November 25, 2002 - Minnesota's high-paying manufacturing sector created nearly 50 thousand jobs during the 1990's, but now most of them are gone. From 1991 to 2000, the number of manufacturing jobs in Minnesota grew 12 percent, and helped fuel a big jump in the state's prosperity. Nationally, manufacturing was virtually stagnant over the same period. But the recession and its aftermath have wiped 80 percent of the jobs Minnesota gained. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
October 15, 2002 - Northwest Airlines is closing its Atlanta aircraft maintenance facility to cut costs. The company is transferring the work to the Twin Cities. Most of the 1450 employees in Atlanta are eligible for transfers to other Northwest facilities. Mechanics union officials say the move may result in some recalls of laid off Twin Cities workers but it's not clear how many. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
October 4, 2002 - Xcel Energy officials say their own internal audit of outage records has turned up no evidence of falsification. But new accusations the company has altered records have also surfaced. State officials are investigating allegations from undisclosed accusers that the company changed records to remain in compliance with state time limits on power outages. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
October 2, 2002 - Northwest Airlines says it will cut up to 1600 flight attendant jobs, because of a continuing slowdown in air travel after last year's terrorist attacks. Northwest says it expects about 500 actual layoffs by years end. Company officials say they hope a voluntary leave program will reduce the number of layoffs. However, the flight attendants union says the leave program is much less attractive than a program established a year ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
September 20, 2002 - Xcel Energy is offering an independent audit of information on power outages submitted to state regulators. The company is also denying allegations employees alter records to enable the utility to meet state-ordered reliability standards. The St. Paul Pioneer Press says unidentified employees supplied internal Xcel records documenting the adjustments. State Commerce Commissioner Jim Bernstein says if the allegations are true, quote, "there will be hell to pay." Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
September 12, 2002 - The Minnesota Commerce Department says state regulators have sufficient tools to protect Xcel Energy's Minnesota ratepayers from the company's financially troubled NRG Energy subsidiary. The advisory comments go to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which is looking into the effect of NRG on ratepayers. The comments come a day before Xcel has to find more than a billion dollars in collateral for NRG. Company officials say they won't be able to raise the money by then and expect to ask lenders for an extension. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
September 5, 2002 - A credit rating agency slapped another rating downgrade on Minneapolis based Xcel energy, and its operating utilities in Minnesota and elsewhere. Moody's Investors Service cites Xcel's efforts to help its cash-strapped N-R-G Energy subsidiary. The action comes after two state agencies urged the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to ensure ratepayers are protected from NRG's financial difficulties. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
September 2, 2002 -
July 18, 2002 - Eagan-based Northwest Airlines says it had a modest profit in June, and expects to repeat that in July and August. The nation's fourth largest airline also said its loss for the second quarter as a whole grew nearly 70 percent to 93 million dollars. But that was much lower than Wall Street analysts expected. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
July 16, 2002 - Qwest Communications says it is cutting about 400 jobs in Minnesota due to a slowdown in demand. The layoffs follow state reports indicating the job market has stabilized in Minnesota. Minnesota's unemployment rate continued to decline in June, falling slightly to 4 percent. The state jobless rate peaked last March at 4 point 4 percent. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.