April 17, 1998 - Leaders of several white supremacy groups are gathering at an undisclosed location in the Twin Cities this weekend for a two day "National White Unity Meeting." The event is being sponsored by the Twin Cities based "National Socialist Movement." A coaltion of religious and human rights groups is denouncing the gathering and underscoring the importance of countering messages of hate. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
April 14, 1998 - A Federal District Court Judge has up held a National Park Service decision to BLOCK contruction of a 60 million dollar bridge across the St. Croix River just south of Stillwater. Opponents of the bridge say the ruling is a major victory and will help preserve the scenic lower St. Croix river. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says its proposed bridge offered the best solution to mounting traffic problems and is considering an appeal. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
April 6, 1998 - A week after tornadoes hit St. Peter, many victims are looking ahead toward long term repairs and rebuilding. Hundreds of families will have no choice but to start from scratch if they want to continue living where they lived BEFORE the storm. Many more face extensive repairs to their homes. Finding qualified people to do all of the work is expected to be a major challenge. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
March 11, 1998 - A study commissioned by the "Center of the American Experiment," finds businesses that leave Minnesota for border states overwhelmingly cite high taxes in Minnesota as the reason. Its not the first time a survey has found business extremely critical of Minnesota's tax climate. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
March 11, 1998 - This spring's warm weather, coupled with low interest rates and a booming economy, have jump started home sales around Minnesota, especially in the Twin Cities. From existing homes to new construction, home buyers are finding they can get significantly more for their money than just a couple of years ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
March 5, 1998 - The citizen's watchdog group "Common Cause" says the state legislature should require more specific reporting about lobbying efforts and accompanying campaign contributions. The group released a report today (Thursday) outlining lobby efforts by the tobacco industry...efforts "Common Cause" says helped to sway lawmakers into supporting tobacco-friendly legislation. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
February 25, 1998 - A fumigation company already under investigation for pesticide spraying which officials believe killed one man and injured three others in Minneapolis has agreed to move chemicals it was storing out of Minneapolis. Industrial Fumigants Company took the action at the urging of officials who recently discovered what they say were unsafe storage condictions. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
February 18, 1998 - Minnesota's largest realty company, Burnet Realty, has been purchased by NRT, the largest real estate company in the nation. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
February 16, 1998 - The strike of 25 hundred Honeywell workers is over. Teamsters Local 1145 rank and file voted by a extraordinarily thin margin yesterday to accept Honeywell's latest contract offer. Many union memebrs are angry with the deal. They say their colleagues should have held out for a better contract. The first shifts reported back to work last night. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
February 12, 1998 - Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports on the 2,500 striking Honeywell workers who vote on a proposed contract, possibly ending their walkout now in its 11th day. The terms of the proposed settlement are not being made public but union officials say Honeywell modified what had been the company's final offer. Central to the negotiations since the first contract was rejected, has been the union's opposition to Honeywell putting together a separate compensation package for new employees. Such arrangements often called "Two Tier," contracts, have been dividing workforces for two decades in the United States.