March 3, 1998 - Minneapolis will spend millions of dollars over the next few years to upgrade its water treatment system, and St. Paul may have to follow suit. The expenditure is in response to proposed federal regulations which are largely the result of the 1993 cryptosporidium outbreak in Milwaukee. 100 people died and 400,000 got sick from a parasite in the water. Minnesota Public Radio's Perry Finelli reports.
February 20, 1998 - This winter may go down as one of the warmest ever in Minnesota. The winter of 1986-87 currently holds the record... with an average statewide temperature of 21.7 degrees. But we could come within a tenth of a degree of that record this year according to a forecast by assistant state climatologist Greg Spoden. As you might expect, Minnesotans have developed some strong opinions about the departure from the usual sub-zero chill... as Minnesota Public Radio's John Bischoff discovered on a stroll down Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis .
February 20, 1998 - Tomorrow, about 30 volunteer spelunkers will descend into Mystery Cave in southeast Minnesota's Forrestville State Park... to count bats. The Department of Natural Resources has been counting bats at Mystery Cave every third year since 1989... making this the fourth count. In that time, the population of bats hibernating in the cave has grown. Warren Netherton is the park's cave specialist.
February 19, 1998 - While the stadium bill appears to be dead for now, Legislators are scrambling to keep other bills alive. All legislation must pass out of a policy committee in the House AND Senate by tomorrow. Lobbyist Maureen Shaver has been busy keeping track of it all. She represents many organizations including the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association and the Minnesota Trucking Association.
February 19, 1998 - U-S athletes Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski are leading the field in the competition for the Olympic gold medal in women's figure skating after yesterday's short program. But it was a tough day for a couple of Minnesota athletes. Star Tribune writer and MPR commentator Jay Weiner is in Nagano covering the Games.
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.