September 26, 2000 - Baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy shares his thoughts about rumors that Minnesota Twins Manager Tom Kelly may not continue in his role next year. Hennessy sees hope in the team’s roster and near future. He thinks Kelly is a strong manger to have for any upswing.
September 26, 2000 - University of Minnesota wrestler Garrett Lowney is taking home a suprise medal in Greco-Roman Wrestling. Twenty year old Lowney won the bronze after defeating a string of better-known competitors. His medal is the fifth Minnesota has won in Greco-Roman wrestling in five straight Olympics. Dennis Koslowski won a bronze medal in the sport at the 1988 Olympics and followed that up with a silver medal in 1992. He says he's happy Lowney was able to extend Minnesota's streak.
September 25, 2000 - A U.S. District Court judge today threw out charges against the former University of Minnesota tutor who admitted doing coursework for basketball players. Jan Ganglehoff was expected to plea guilty to helping former Gopher Bobby Jackson fraudulently obtain a federal grant. In exchange for a light sentence she was expected to testify against former coach Clem Haskins. MPR's Brandt Williams was outside the courtroom today has an update.
September 22, 2000 - The Ventura administration is considering whether to join five other states in extending benefits to the domestic partners of state employees. Ventura recently directed his commissioner of employee relations to study the cost and feasibility of domestic partner benefits, which could include health care and other insurance. The proposal will have to go before the legislature, where it could face significant opposition. Anne DeGroot is the director of outfront Minnesota, an advocacy group for gays and lesbians. She's happy to see the state taking this step:
September 21, 2000 - In Minnesota, Xcel Energy, formerly known as NSP, says customers can expect to pay as much as 50 percent more for natural gas heat this winter. Last month, the company was projecting a 20 percent rise in winter heating bills, but a surge in natural gas prices forced Xcel to revise its forecast. Scott Holtz, a gas supply manager for Xcel Energy, says the world's oil producers are responsible for the rate increase. Both Senator Paul Wellstone and Senator Rod Grams are asking the President to set aside 500 million dollars to help low income families pay for heat this winter. But they don't agree on who's to blame for the sharp increase.
September 20, 2000 - Gretchen Sabel is the feedlot programs coordinator for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. She generally agrees with the report's conclusions.
September 20, 2000 - A new survey finds that manure pollution from the state's feedlots is killing hundreds of thousands of fish each year. The Isaak Walton League found that from 1995 to 1998, eight feedlot manure spills killed almost 900,000 fish. Surveys of state agency data from nine other midwestern states resulted in similar findings. Rachel Hopper is the fish kill network coordinator at the midwestern office of the Isaak Walton League. She says fishkills are a "canary in the mine" indicator of how feedlots affect water quality.
September 19, 2000 - After four years of deficits, the Children's Theater Company is finally operating in the black. The Company announced this week that it has an operating surplus of $175-thousand dollars on a $7.1 million dollar budget. In the past year, attendance increased 24-percent. Director Peter Brosious credits enthusiastic Twin Cities arts patrons for the turnaround. He says the audience responded to the theater's recent attempt to offer a broader selection of plays.
September 19, 2000 - The Children's theater is just one entertainment option in town that just got much cheaper, if you're willing to wait until the day of the performance to buy tickets. The Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitor's association is now offering half price tickets through an outlet called T-C Tix. Thirty five diverse organizations, from Orchestra Hall to the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to participate in the program. Greg Ortale is the President and C-E-O of the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association. He says last-minute availability doesn't necessarily mean seats in the nose-bleed section:
September 18, 2000 - Minnesota native Tom Malchow is favored to win the gold in the final round of the 200 meter butterfly tomorrow night in Sydney. He already holds the world record in the 200 meter fly and won a silver medal in the event at the Atlanta games in '96. Malchow might also have contended in the 100 fly, but decided during the Olympic trials to skip the event. Paul Lundsten coached Malchow from the time the Olympian was seven years old until he went off to college. He says Malchow is wise to focus his energy on one olympic event: