February 18, 1998 - A new airline will begin scheduling flights from the Twin Cities to Europe in April. Icelandair is announcing plans to offer service to England, Scandinavia and continental Europe with stops at its hub in Keflavik, Iceland. Northwest Airlines and its partner KLM already dominate Twin Cities-to-Europe routes. Joining me to discuss the new venture is Gunner Ecklund of Icelandair.
February 18, 1998 - Last night the Norwood Young America School Board voted to fire teacher Robert Pannier who has been charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct. Meanwhile, The Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning says it will begin spot checking teachers' records and reviewing all new license applications in order to ease worries over teacher credentials. The department is responding to the revelation that Pannier forged his transcript to get a job. Commissioner Bob Wedl joins me now.
February 17, 1998 - When Norm Coleman officially announced his candidacy for governor on Sunday he said he would seek the endorsement of the Republican party and promised that he would not run in the primary if he didn't get the endorsement. Four out of the five republican candidates for governor have made that pledge at a time when many pundits were suggesting that the endorsement process had become almost meaningless in the political process. Carleton College Political Science professor Steven Schier discusses the current state of the endorsement process.; When Norm Coleman officially announced his candidacy for governor on Sunday he said he would seek the endorsement of the Republican party and promised that he would not run in the primary if he didn't get the endorsement. Four out of the five republican candidates for governor have made that pledge at a time when many pundits were suggesting that the endorsement process had become almost meaningless in the political process. Carleton College Political Science professor Steven Schier discusses the current state of the endorsement process.
February 17, 1998 - The United States upset Canada 3-1 in the first ever women's Olympic ice hockey final earlier today. Sandra Whyte set up a pair of powerplay goals and ended the high drama with an empty net third score with eight seconds remaining to set off a wild and emotional U.S. celebration on the ice. Karyn Bye has been the leading scorer on the US team. She is also a native of River Falls, Wisconsin, where schoolkids and residents have been cheering her on for the last week. Patrick McCardle is the Principal at Greenwood Elementary School in River Falls and a good friend of Karyn Bye. He joins me now.
February 16, 1998 - MPR's Martin Kaste previews the week ahead at the Legislature.
February 16, 1998 - Jay Weiner reports from the Olympics in Nagano on men's hockey, Minnesota ski jumper, speed skater Amy Peterson, and women's figure skating.
February 6, 1998 - Opening ceremonies will be held tonight for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Among the hundreds of athletes competing for medals this year are fifteen Minnesotans. Minnesota Public Radio's Perry Finelli reports on some of them, and attempts to get more of the state's athletes into future olympics.
February 3, 1998 - Best-selling author Tom Clancy is the new majority owner of the Minnesota Vikings. The offer is for about $200 million and surpasses the record price paid for a National Football League franchise. Clancy pledges to keep the team in Minnesota and wants to make the Vikings one of the premier franchises in the NFL. Minnesota Public Radio's Perry Finelli reports.
January 9, 1998 - On Sunday, two National Football League games will be played to decide who will appear in this year's Super Bowl. Earlier this season, the Minnesota Vikings harbored hopes of making it back to the Super Bowl for the first time in nearly two decades. But, the season ended on another disappointing note, and the team now finds itself facing critical questions about the future ownership and who will lead Vikings on the field.
September 5, 1997 - Midday presents a report by Dan Olson about the prospects for a Light Rail Transit line in the Twin Cities, followed by a discussion of the transit issue with guests Nacho Diaz, Transportation Planning Director for the Metropolitan Coucil, and Ken Stevens, Director of the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority. Listeners call in with questions. (program ends early due to special coverage)