March 18, 2002 - Recent economic indicators suggest the nation may be pulling out its recession, but Minnesota's state and local governments are likely to feel its pain for some time. Saint Paul is among the cities bracing for a tighter budget next year. But among many business people in Saint Paul there's a feeling that the capital city is in a better financial position than it was during the last recession eleven years ago.
March 25, 2002 - Minnesota lawmakers are coming up against their self-determined deadline for finishing the session. Leglislators have said they want to complete their work and adjourn by Easter. But they still have plenty to do, including agreeing on a plan to close a $440 million gap in the state budget. Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer gets developments from MPR's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum.
July 24, 2002 - Mark Stutrud, president of Summit Brewing Company; Jeff Lonto, author of "Legend of the Brewery: A Brief History of the Minneapolis Brewing Heritage;" Ted Marty, president of August Schell Brewing Company discuss Minnesota Brewing closures while Grain Belt Premium finds a new home....it's just the latest chapter in a long history of beer brewing in Minnesota. Strutrud, Lonto, and Marty also talk about what brewing has meant to the state and what the future may look like for local breweries.
August 27, 2002 - MPR’s Andrew Haeg looks into homeownership among immigrant groups. Real estate experts say immigrants are an increasingly important part of the real estate market and lenders are taking steps to accommodate them.
September 2, 2002 - MPR’s Kate Beeman reports on Duluth tourism. Report includes various commentary.
September 17, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on data from the U.S. Census that show the state's Asian population is economically well-off compared to other minority populations in the state. While the 90's were a prosperous time for Minnesota as a whole, the numbers show many minority groups did not prosper as much as their white neighbors.
September 25, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that rankings by the U.S. Census Bureau show members of some immigrant groups in Minnesota remain mired in poverty. While all minorities improved economically during the 1990s, Minnesota has one of the highest percentages of Asians in poverty when compared to other states. The ranking also confirms the widely held belief that there are more Somalis in Minnesota than anywhere else in the US.
May 26, 2003 - The Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start for the summer tourist season. Tourism contributes nearly $10 billion to Minnesota's economy. Resorts and other tourist-oriented businesses are hoping for a summer season that will compensate for several years of struggle. Many Minnesotans will head to the water for a long weekend of fishing.
July 23, 2003 - MPR’s Nikki Tundel interviews Michele Garnett McKenzie, director of the Refugee and Immigrant Program at Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, about newly released figures show Minnesota's largest minority groups are making significant economic strides. McKenzie says over the last few decades the state has become a magnet for the county's newest residents.
July 23, 2003 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that new information released by the U.S. Census gives a more detailed look at the state's Hmong population. When the Census was taken in 2000, Hmong Minnesotan's held jobs, but a third of them lived below the federal poverty line. The majority of Hmong are foreign-born, but over 30 percent are born in the state.