March 9, 1998 - Officials in the Iron Range town of Cohassett consider a loan tonight intended to prevent the eviction of a St. Paul-based manufacturer of a product called "Stonite". The new company has run out of money and has yet to produce the granite-like product. The plan would provide $300,000 in short term financing from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board and the Minneapolis Police Association. Minneapolis police and firefighter pension funds have each already invested $5-million in the project, and that has raised questions about whether public pension plans should invest in high-risk projects. Minnesota Public Radio's Perry Finelli reports.
March 11, 1998 - If you don't pay you don't play. That's the message Minnesota home schoolers say they've been getting from public schools when they try to enroll their kids in school-run sports programs. The K-12 funding bills approved by the House and Senate include requirements that schools charge the same price for home schoolers as enrolled students to participate in sports and other extra curricular activities. However, some home schoolers are worried this might actually reduce access for their children. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
March 12, 1998 - Minnesotas House of Representatives is expected to take up its largest bonding bill ever today or tomorrow (Thursday or Friday). The package of capital projects weighs in at just under a billion dollars, but it doesnt contain key items the governor wants. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen report: The House capital investment bill is different from the one passed by the state Senate last week. At $945 million dollars, its a little smaller than the Senate package. It uses bonds to pay for the bulk of projects, while the Senate version would spend almost entirely cash. It includes state money for a St. Paul civic center and hockey arena that the Senate version doesn't, and doesnt include a major University of Minnesota research facility that IS in the Senate plan. Neither version is well received in governor Arne Carlsons
March 16, 1998 - When an explorer sets off on a new adventure these days, it's a sure bet students are going along too, albeit from their classrooms via the internet. Computer technology allows today's adventurers to instantly share photographs and written accounts of their discoveries. Most schools with computer-savvy, creative teachers have tapped into some form of adventure learning. They say it a great way to motivate students. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
March 17, 1998 - ****NOTE: USE THIS VERSION OF STORY. DO NOT USE DCART #4501**** At first glance it would seem like a school boards' dream come true: a small school district filled with luxury homes whose owners pay hefty property tax bills. But it is a major problem in Pequot Lakes, north of Brainerd. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team has the story: If you flew over Pequot Lakes just north of Brainerd, you would see as much water as land. This is the heart of Minnesota's vacation country where summer cabins outnumber year round homes two to one. In the middle of all this pricey lakeshore, is Pequot Lakes a modest, mostly low income community.
March 18, 1998 - The Minnesota State High School League will decide Thursday (March 19th) if high school teams should be allowed to practice during the summer. Opponents believe its another step toward year round sports. Supporters say athletes who want to practice during the summer with their coach should be given the chance. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports: The state high school league has very specific regulations controlling what high school athletes can do, much like the NCAA governs college athletics. The seemingly endless rules are frustrating to Cally Vinz of Rochester. Her two sons love to play hockey: :10 (One time one of my sons said to me, 'I've been aw
March 20, 1998 - Ward Connerly, University of California regent, speaks at an event sponsored by the Center of the American Experiment and the Minnesota Association of Scholars. Connerly’s speech is entitled “Racial Preferences: Inequities in the Name of Equality,” which focuses on affirmative action in college admissions.
March 23, 1998 - As part of the Minnesota Citizens Forum on education, in partnership with the Star Tribune, KTCA-TV, and the Minnesota Journalism Center, this program reports on forum and presents MPR listeners' views on education and the Gubernatorial campaign. “Profile of Learning” was a key topic.
March 23, 1998 - Minnesota's gubernatorial candidates will be stepping in to tricky territory when they try to outline their education proposals, judging by comments at a recent Minnesota Public Radio/Star Tribune/KTCA TV citizens forum on education. Citizens complained that the state's education system isn't meeting the needs of today's children and demanded the next Governor do something about the problem. But many said the problem with schools is that theyre being micromanaged by the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports on the mixed messages and candidate questions that came out of the forum. TAG: Tune in to Midday this morning at 11 for more on education and the governor's race. We'd like to know what education qu
March 26, 1998 - State's attorneys in Minnesota's tobacco trial are expected to begin cross-examining a historian who testified yesterday that Minnesotans have long known about the health risks of smoking. University of Minnesota history professor Hy Berman told jurors the public has known cigarettes were hazardous more than 100 years ago. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The tobacco companies are trying to poke holes in the State's contention they lied, covered-up and deceived the public about the dangers of smoking. History professor Hy Berman told jurors Minnesotans have known smoking is hazardous to health for decades from their schoolbooks, teachers and press coverage. He said Minnesota school teachers have taught students about the h