July 23, 1997 - The Minnesota Twins opened the door a crack to a multi-use stadium today after seeing plans for a next-generation baseball and football facility. But officials from the team -- who have asked the state to pay for a baseball-only park -- remain highly skeptical a dual purpose stadium could generate the revenue they say they need. The push for a multi-use facility is coming from the Minnesota Vikings...who say they can't survive financially as the sole tenant in the Metrodome. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports: Officials from the Twins...Vikings...and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission met for over two hours behind closed doors with an architect from HOK...a firm that's designed several stadiums around the country. R
July 11, 1997 - Minneapolis school officials have inspected about two-thirds of the districts buildings for damage suffered in last week's big storm. Preliminary estimates put the cost of cleanup and repairs at $6.5 million. The damage was especially severe at Edison High School in northeast Minneapolis, where the repair estimate is $5 million. Renovation work underway at the school allowed thousands of gallons of rainwater to pour into the 75-year-old building. The good news is the building is insured and officials expect to be ready for students on schedule this fall. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham toured the building this morning.
July 3, 1997 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports that local officials expect cleanup from the July 1st storm to last weeks, as several of the city's schools sustained heavy damage. One of the most damaged was Edison High School in Northeast community of Minneapolis.
June 27, 1997 - The Minneapolis city council has voted 7-to-6 to eliminate the position of head of the Civilian Review Authority and fold the police oversight panel into the City Coordinator's department. The move comes over the strong objections of civilian review supporters who say it amounts to the first step in dismantling the agency. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports: It's undisputed among councilmembers that the 6-year-old Civilian Review Authority has some problems and is in need of its own review and possible changes. But they are sharply divided over how much overhaul the agency needs, or even what constitutes change.
June 25, 1997 - Mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton says Minneapolis will put its money where its mouth is when it comes to keeping the Twins. Throughout the Twins quest for a new ballpark...Sayles-Belton has often said she wants the baseball team to remain in the city. But much to the consternation of stadium supporters...the mayor has never committed city resources to the project. That changed today when she announced a plan for acquiring and preparing a riverfront site for a stadium. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.
June 19, 1997 - The Minneapolis City Council is considering changes to the civilian board that reviews complaints against police officers. Some councilmembers want to merge the Civilian Police Review Authority with another city department, a move supporters say could save a third off the agency's $460,000 annual budget. But even as hearings on the proposal begin the effort seems to be losing steam. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.
June 17, 1997 - Minneapolis officials say they've put a significant dent in two gangs operating in the city. The announcement that police have arrested nine members of the Bogus Boys and the Family Mob gangs comes just as a new report highlights the strong link between gangs and Minneapolis homicides. The report suggests that despite the recent arrests police still have their work cut out for them. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.
June 10, 1997 - The Willmar School District has settled a class action lawsuit brought by Hispanic and Latino families last year. The families claimed the district discriminated against their children, putting them in inappropriate classes and disciplining them more harshly than other students. The central Minnesota district won't have to pay any monetary damages but it will have to make a number of policy changes. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.
June 9, 1997 - Governor Carlson says he plans to call a special legislative session in September to deal with the Minnesota Twins request for a publicly-funded ballpark. Carlson says he bellieves the Twins will leave if lawmakers don't approve funding before October...when the team can opt out of its Metrodome lease. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports: When the regular legislative session ended without a floor vote on a stadium plan legislative leaders pledged to study the issue over the summer and vote on it early in the '98 session. The governor says that's too late. Carlson says he came away from a meeting with members of the Pohlad family last week convinced the t
May 29, 1997 - Minneapolis officials hope to make a dent in the recurring summer crime epidemic that has plagued the city for the past two years. Today they announced expansion of several prevention programs, as well as some new ideas for reducing murders and other violent offenses. Most are targeted at young people who find themselves with more unsupervised time once school lets out. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.