August 29, 2000 - After several years of falling C-section rates, Caesarean births are increasing again. The national C-section rate is close to 22-percent of all births. The rates have been rising for the past three years, with a 4-percent increase last year alone. Dr. Bill Gold is the Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield. He says he's not sure why c-section rates are going up.
August 28, 2000 - Twin Cities-based Coffeehouse House Press just released a new book of poetry by Tenaya Darlington. It was chosen for the prestigious National Poetry Series. Minneapolis freelance writer Josie Rawson has this review of "Madame Deluxe".
August 28, 2000 - Twin Cities-based Coffeehouse House Press just released a new book of poetry by Tenaya (tuh-NYE-ah) Darlington. It was chosen for the prestigious National Poetry Series. Minneapolis freelance writer Josie Rawson has this review of "Madame Deluxe":
August 24, 2000 - The chief executive of Medtronic is retiring. Bill George made the announcement at the company's annual stockholders meeting today. George has been instrumental in turning the company into the world's largest manufacturer of medical devices. Since he became c-e-o in 1991, the company's stock price has soared nearly 14 hundred percent. Art Collins has accepted the substantial job of filling George's shoes. He says he's looking forward to the challenge:
August 22, 2000 - The United Way of Minneapolis is sticking by its committment to give money to local boy scout troops. The charity considered revoking the scouts' gift after the Supreme Court upheld a ban on gay troop leaders earlier this year. Nationally, seven United Ways have stoped giving money to the Boy Scouts. Terri BUH-RAY-ROH is the Senior Director of Community Service for the United Way of Minneapolis. She says reaction to the Supreme Court decision has been low-key:
August 21, 2000 - According to the North Dakota State Data Center, workers in Minnesota are more likely to moonlight than the average American. One in ten Minnesotans have a second job, compared to one in 16 nationwide. Jay Mousa is Director of Research at the Minnesota Department of Economic Security. He says that even though the idea of a second job brings to mind a desperation for money, it isn't only the poorest workers who want those extra wages:
August 17, 2000 - For approximately a decade now victims or their families have had the right to speak in court in Minnesota before sentencing. Professor Paul Jones from the William Mitchell School of Law says that it's a crucial component of the trial process.
August 16, 2000 - Elmer L. Andersen says his three ambitions in life as a young man were to be a dairy farmer, serve in the legislature and run a newspaper...he made all three dreams come true during his 91 years. In addition, he learned to fly from Charles Lindbergh, became Governor of Minnesota and built a billion-dollar business. At this moment, he is celebrating the publication of his biography, "A Man's Reach," at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center. I met up with him at his home today, where he talked about what inspired him to jump into politics:
August 15, 2000 - Anthrax has killed 56 cattle and four horses in North Dakota since late July, and in Clay County, Minnesota, officials say the bacterial disease has infected livestock there for the first time in 100 years. Anthrax occurs in nearly all species worldwide. Jim Collins, doctor of veterinary medicine and Director of the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, says it is very deadly and kills animals quickly. The bacteria releases toxins that destroy the infected animals' cells.
August 10, 2000 - The child poverty rate in Minnesota has shot up by 85-percent since 1979, according to a new report from the National Center for Children in Poverty. That's 122-thousand more kids, despite an unprecedented economic boom throughout most of the nineties. Diane Benjamin is an advocate for children and the Executive Director of the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota. She thinks that the Center's numbers exaggerate the problem: