doesn't tell the true story of Minnesotans who've suffered from smoking-related illnesses.
January 21, 1998 - As jury selection continues in Minnesota's lawsuit against the tobacco industry, the stand taken by the state Attorney General's office has garnered national attention. But one key aspect of the case has received little coverage - the involvement of the state's co-plaintiff, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. It remains the only private health plan in the country to sue tobacco, and the company hopes its gamble will pay off in health care savings.
January 16, 1998 - The debate over managing Minnesota's wolf population got contentious last night, as friends and foes of the wolf clashed over what should be done. The timberwolf may be taken off the endangered species list as early as next year... and at a public meeting in the Twin Cities, there was little common ground between the two sides.
January 13, 1998 - More than a hundred angry residents packed Richfield City Hall last night, taking city officials to task for clear-cutting two-hundred trees for a planned maintenance garage. The city council reversed its decision to build the garage at Veterans Park, but not before residents expressed outrage over the loss of trees, and the process.
January 12, 1998 - It's been twenty years since that man from Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey the Second, died at the age of 66 on a bitterly cold January 13th. The former Senator and Vice President was an unabashed liberal, proud of his work on legislation establishing civil rights, Medicare, and the Peace Corps - programs and policies still in place today. As Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports, historians say the anniversary of Humphrey's death is a chance to look back on his legacy.
January 3, 1998 -
December 30, 1997 - MPR’s Lauara McCallum presents the documentary “Losing Lincoln Drive: Grand Forks After The Flood,” which shares the stories of three families and what has happened since the sirens blew.
December 19, 1997 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on Penumbra's “Black Nativity.” Every family has their holiday traditions, but few are as complex as one Minneapolis family, whose season revolves around the Penumbra Theatre's annual production of “Black Nativity.” No fewer than five members of the Whitlock family are involved in the show, which tells the Christmas story through gospel and spiritual songs. McCallum interviews family members, including Lewis and Jennifer Whitlock.