February 12, 2002 - Minnesota's senior U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone plans to officially kick off his reelection campaign in late Spring. Wellstone has been busy raising money for a race that's likely to break Minnesota campaign spending records. With control of the closely divided Senate at stake, the contest between Wellstone and his likely GOP opponent Norm Coleman has major national implications.
February 11, 2002 - Former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman held a series of news conferences around Minnesota today, formally launching his bid for U.S. Senate. Coleman, a Republican is challenging DFL incumbent Paul Wellstone. A new poll conducted by the Star Tribune, shows the two are in a dead heat. With the Senate so closely divided, the race for Minnesota's seat is expected to become a national battleground, and to break campaign spending records. Already the two sides are attacking each other in radio ads. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
February 11, 2002 - Former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman officially kicks off his campaign this morning with a rally at Harriet Island. Coleman, a Republican and so far the the only major challenger faced by DFL incumbent Paul Wellstone, will embark on a statewide tour later in the day, telling Minnesotans he can do for the state what he did for St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports... BACKANNOUNCE: Tomorrow listen for Mark's report on the early stages of Senator Paul Wellstone's reelection campaign.
January 31, 2002 - Donald Watkins, the Alabama businessman who says he wants to buy the Minnesota Twins, paints a picture almost too good to be true. If he buys the team he will not hold fans hostage by threatening to move the Twins. And he wants to build the Twins a new stadium without asking taxpayers to help foot the bill. How he would accomplish what so many other team owners say can't be done isn't clear. Since emerging as a potential buyer, Watkins has deflected most questions about his finances. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik has this look Watkins' background and what might be driving his interest in the Twins.
January 23, 2002 - The St. Paul Companies today (Weds) reported a fourth quarter net loss of 736 million dollars, pushing losses for all of 2001 beyond a billion dollars. The nation's fifth largest business insurer says it has higher hopes for the new year. A new CEO brought in as part of a major restructing says he's trying to make The St. Paul leaner and more focused on profit. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
January 18, 2002 - US Airlines today began intensive screening of checked baggage to prevent bombs from threatening flights. The new regulations allow airlines several options to better secure baggage, from bomb sniffing dogs, to carefully matching luggage with passengers. While some predicted the new policy would lead to delays, operations ran smoothly today at the Minneapolis St. Paul airport where travelers welcomed the new security measures. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
January 17, 2002 - As expected, Northwest Airlines today posted a massive loss for last year. A costly combination of economic recession coupled with a plunge in travel demand after September's terrorist attacks, left Northwest losing more than two hundred million dollars in the last three months of 2001. For the entire year, Northwest posted a loss of more than $400 million dollars. Despite the red ink, the airline did better than Wall Street was expecting and the carrier says it's poised to starting making money when the economy turns around.
December 28, 2001 - In just a few days R.T. Rybak becomes Mayor of the city of Minneapolis, replacing Sharon Sayles Belton after eight years in that office. In this audio excerpt, Sayles Belton formally said goodbye in remarks made to the city council and city staff in newly renovated Minneapolis City Council chambers.
December 26, 2001 - MPR's Mark Zdechlik reports that Governor Jesse Ventura says Minnesotans will likely be more open to major governmental reform with the state facing a projected budget deficit of nearly two billion dollars. Ventura says he'll use his State of the State speech a week from tomorrow as something of a “Government 101” course to help Minnesotans learn how state taxes are spent.
November 30, 2001 - Sun Country Airlines has given up on its efforts to establish itself as a viable alternative to Northwest Airlines -- at least for now. The carrier lost tens of millions of dollars, and now it's looking for a buyer. The Mendota Heights based carrier has eliminated most of its scheduled flight services. Instead it will focus primarily on vacation destinations... like Florida and the Caribbean. As Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports, industry observers predict Sun Country's retrenchment will hurt consumers.