August 25, 1999 - Police have made arrests in the Jessica Swanson case. The cannon falls girl was three years old when she disappeared in 1995. Police held a news conference in Red Wing today to announce their progress in the case.
August 23, 1999 - The US Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a ban on lead sinkers in three Minnesota wildlife refuges in response to growing concern about contamination of lakes and wildlife. The public can comment on the proposed changes until September 10th. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is also concerned about lead from fishing tackle. Carol Nankivel wrote the Annual Lead report for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Nankivel says that in Minnesota, researchers found about 18 percent of loons suffered from lead poisoning. In the eastern part of the U-S, that number was much higher.
August 23, 1999 - Back on his day job today, Governor Ventura is facing some criticism at the capitol. Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe says Ventura's performance as a referee in the main event of last night's Summer Slam wrestling show was demeaning and distasteful. Ventura got better reviews from wrestling fans. Wade Keller edits and publishes the Pro-Wrestling Torch Newsletter in Minneapolis . He was at last night's event.
August 19, 1999 - The Swing craze has brought a second wave of fame to musicians and dancers from the earlier era. This week, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis has gathered some of the legendary dancers for a week of worshops, culminating in a discussion and performance this weekend. One of the stars is Norma Miller. Known as "The Queen of Swing" Miller began her career in Harlem at age 14. She and her dance partner Frankie Manning spent decades touring the U-S and Europe with all the great big bands of the 1930's, forties and fifties. In her second career, she turned to stand-up comedy. By the early 80's, Miller returned to Harlem and was dismayed to find the Savoy, the dance hall where it all began, torn down.
August 17, 1999 - Governor Ventura is taking the first steps toward consolidating the Departments of Public Service and Commerce into a new, expanded Department of Commerce. Ventura says the move makes sense because both departments regulate private industries. Public Service Commissioner Steve Minnesota will serve as the head of both departments until the Administration can get legislative approval to eliminate Public Service. Minnesota says he welcomes the move towards consolidation.
August 17, 1999 - A delegation from St. Paul is touring a ballpark in Denver today looking at whether a facility like Coor's Field would be an attractive option for St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen joins me now from Denver:
August 16, 1999 - Governor Ventura will tour the state tomorrow to drum up support for a unicameral legislature. Ventura wants to persuade lawmakers to let voters decide the issue in the 2000 election. It would take a constitutional amendment to reduce the House and Senate to one body. The governor is also expected to recommend that members of the unicameral Legislature be non-partisan, meaning candidates would carry no party designation on ballots. Minnesota had a non-partisan legislature up until the early 1970's. Former Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson, a Democrat, served in the legislature then. He says it was non-partisan in THEORY, but not in practice.
August 13, 1999 - Some of the victims of the prostitution ring are receiving help from PRIDE. The Minneapolis organization helps girls ages 12 to 19 who have been used in prostitution. Alesia Pettiford is PRIDE's supervisor. She says victims need lots of counseling to rebuild their self-esteem and help them achieve independence.
August 10, 1999 - With those sales tax rebate checks on their way to your mailbox any day now, retailers are gearing up for what they hope will be a spending bonanza. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune newspaper is planning three special advertising sections to fit in all the extra advertising. If national statistics hold true, Minnesotans are likely to spend the money, all of it, fast, because America is not a society that saves money. Eric Brown is the communications director at the Center for A New American Dream, a non-profit organization dedicated to slowing the pace of American consumerism. Brown says he hopes Minnesotans consider saving their money.
August 4, 1999 - Minneapolis isn't going to give up Major League Baseball so easily. The city and Hennepin County are working on a plan that might involve linking financing for a new stadium to other community investments like amateur sports, affordable housing and parks. Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton says she's tried the road Mayor Coleman is taking, and it didn't work.