November 29, 1999 - To close out the millennium, Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered presents a look back at Minnesota life in 1900 via a 12-part series, entitled “A Minnesota Century.” This segment is the story of Fredrick McGhee, a civil-rights advocate and Minnesota's first black lawyer, who left an important local and national legacy.
November 23, 1999 - The snow has arrived, and the plows are out, so transit officials are once again warning motorists to steer clear of the road crews. This year a new technology developed at the University of Minnesota could help plow operators avoid accidents. John Scharfbillig is the field supervisor for highway maintenance for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This morning he demonstrated the new technology for me out in Rogers, Minnesota, where one proto-type plow will hit the road this winter.
November 22, 1999 - Every Thanksgiving, airports across the country are jammed with travelers impatient to enjoy a brief holiday weekend away from home. In addition to the usual bustle, air passengers this year will also contend with extra construction at the Minneapolis -St. Paul International airport. Construction crews are working around the clock on a massive airport upgrade. They're erecting more parking ramps, more gates and a skyway to connect far-flung areas of the airport. They are also building an underground train that will move passengers quickly between concourses. Overseeing the project is Denny Probst, director of Land Side development at the airport. He says the improvements should help the airport keep pace with the growing number of air travelers.
November 22, 1999 - For more on the design of the Lindbergh terminal, we turn to Michael Schrock. He's a Minneapolis architect who's done some recent work at the terminal, and is also president-elect of the Minneapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
November 18, 1999 - Minneapolis , the state's largest public school district, is dropping the DARE anti-drug program. DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a program that brings police officers into 5th grade classrooms to teach about them dangers of drinking and drug use. The program has been popular with children and parents, but some critics have questioned its effectiveness. Minneapolis school officials plan to replace DARE with a new comprehensive K-12 health program that covers drug resistance, as well as everything from first-aid to exercise. We asked Carol Falkowski, a researcher with the Hazelden foundation, about the limitations of the DARE approach.
November 16, 1999 - Cass Gilbert is considered Minnesota's most famous architect, he got his start constructing mansions for St. Paul's elite along with churches, and ultimately, the state capitol. After establishing himself, he set out for New York, where he designed the Woolworth building, and the United States Supreme Court building. Since there has been very little published about Gilbert's EARLY work, the local Cass Gilbert Society is sponsoring a series of talks to expose the public to some of his lesser-known buildings. This evening, Cass Gilbert Society founder Tom Blanck will talk about Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, at the base of Ramsey Hill in St. Paul. Blanck gave me a tour of the church which he describes as a collection of various styles and periods.
November 16, 1999 - New York poet Molly Peacock reads on the issue of privacy.
November 15, 1999 - Representatives from Three midwestern states are joining with their counterparts from two Canadian provinces to try to improve trade relations in agriculture. Officials from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are holding a conference today through Wednesday in Fargo to try to solve problems facing farmers in all those areas. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson is heading the Minnesota delegation. He says 250 farmers will join in the discussion, in the hopes of coming up with solutions at the grassroots, rather than federal level.
November 8, 1999 - Governor Ventura entertained Japanese tour directors last night with the help of the Beach Boys. The Northwest Airlines/Mall of America party was designed to help attract more Japanese tourists. The Governor seems fond of the Japanese, and likes to point out to the Minnesota media pool that he's been there before, unlike many of them. In a one-on-one interview with the Governor, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste asked him about his affinity for Japan and the Japanese.
November 4, 1999 - A University of Minnesota faculty panel has come up with more ideas for avoiding the kind of cheating scandal that plagued the gopher men's basketball team this spring. In March, a University tutor came forward to say she had helped students commit academic fraud. Tom Clayton is a regents professor of English and Classical and Near Eastern Studies. He chairs the special senate committee on student academic integrity.