August 10, 2001 - The Federal Highway Administration has barred the Minnesota Department of Transportation from opening High Occupancy Vehicle lanes *in the Twin Cities* to general traffic. MnDOT planned to open up the lanes on I-35 and I-394 as part of a study on traffic flow and congestion ordered by the Minnesota Legislature. MNDOT chief planner Paul Czech (Zeck) says the Federal Highway Administration has two problems with the study.
August 9, 2001 - This year's cool wet spring slowed down tomato plants, which are only now beginning to bear ripe fruit. But it's been worth the wait for many gardeners who say the recent HOT spell has made their tomatoes taste better. City Pages Eater's Digest columnist Dara Moscowitz says gardeners have become much more discriminating about taste in recent years...and are no longer satisfied with the standard vine ripened fruit. These days, heirloom tomatoes are all the rage.
August 9, 2001 - Nationwide there may be an economic slowdown, but according to the state Department of Economic Security, Minnesota still has lots of open jobs. Minnesota employers were surveyed from April to June about their hiring needs. While the state has lost many high-tech and manufacturing jobs recently, big vacancies still exist in healthcare and retail. Sung Won Sohn, Chief Economist with Wells Fargo says despite the softening economy, Minnesota consumers continue to spend. He says retailers have been trying for years to build up their workforce, but in general, the jobs have limited appeal.
August 9, 2001 - Cuts in the Minneapolis Community Agency budget would likely bring major changes in how the states' largest city does business. Minnesota Trade and Economic Commissioner Rebecca Yanisch ran the MCDA for four years. She says the 50 year-old agency is hugely important in Minneapolis particularly for improving job and housing opportunities in Minneapolis.
July 30, 2001 - The Minnesota Vikings began workouts today as their two-and-a-half-week training camp opened in Mankato. Last year the Vikings finished the regular season with an 11-and-5 record and they made it to the NFC Championship game, where they lost to the Giants 41-to-nothing. This year Randy Moss is back with a record setting $75-million contract...the highest price paid for a wide receiver in the NFL. Minnesota Public Radio's Colleen Davies is an avid Viking's fan. She says Moss's signing sets a positive tone for the start of training camp:
July 12, 2001 - Some of the most dedicated star and planet gazers in the country will be in St. Paul this weekend for the annual astronomical society conference. One topic they'll be considering- Mars. The red planet is brighter in our southern skies this summer than it has been in 13 years. Bill Sheehan is an amateur astronomer who is an expert on Mars and a featured speaker at the conference. Sheehan says Mars is one of the most visible objects in the sky, which could explain the long-standing human fascination with it:
July 11, 2001 - What a difference a year can make. The Twins come out of this year's All Star Break in first place, with a five game lead over Cleveland in the Central Division. Last year at this time Minnesota was 18 and a half games behind first place. Baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy credits a combination of great pitching and some well-timed offense
July 10, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews Kit Borgman, communications director for the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development, about trade with Canada. Borgman says Minnesota exports a variety of products to our northern neighbor.
July 10, 2001 - Dry conditions have prompted a number of Minnesota cities to enact water restrictions. Public Works Supervisor Doug Hartman. In Prior Lake, officials have issued an emergency ban on all outdoor watering. Hartman says new water emergency means Prior Lake's 15,000 residents face steeper fines for violations.
July 6, 2001 - The recently-passed tax bill that will provide double-digit relief for most Minnesota property owners will also have big implications for community development projects around the state. As property taxes go down, less money will be available for tax increment financing, a process through which cities divert property tax dollars into development projects. Certain Minnesota cities rely more heavily on tax increment financing, or TIF, than others. Steve Cramer, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency says the TIF change will have a major impact on Minneapolis re-development.