January 16, 2002 - If it seems like it's been a particularly warm winter, you're right -- it has. So far, the Twin Cities hasn't recorded a single day below zero all winter long. University of Minnesota meteorologist Mark Seeley says it's been nearly half a century since truly frigid days were so hard to come by in the first half of winter in the Twin Cities. In the winter of 1954-55, the Twin Cities didn't record their first subzero day until Jan. 15. And the area hasn't had a single
January 16, 2002 - Minnesota U-S Senator Mark Dayton today met with interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai during his tour of Central Asia. Dayton, a D-F-L'er, says the U-S should provide 50-Million dollars in immediate aid to Afghanistan. Dayton and members of the congressional delegation have also had meetings with Pakistani leaders--including President General Pervez Musharraf (pur-VEHZ' moo-SHAH'-ruhv)--to discuss the war on terrorism. Dayton says the purpose of the trip is to give U-S lawmakers the opportunity to see the region first-hand:
January 16, 2002 - Three former Symbionese Liberation Army members were arrested today in connection with a 27-year-old bank heist and shooting death in Carmichael, California. Emily Harris and her ex-husband Bill Harris were arrested in California. Mike Bortin was arrested at his home in Portland, Oregon. The three will be charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Myrna Opsahl, who died during the robbery. Former SLA member Patty Hearst, who was granted immunity in the case, told authorities Sara Jane Olson took part in the hold up. Olson now lives in St. Paul with her family. She will be sentenced Friday in Los Angeles for her role in a failed 1975 attempt to blow up Los Angeles police cars. Larry Hatfield is a reporter with the San Fransico Chronicle who has been following the SLA for more than 25 years. He says he would not be suprised if prosecuters filed new charges against Olson. He says word these arrests were coming began leaking out earlier this week:
January 14, 2002 - St. Paul resident Betty McKenzie received a priceless birthday present today - her freedom. The 72-year old nun was released this morning after spending the past six months at a Federal women's minimum security prison in Illinois. McKenzie was arrested for protesting and trespassing at the School of the Americas, in Fort Benning, Georgia. She says it feels good to be heading home:
January 8, 2002 - Interview with Rahfat Hussain
January 4, 2002 - The announcement made to fire Minnesota Vikings' Coach Green may have been made prematurely.
December 27, 2001 - The Olympic torch is traveling through the Boston area today on a 46-state tour that ends in Salt Lake City on February 8th. Minnesota is one of four states the torch won't visit, but about 50 Minnesotans will carry the torch elsewhere. Rochester resident Darald Bothun (Both-uhn) is preparing to take the torch for a leg as it travels through Wisconsin on January 5th. He says he doesn't know exactly what a friend wrote when she nominated him for the honor, but he was thrilled to find out he made the cut:
December 24, 2001 - Traditional foods like turkey, oyster stew, ham and virtually all kinds of potatoes, be they scalloped, baked or mashed, tend to dominate most holiday tables. But City Pages Eater's Digest columnist Dara Moskowitz says that can get a little boring after awhile. She suggests jazzing up this year's holiday feast with an old farm classic that's suddenly become quite chic -- BEETS.
December 20, 2001 - A plan to boost the U-S economy sponsored by President Bush today died in the Democratic-led U.S. Senate. The Republican-led House passed the measure on a largely party-line vote early this morning. The package, which would cost the federal treasury $90 (b) billion dollars next year--and $214 (b)billion dollars over five years, included tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals. The Senate was pushing for a plan that did more to extend specific types of unemployment benefits to laid off workers. Jaye Rykunyk (racoon-ik) heads the hotel and restaurant workers union in the Twin Cities, which has many laid-off members. She says the house bill wouldn't have done much to help her members:
December 19, 2001 - Northwest Airlines announced today it will create dedicated security lines for its best and most frequent fliers. The airline says the additional lanes will help their most loyal customers save time when they get to the airport. The Twin Cities International Airport today also re-opened a security checkpoint that had been closed since the September 11th attacks. Now passengers who park in the blue or red parking ramps can have their bags screened without entering the main terminal. Officials at the airport are scrambling to impliment the first phase of the airline security law President Bush signed last month. Jim Welna, the Director of Public Safety for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, says the airport has already significantly increased the number of security checkpoints: