March 21, 2002 - Even though spring has officially arrived - these recent temperatures and windchills are more typical of mid-winter. After a very mild January and February, March may be recorded as the coldest month of the year. Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay says the noticable drop in temperatures is statistically significant.
March 19, 2002 - The Minneapolis St. Paul Airport is making plans to begin testing face recognized surveillance software by early May. The Metropolitan Airports Commission or the MAC says it's working with Honeywell to be a test site for the new security technology. Jim Welna Public-Safety Director at the MAC says the airport's security camera's would identify someone who breaches a security check point and Honeywell's face-recognition software could track that person as they moved through the airport. Face-recognized surveillance software is currently tested around the country. And the American Civil Liberities Union believes its proven ineffective and threatens personal freedom. Rachel Konrad writes for CNET News-dot-Com, an online newspaper that covers changing technology. She says the surveillance software is part of a greater technology called biometrics:
March 12, 2002 - Members of the Twin Cities Cambodian community are mourning the loss of a long time advocate. 44-year old Darina Siv was executive director of the United Cambodian Association of Minnesota. She died of cancer on Friday. Siv immigrated to St. Paul in 1982 after escaping Cambodia's Khmer Rouge,In the late 1970's, Siv escaped the Khmer Rouge and fled to a Thai refugee camp. She met her husband in the camp and they moved to St. Paul in 1982. Siv wrote about her life under the Cambodian regime in" Never Come Back: A Cambodian Woman's Journey." Jane Kretzmann of the Bush Foundation, directed the state's Refugee Program in the late seventies and eighties when survivors of the Kmer Rouge were relocating to Minnesota.
March 8, 2002 -
March 7, 2002 - State Health officials confirmed today that a 4-year-old boy died from a rare strain of meningococcemia, the same bacterial infection that causes meningitis. Edward Fink died yesterday morning, about two and a half hours after he was taken to the emergency room at Long Prairie Memorial Hospital. Health officials haven't determined how he was infected. But they have distributed antibiotics to about 35 people, including the hospital personnel who treated the boy and kids at his day care. Dr. Paul Van Gorp is the first doctor who saw Edward Fink when he arrived at the hospital. He says he administered antibiotics immediately.
March 7, 2002 - A strong winter storm has been pushing its way across Minnesota. Right now, the arrowhead is reporting some of the heaviest snow. Mark Kavinsky, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says the storm totals will vary widely.
March 6, 2002 - Medica health plan is reportedly considering capping premiums for almost all of its health plan members. The StarTribune reports the company had a good financial year and wants to pass the good fortune on to consumers. A Medica spokesperson declined to discuss what options the company is considering. Medica and Attorney General Mike Hatch will hold a press conference tomorrow to discuss the company's finances. Last year, Medica split from Allina Hospitals and Clinics, after Hatch began investigating lavish company expenses. Medica officials told the paper they've instituted aggressive cost cuts. The company could be reaching the point where it has more in reserves than the non-profit is allowed under state law. Healthcare consultant Allan Baumgarten says he's not surprised Medica is so profitable:
March 5, 2002 - People across the state tonight will attend neighborhood meetings to begin the work of nominating political candidates. The precinct caucus is a way for community members to participate at the first level of electing lawmakers. This year five of the seven gubernatorial candidates have agreed to abide by the party nomination. Chuck Slocum is a former chair of the state Republican party. He says major parties started using the caucus system in the 1950's:
February 26, 2002 - The Fargo North High School Orchestra plays a very special concert…on borrowed instruments. The students' own instruments were destroyed in a bus fire as the orchestra was returning from performing in the Twin Cities. Orchestra Director Dan Italiano says the bus drove over a mattress in the middle of the road. He says no-one realized the mattress was hooked up underneath the bus.
February 25, 2002 - A day after announcing he has a form of multiple sclerosis, U-S Senator Paul Wellstone resumed his normal schedule. His main public event today was a forum with high school students in St. Paul to talk about the importance of education. Wellstone said yesterday he has no intention of letting his condition affect his duties as senator or his campaign for re-election.