May 3, 2002 - This afternoon delegates to the state DFL convention will enthusiastically endorse Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone's bid for a third term. Wellstone is expected to deliver a trademark passionate speech outlining his sharp ideological contrast to the Republican agenda. Wellstone will not formally kick off his campaign until later this month even though the contest with Republican challenger Norm Coleman is well underway. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik prepared this report on Wellstone's Senate career and why the Senator is pursuing a third term he repeatedly pledged NOT to seek.
April 30, 2002 - The state DFL party holds its convention this weekend, and the main business of the 1300 delegates will be to choose a candidate for governor. Three candidates are seeking the endorsement: State Auditor Judi Dutcher and state Senators Roger Moe and Becky Lourey. They all say they'll abide by the delegates' decision. This week we'll take a look at each of the three candidates starting with State Auditor Judi Dutcher, who says she represents the future of the Minnesota DFL. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
April 18, 2002 - Northwest Airlines today posted a 171 million dollar loss for the first three months of the year. Although far from profitable, Northwest did significantly better than Wall Street had expected. Northwest says its sales are improving ahead of plan, but executives with the Minnesota-based airline will not predict when Northwest will once again turn profitable. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
April 15, 2002 - Money by the millions of dollars continues to pour into Minnesota's US Senate race. A report filed today shows DFL Senator Paul Wellstone raised more than one and a half million dollars for his re-election campaign during the first three months of the year. In total Wellstone has raised more than five and a half million dollars in his re-election effort. By law candidates' fund raising reports for the first quarter of the year must be postmarked by today. Wellstone's challenger Republican Norm Coleman decided not to pre-release HIS fund raising information.
April 1, 2002 - This week Minnesota based Best Buy Company, the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer, is expected to report record breaking profit for its past fiscal year which ended last month. Despite the difficult economic conditions, Best Buy's stock has surged over the past year. Wall Street analysts are predicting even better times ahead for the Minnesota company thanks in no small part to recent acquisitions that are opening new markets. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
March 13, 2002 - Minnesota Airlines, a investor group that plans to buy bankrupt Sun Country Airlines says it could begin pumping cash into Sun County as early as this afternoon . Yesterday a federal judge cleared the way for US Bank to sell secured assets to the new investor group. Had Sun Country not won court approval for the sale, the cash-strapped airline would have faced another shutdown. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
March 5, 2002 - Republican Norm Coleman says his Senate Campaign easily raised more than a million dollars yesterday evening thanks to President Bush. After an address at Eden Prairie High School, the president posed for pictures and spoke to hundreds of Republican donors who paid a thousand dollars or more at a Coleman fundraiser in downtown Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
February 25, 2002 - After 35 years as Best Buy's C.E.O, Richard Schulze is stepping down. Best Buy President and Chief Operating Officer Bradbury Anderson will take over as CEO this summer. The electronics retailer announced the leadership transition today . Schulze built Best Buy into the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer. He says he'll remain active as chairman.
February 15, 2002 - Xcel Energy is making a move to acquire 100 percent of its outstanding shares of NRG Energy. The Minnesota based utility has a majority stake in NRG but says it wants full control so that it can restructure the struggling independent power producer. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports....
February 13, 2002 - Allina Hospitals and Clinics lost more than $70 million dollars last year. 2001 was a time of investigations and major changes for the health care provider. Allina split with its health insurance partner "Medica" in response to a Minnesota Attorney General's office probe into corporate expenses. There were also millions of dollars in costs associated with alledged Medicare fraud. Allina says much of last year's losses amount to one time charges which have now been written off its books. The non profit's new CEO is projecting much better performance this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark reports...