May 13, 1997 - The bid for a new publicly-financed Twins stadium is back to square one today following a severe setback at the capitol yesterday. Two committees soundly rejected ballpark plans...and it will take a Herculean effort to come up with a viable alternative before the legislature adjourns for the year next Monday. Still...stadium supporters say they'll try. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports: State lawmakers showed little interest in funding a baseball stadium Tuesday. In the morning...the House tax committee rejected a cigarette tax increase...stadium user fees...and a state-run casino. In the afternoon...the Senate tax committee also gave the thumbs down to a pair of gamb
May 8, 1997 - With less than two weeks to go in the 1997 legislative session the proposed stadium for the Minnesota Twins is in deep trouble -- in part because the project's cost seems to have escalated precipitously. The latest figures from the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission put the price tag at $506-million dollars -- up more than $150-million dollars from February estimates. Commission officials say they didn't miscalculate. Rather...they say changes to the deal keep adding new expenses. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports: Back in February stadium supporters were pitching a $350-million dollar ballpark for the Twins. Last week the figure was $439-mil
May 1, 1997 - Major League Baseball's acting commissioner told state lawmakers Wednesday the league wouldn't prevent the Twins from leaving Minnesota. Bud Selig says the team needs a new stadium to remain financially healthy. But Selig failed to fully endorse two elements many stadium supporters hope to see in a ballpark bill, financing with gaming revenues, and partial state ownership of the team. Selig's comments came during a full day of hearings on the stadium issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports
April 30, 1997 - Midday focuses on the discussion at the state Legislature about the future of a new baseball stadium for the Minnesota Twins. Host Gary Eichten speaks with MPR reporter Bill Wareham, who presents a summary of the various proposals and audio clips of committee debate. Ideas presented include gambling revenue options, cheaper alternatives to a stadium, buying a team, selling Metrodome to teams for $1.00, and buying season tickets.
April 29, 1997 - State lawmakers on the House and Senate tax committees will spend much of tomorrow discussing proposals for financing a new Twins stadium. It's a critical day for stadium supporters...because with less than three weeks left in the legislative session, they still have no politically viable plan to pay for a new ballpark. If the joint House-Senate hearings don't begin to generate some consensus it will be difficult to get a bill passed by adjournment on the 19th. Twins owner Carl Pohlad says he needs an answer from the legislature this year for him to assure the team will remain in Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports: The proposed Twins stadium has produced trial balloons galore -- an
April 24, 1997 - State lawmakers have yet to approve a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins...but Minneapolis business leaders have already begun the push for ballpark-related development. The Minneapolis Downtown Council announced today it will form a task force to come up with ideas for stimulating development around a stadium. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports: When the Metrodome was on the drawing boards in the 70's...many assumed it would act as something of a development magnet...attracting entrepreneurs eager to capitalize on the millions of people who would visit the facility each year. But 15 years after opening...there's little to distract a fan on his
April 17, 1997 - A Minnesota House committee voted this afternoon to withhold state money from Minnesota Public Radio unless the network sells its KSJN broadcast frequency to a group of minority broadcasters. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.
April 11, 1997 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports on residents of the Phillips neighborhood in South Minneapolis packing City Council chambers morning to plead for more help combatting violence.
April 10, 1997 - Legislation for a new Twins ballpark has cleared a key committee in the Minnesota House. The Local Government committee rejected the stadium bill earlier this month...but decided last night to pass the measure along without recommendation. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports: After several days of intense behind the scenes negotiating...and another three hours of public wrangling in committee...political support shifted just enough to get the stadium bill to the next stage in the process. Long gone is the cigarette tax once envisioned for fi
March 31, 1997 - Midday discusses basketball and baseball with Minnesota Public Radio's sports commentator Howard Sinker and reporter Bill Wareham. The focus is on on the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball season and the upcoming season for the Minnesota Twins.