September 25, 2001 - Many Americans were stunned by the intense hatred harbored by the terrorist hijackers who hit the World Trade Center and Pentagon. But in other parts of the world, this sentiment, rooted in extreme Islamic fundamentalism, is a part of daily life. And frequently, those who dare speak out against it are persecuted. That's what happened to Tahar Djaout (Tah HAR Jah-OOT). The prominent Algerian writer was murdered as he left his home because, as one of his professed attackers put it, "he wielded a fearsome pen that could have an effect on Islamic sectors." That was in 1993. This month Ruminator Books is publishing the English translation of Djaout's (Jah-OOT's) final manuscript, called "The Last Summer of Reason." Publisher Pearl Kilbride says Ruminator took on the project, because Djaout (Jah-OOT) was a promising writer.
September 19, 2001 - Medtronic officials have advised their 26-thousand employees to curtail nonessential air travel until further notice. Fridley-based Medtronic spends about 50 million dollars a year on airfares and books an average of 37-hundred employee flights a month. CEO Art Collins says he decided to limit travel after many of his employees were stranded in New York and Washington during last week's terrorist attack.
September 12, 2001 -
September 10, 2001 - The sagging US economy appears to be having an unfortunate impact on the state's finances. State lawmakers are mulling over some troubling revenue statistics reported late last week by the state economist. Tom Stinson says for July and August Minnesota revenues declined slightly in virtually every major tax category. As a result, Stinson says there's a better than 50 percent chance of a state budget shortfall in the fiscal year that ends next June. We talked with two Minnesota state lawmakers about Stinson's prediction. DFL Senate Assistant Majority Leader John Hottinger says he's not surprised.
September 10, 2001 -
August 23, 2001 - On the first day of the 2001 Minnesota State Fair, MPR’s Lorna Benson joins City Pages Eater's Digest columnist Dara Moskowitz to check out food items making their Fair debut…from deep fried candy bars, to wilderness fish cakes and fried alligator legs.
August 16, 2001 - The hot, humid weather earlier this month has put sweet corn on the fast track. It's ripening so quickly, many gardeners can't consume it fast enough. City Pages Eater's Digest columnist Dara Moskowitz says you can always freeze or can corn. But if you like it fresh, you better get eating.
August 15, 2001 - Some of you might recognize this music. It's the theme for Newsnight Minnesota, a daily half-hour news magazine from Twin-Cities Public Television. Tomorrow is the program's last night. The show has been cancelled because the T-P-T board decided to devote funding to digital broadband television.
August 14, 2001 - If you're in the market to buy a new home in the Twin Cities, there are a couple of things working in your favor these days. The unusually tight housing market appears to be easing a bit AND home mortgage rates have fallen below seven percent. George Karvel (KAR VELL), is a professor of real estate at the University of St. Thomas. He says it's a great time to buy a home.
August 13, 2001 -