March 5, 2001 - The Minneapolis-based Star Tribune is converting to a narrower format. Starting tomorrow morning, the newspaper will be about five percent smaller. The change follows an industry trend to reduce newsprint costs, which have increased sharply in recent years. Faith Christine is a senior project manager at the Star Tribune. She says the new format won't cut into content.
February 27, 2001 - President Bush will address a joint session of Congress tonight. In the first major policy speech of his presidency, Bush is expected lay out plans for a one-point-six trillion dollar tax cut. He will also propose funding increases for education, the military and Medicare. We asked two Minnesota Congressmen for a preview of the President's speech. Eighth district Democrat James Oberstar says he doesn't think the President's proposal is fiscally sound:
February 26, 2001 - Foreign Skiers dominated Saturday's Birkebeiner Cross-Country ski race in Hayward Wisconsin. Italian Gianantonio Zanetel won the men's 52 kilometer- or 34 mile- race. And Russian Nadezhada Slessareva was the women's champion at the same distance. More than three inches of fresh snow slowed the athletes down considerably... the leaders were almost 30 minutes off their normal pace. But the tough conditions were not enough to keep more than 7,000 skiiers from showing up to race.
February 26, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with Bruce Coppock, managing director of the SPCO, about conductor Bobby McFerrin leaving The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. McFerrin took the SPCO job in 1994, signing on for a two year contract after visiting the orchestra to conduct. Those two years turned into seven, and now McFerrin's ready to pursue other projects.
February 22, 2001 - This winter's unrelenting cold could cause problems even after temperatures rise above freezing. Snow has not had a chance to melt gradually which might mean flooding if it turns to water in a shorter span than usual. Gary McDivett is a Hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. He says Southern Minnesota has the potential to see the biggest problems:
February 21, 2001 - The Bureau of Indian Affairs has given its approval to a proposal for a casino at the St. Croix Meadows dog track in Hudson. Yesterday's decision reverses the B-I-A position on the plan... but it is not the last step in the process. Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum has authority to approve or deny the proposal and he has already stated his intention to deny it. Al Trepainya is a member of the La Court Orielles Tribe, one of three tribes working together to build the casino. He says he's happy with the B-I-A decision:
February 20, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Bo Thao, who proposed a new oral history project documenting the lives of Hmong women in the Twin Cities. Thao says she hopes the stories will empower younger women with the knowledge that Hmong women have always been leaders in their communities, especially in times of war.
February 20, 2001 - Governor Ventura's press office issued Capitol reporters new credentials today. Reporters already have security passes for the House, Senate and Capitol, but this is the first time the Governor has required a separate credential for covering his activities. The front of each pass declares the wearer an "official jackal." The back reads "the Governor's office reserves the right to revoke this credential for any reason." The Governor's spokesperson, John Wodele, says the credentials are a necessity:
February 19, 2001 - Nortwest Airlines has named a new ceo. Richard Anderson will replace John Dasburg, effective April first (check). Dasburg leaves after years as head of northwest the airline has struggled in recent years with labor and customer service problems. Richard Anderson, who previoulsy was... says his first priority. (talked a lot about them needing to return to normal workplace Richard Anderson new C-E-O -- We understand John Dasburg isn't available to talk, can you tell us why he's leaving? -- you've talked a lot about the airline needing to improve relations with employees and customers. How do you plan to do that?
February 15, 2001 - After skiing and parasailing across Anarctica for more than 90 days, explorers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arneson will test a different skill... waiting. The pair have decided to cut their expedition short by having a plane pick them up on the Ross Ice Shelf, instead of continuing another 470 miles on to McMurdo station. The plane rescue is not cheap-- it adds about 200-thousand dollars to the trip's expenses. Charlie Hartwell is president of yourexpedition.com, the Minneapolis company supporting the trip. He says with the anarctic winter closing in, continuing on would have been a risk: