January 22, 2001 - THE BAD NEWS JUST KEEPS COMING FOR MINNESOTA'S IRON RANGE. NOW, NATIONAL STEEL PELLET, IN KEEWATIN, SAYS IT'LL LAYOFF TEN WORKERS BY THE END OF THE WEEK....15 WERE LAID OFF EARLIER THIS MONTH. IN NEARBY HOYT LAKES, 14-HUNDRED JOBS WERE LOST WHEN LTV STEEL CLOSED FOR GOOD, AND IN EVELETH, ALMOST 500 JOBS COULD BE ON THE LINE IF EVTAC CLOSES BECAUSE IT CAN'T GET BANK LOANS OR INSURANCE COVERAGE. MINNESOTA'S TACONITE INDUSTRY HAS ALWAYS RUN IN CYCLES, BUT SOME ON THE RANGE WONDER IF THIS DOWNTOWN IS WORSE THAN OTHERS. ECONOMICS PROFESSOR RICK LICK-TEE TEACHES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH AND HE SAYS A SLOWING ECONOMY IS ONLY PART OF THE PROBLEM.
January 9, 2001 - MPR sports commentor Jay Weiner discusses results of a stadium advisory panel created by the Minnesota Twins that say Twins owner Carl Pohlad should contribute $150 million toward a new outdoor baseball stadium. A draft report obtained by the Star Tribune from Minnesotans for Major League Baseball says that amount would cover about the half of the cost. The other half would be financed through taxes as opposed to a "direct public subsidy."
January 3, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Democrat John Hottinger, the assistant majority leader of the senate, and Republican Tim Pawlenty, the majority leader of the house, about the start of Minnesota state legislature. Legislators are expected to tackle some sticky issues, like what to do with a projected three billion dollar surplus, along with campaign finance proposals, and the high price of prescription drugs.
December 28, 2000 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Neva Walker, who was elected to represent District 61B in South Minneapolis. In a weeks time, she will be sworn-in as the first African American state legislator. Walker is a DFLer who, like all new legislators, will have to transition into her new job.
December 18, 2000 - Everybody will be watching the Federal Government talking about finances. Chris Farrell talks about the meeting, Alan Greenspan, and what would be best for citizens.
December 15, 2000 - Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe is a DFLer from Erskine. Moe thinks that the surplus should be put aside for an endowment in case of something happens in the future. The current law is to give the surplus back to the tax payers.
December 8, 2000 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer visits the Stillwater home of Dick & Lois Kohns, serious fans of Santa Claus.
December 6, 2000 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Dave Meltzer about new football league, the XFL, which is coming to Minnesota and Governor Jesse Ventura is going to be a sports announcer. The league is considered a raunchy version of the NFL.
November 30, 2000 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Minnesota House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty, a Republican from Eagan, about his thoughts about state surplus and what should happen going forward. Pawlenty is concerned about Governor Ventura’s idea of lowering state sales tax, but raising in other areas.
November 30, 2000 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Lee Ronning, director of One Thousand Friends of Minnesota, about the fight against urban sprawl. Urban sprawl will be topic number one at the "Growing Smart in Minnesota" conference taking place later today in St. Paul. Jesse Ventura, governor of Minnesota; and Ted Mondale, Met Council chairman, are expected to attend. So are urban growth experts from other parts of the country. One Thousand Friends of Minnesota is sponsoring the conference.