November 23, 1998 - (FOR MONDAY MORNING EDITION) When crimes are committed in Minnesota, physical evidence is often sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's crime lab in St. Paul. It's the only one of its kind in the state, and BCA officials say the lab's location in the Twin Cities makes it inconvenient and expensive for northern law enforcement officers. As Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji, the agency is considering a satellite crime lab in northern Minnesota...
November 13, 1998 - The firearms deer hunting season in northern Minnesota is getting mixed reviews by hunters and observers. Anecdotal information points to a smaller harvest in areas where the deer population was hard hit by the devastating winters of 1996 and 1997. There are some game registration stations reporting a better than expected hunt, But regardless of their success, many hunters are elated over the overwhelming support Minnesota voters gave the constitutional ammendment protecting hunting and fishing rights. In fact, its hard to find any opposition to the measure among hunters. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji...
October 26, 1998 - With Republicans only six seats shy of controlling the Minnesota House of Representatives, political strategists have their eye on about two dozen districts that could make or break the DFL's majority status. Three of those districts are located in northwestern Minnesota, and are attracting a lot of attention from the two major parties.
October 6, 1998 - One of the biggest obstacles in making the transition from welfare to work is the lack of adequate childcare, and Minnesota businesses are being encouraged to provide that service to their employees. But it's not as simple as it sounds, as one business in Blackduck has found.
September 11, 1998 - Word of a possible settlement to the nearly two-week-old Northwest Airlines strike is welcomed news for the 13 rural communities that have been cut off from Northwest Airlink service through Mesaba Airlines. The resumption of air travel will come none to soon for these communities, where the strike is taking an increasingly harsh economic toll. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji... While it's difficult to quantify the economic effects the N
September 8, 1998 - As part of a series of stories following the path of the "Father of Waters,” aka the Mississippi River, Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson has this Mainstreet report on the river's first city…Bemidji.
September 7, 1998 - MPR's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji, where It's harvest time for wild rice in Minnesota, and nowhere is the season more important than on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. The reservation has more than 6,000 acres of wild rice beds within its boundaries.
August 28, 1998 - With only hours left before a possible Northwest Airlines strike, air travelers in Bemidji are preparing for the worst. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson has the story... (sound of airplane) If Northwest Airlines pilots strike tonight, travelers departing Bemidji will have little choice but to leave town by car, bus, or by an expensive charter service. Mesaba Airlines Northwest Airlink Flight 3027 was among the
June 10, 1998 - Tribal elections were held on the White Earth Reservation yesterday, despite efforts by a group of band members to put a stop to the voting. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji.... Two days ago it looked doubtful that the scheduled election would take place on White Earth. A group of protesters took control of tribal headquarters Sunday, vowing that they would use any means necessary to stop the election. The group contends that three tribal council members have been holding office illegally since 1996. Those officials, with about 70 supporters, entered and reclaimed control of the building just before sunrise Tuesday.
June 8, 1998 - A group of White Earth band members have seized control of the tribe's government headquarters building in northwestern Minnesota. They say they'll use any means necessary to stop an election planned for tomorrow and to force the resignation of three tribal council members whom they say assumed office illegally two years ago. MPR's Tom Robertson reports from Bemidji... About 150 band members took over the building Sunday afternoon, and today they were busy planning strategy for what they'll do next. The group contends that in 1996, three of the four tribal council members took office two weeks before they were supposed to, a violation of the tribe's constitution. Tribal Cha