October 8, 2003 - When the Gophers men's basketball season starts next month, fans may have trouble following their team on television. The network that owns the rights to the games has not yet found any major cable companies to distribute its programming. ESPN recently sold Gophers basketball broadcast rights to Victory Sports One -- a new television network owned by the Minnesota Twins baseball organization that plans to launch on Halloween. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
October 6, 2003 - Minnesota State University officials in Mankato are dealing with the aftermath of a riot this weekend in which 20 of their students were arrested. They say univesrity conduct code gives them the authority to discipline the students who were arrested with 25 others. Police estimate three-thousand people took part in the melee and that alcohol was a major factor. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
October 3, 2003 - University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks says the institution is robust and poised to become even greater despite its current budget crisis. At his State of the University address yesterday Thursday Bruininks outlined recent university successes and new priorities for the coming year. Following the speech, Bruininks was put on the defensive by union workers and their supporters who are critical of the university's policy on salaries. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
October 1, 2003 - The University of Minnesota's clerical union could be headed for a strike. Negotiations between the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 3800, and university officials broke down in early September. Helms reports.
September 24, 2003 - A state auditor says Minnesota's tuition reciprocity agreements with universities in surrounding states needs changes. The auditors report says overall recciprocity is good for the state, but the program needs more oversight. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
September 22, 2003 - Investigators say they don't know yet know what started a fire this weekend that killed three Univesrity of MInnesota students. And they are not releasing any details of the investigation. But, in response to the tragedy, Minneapolis officials today Helms reports.
September 19, 2003 - A sold out crowd of one thousand people last night Helms reports.
September 16, 2003 - State regulators will take testimony tonight (Tues) and tomorrow on Xcel Energy's proposal to convert some of its coal fired power plants to natural gas. The one billion dollar project would eliminate some air pollutants altogether in two plants. Plant neighbors and environmentalists generally favor Xcel's plans. But business leaders fear the conversions will cost too much. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports. ANNOUNCER TAG: The P-U-C's public meeting in St. Paul tonight at 7pm at the West 7th Community Center. The meeting tomorrow night is at 7pm at the Minneapolis Urban League.
September 2, 2003 - Tens of thousands of students start classes today at the University of Minnesota. While many Freshmen say they are excited about the challenges of being in college and away from home for the first time, older students say tuition increases and scarce part time employment mean a stressful and hectic lifestyle. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
September 1, 2003 - Many Minnesota businesses would just as soon put the last two years behind them. But as one of the state's few defense-industry companies, Edina- based Alliant Techsystems stands out as an exception in an otherwise stagnant post-9/11 economy. Alliant Techsystems, which now prefers to be known by its stock ticker initials, A-T-K, is a 2 Billion dollar public company that's been attracting a growing number of military contracts and shareholders. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.