October 9, 2000 - Twin Cities Marathon took place on October 8th. Two Russians won races. MPR's Tom Scheck ran the marathon and he discusses his experience.
October 3, 2000 - Eleven people who grew up near the former WR Grace and BF Nelson plants in Northeast Minneapolis filed a lawsuit in Hennepin County court today against the companies. The lawsuit claims the plaintiff's illnesses or deaths were caused by their contact with asbestos-tainted vermiculite used at the plants between the early 1940's and 1989. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health began doing surveys in the neighborhood to determine if the area is contaminated with asbestos. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
September 29, 2000 - The two candidates in Minnesota's sixth Congressional district met in their first debate this afternoon (friday) in Ham Lake. Democratic Congressman Bill Luther and the Republican candidate, retired marine John Kline discussed the federal government's role in tax reform, health care and education. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
September 25, 2000 - The Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and epidemiologists throughout the world are calling for more prudent use of antibiotics. Ever since doctors started using penicillin to kill bacterial infections in the 1940's, researchers have worried some bacteria would become resistant to antibiotics. Their fears are now coming true as scientists discover antibiotic resistant germs They say so-called "superbugs" will leave doctors defenseless against some illnesses. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has the first of three reports...
September 21, 2000 - About 100 people attended a community meeting last night in northeast Minneapolis to talk about the Environmental Protection Agency's asbestos investigation. The EPA says they've inspected 150 residential properties within a square mile of the former Western Minerals processing plant. The company processed asbestos tainted with vermiculite and the government agency is worried the mineral could be in the yards and driveways of many residents. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
September 15, 2000 - The Minnesota Department of Health says it will do a larger search for anyone who may have been exposed to asbestos from vermiculite at a North Minneapolis Plant. The Health Department says it will expand an earlier search done by the Environmental Protection Agency to include 2 to 3 thousand homes within a quarter mile of the former WR Grace plant. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
September 1, 2000 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on how the veneer of civility disappeared as four DFL candidates for the U.S. senate tore into each other at a Minnesota State Fair debate. The campaign had been relatively quiet, but in an effort to distance herself from the other candidates, Rebecca Yanisch attacked the two frontrunners on gun control and a campaign that has seen little fireworks erupted into finger pointing and accusations.
September 1, 2000 - The U-S Department of Health and Human Services has released a report that ranks Minnesota among the top 10 states for binge drinking, youth smoking and teen marijuana use. Some health care experts say results of the agency's annual National Household Survey on Drug Abuse show the state needs to do more to stop teens from experimenting with "gateway drugs." Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
August 30, 2000 -
August 28, 2000 - A new state law that takes effect next year will make Minnesota the first state to require welfare and health care case workers to report illegal immigrants to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Legislators who wrote the bill say the policy will discourage immigrants from entering Minnesota illegally and gaining access to state welfare services. Critics say the law targets all immigrants, including those in Minnesota legally. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports