December 2, 1998 - Governor Arne Carlson has a little more than a month left in his term, and already tributes to his thirty years in public office are under way. The first took place in Minneapolis last night NARRATION: It wasn't a "retirement party"; it was a "salute" -- a salute featuring more than twelve hundred Carlson fans and kicked off by the University of Minnesota Marching Band. It was, for Governor Carlson, a chance to reflect on his term in office and wha
November 25, 1998 - During this year's gubernatorial race, Republican candidate and St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman pointed with pride to the development in downtown St. Paul. It meant, he said, jobs. But some critics worry the bidding war cities and states engage in to attract businesses hurts the economy overall. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports. NARRATION: When Lawson Software was deciding where to relocate its Minneapolis headquarters, Norm Coleman had just the place in mind: downtown St. Paul. To entice the company, he offered millions of dollars in city financing to construct a new twelve story office building. Lawson took the offer. Such deals aren't unusual. Cities and states nationwide provide incentives to keep current businesses and draw
November 23, 1998 - The F-B-I reports serious crime has declined nationwide for the sixth consecutive year. The Bureau's figures, released over the weekend, aren't broken down by specific state or region, but as Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, Minnesota is in line with the national trend. NARRATION: The F-B-I's Uniform Crime Reporting Program shows the number of both violent and property crimes fell in 1997 -- down two percent from the year before and seven percent from five years ago. Justice Department spokesman Nicholas Gess says there's no single factor to account for the downward trend. GESS: Primary among them are President Cl
November 19, 1998 - The Metropolitan Council is soliciting public comment on the design of light-rail transit stations planned for Minneapolis . Proponents of the rail line argue that the system can do more than just move people: it can spur development.
November 18, 1998 - The University of Minneosta has reached an out-of-court settlement with the federal government over charges relating to its ALG drug research program. The university has agreed to pay $32 million dollars in damages to resolve the case. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
November 17, 1998 - The University of Minnesota and the federal government have reached a thirty-two million dollar settlement of a lawsuit over the organ transplant drug ALG. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo report.
November 16, 1998 - As the death toll from last month's Hurricane Mitch continues to climb, a number of businesses, humanitarian organizations, and individuals in Minnesota are contributing to global relief work. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports on regional efforts to assist Central American storm victims. NARRATION: Hurricane Mitch is already being billed as one of the deadliest natural disasters ever to hit Central America. And the final toll of life and property is still not known. Deb Brown of Church World Service says current tallies show losses are "catastrophic." BROWN: They're estimating it's going to take up to forty years to recover from this. In Honduras there are
November 11, 1998 - (LEAD MAY NEED TO BE CHANGED DEPENDING ON TONIGHT'S ///SFX: Weather forecast over MnDOT radio...fade under/// NARRATION: At MnDOT's
November 5, 1998 - Business and labor leaders have had a few days now to absorb the news of Jesse Ventura's suprise victory Tuesday night. While neither side claims to know a great deal about the Ventura agenda, both claim they'll find common ground with his administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo surveys the new landscape. NARRATION: In this year's election, quite predictably, business gave their support to Republican Norm Coleman and labor backed D-F-Ler Skip Humphrey. Neither expected Reform candidate Jesse Ventura would prevail. But now that the contest is over, leaders of both business AND labor express optimism that Ventura, a relatively unknown political quantity, represents a new opportunity for both of their camps.
October 8, 1998 - A group of doctors at this year's meeting of the Minnesota Medical Association are worried that HMOs are exerting too much influence in patient care decisions. Today, they introduced proposals to hold health-plans liable for any coverage they deny. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, the issue was sharply contested.