June 9, 1998 - The news from farm country is not good. Prices are low and costs are high. The squeeze is reminiscent of the farm crisis 20 years ago. The response by farmers is to buy more land and equipment to raise more food. Getting bigger in order to sell more product, the argument goes, is the only way to survive low prices. But a handful of farmers are going in the opposite direction. They're farming smaller, and they are making a living. But it may not be a style of farming others can afford to follow. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. A January wind dragging temperatures below zero did nothing to cool the anger of thousands of farm families gathered 13 years ago at the capitol in St. Paul.
June 9, 1998 - Norwest bank's proposed merger with Wells Fargo and move to San Francisco has lots of people wondering if the company's charitable giving in our region will decline. Norwest officials say it will not. The bank's Norwest foundation is one of the area's top charitable contributors. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. When company's move, Jon Pratt says, the eyes and ears of their top executives quite naturally focus on charitable needs in their headquarters city. Pratt is executive director of the Council on Non-Profits, a Twin Cities advocacy group non profit organizations. He says Norwest's merger and move may mean the new company gives fewer dollars to Minnesota causes. audio . . . one of the distinctive features of minn
June 5, 1998 - Millions of pounds of toasted oat cererals made by Malt-O-Meal at its Northfield plant are being recalled. The cereal is linked, but not positively identified, as the source of nationwide salmonella poisonings that have put 40 people in the hospital. State officials say over 100 Minnesotans have called the Health Department complaining of poisoning symptoms. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. People in twelve states have complained they contracted the flu like symptoms of salmonella poisoning - vomiting, diaherra, high fever and severe headache - and one of the links among all of them is one of Malt-O-Meal's toasted oat products. Minnesota Department of Health
June 2, 1998 - Stress is taking a toll on residents of Newport who are still without power. The town of four thousand people is eight miles south of St. Paul on the Mississippi river. About half of Newport's residents are still without power. The Saturday night storm hit the town hard, felling hundreds of old trees and causing extensive property damage. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. audio . . .ambience Newport has the feel of a village. Modest homes, some only a stones throw from the Mississippi are shaded by state
May 29, 1998 - MPR’s Dan Olson profiles the local band Speaking in Tongues, a quartet which blends musical traditions from four different cultures. Olson interviews percussionist Marc Anderson and Chinese pipa master Gao Hong.
May 27, 1998 - There's word today the federal transporation bill contains money to help build LRT along the Hiawatha corridor in Minneapolis. The prospect of a shiney new light rail line has stolen the transit spotlight the last few months. But the man credited with playing a key role in securing the LRT dollars told an audience at Minneapolis transit forum today buses must play a bigger role in Twin Cities transit. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. Dozens of North American cities have a head start over Minneapolis on light rail transit projects. But Congressman Martin Sabo says the effort to win federal funds for the Hiawatha avenue line is a turning point. He says it shows interest groups are once again thinking about the future. But Sabo cautions while Light rail is glamorous says bus
May 21, 1998 - The Minnesota Orchestra is considering building an outdoor amphitheater in Brooklyn Park. Orchestra officials say the northern Twin Cities suburban location is attractive because there are thousands of acres of undeveloped land. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. audio . . . (Minnesota Orchestra music) The Minnesota Orchestra wants to bring in more money. To do that, the Orchestra wants to build an amphitheatre that can seat more summer ticket buyers. The Orchestra sells lots of seats for its popular Sommerfest and Cabaret Pops concerts. But Orchestral Association president David Hyslop predicts a new amphitheatre will draw nearly twice as many people as Or
May 18, 1998 - As many as 25,000 Twin Cities residents will be without power until tomorrow, four days after tornadoes and thunderstorms swept through the area. Northern States Power company says Friday's storms knocked out electricity to more than 400,000 customers in Minnesota and parts of the Dakotas. The utility says the storms affected more households than a l996 ice storm. Cleanup crews are hauling away debris and dealing with the thousands of downed trees caused by the storm. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. The beads of perspiration popping from John Schotzsnyder's forehead gleam in the midday sun. He welcomes a chance to take a break from storm clean up to show a visitor the damage to his Shoreview home and the trees on his lot. Several damaged boughs hang precarious
May 18, 1998 - The clean up and development of polluted riverfront property in downtown Minneapolis is picking up steam. The area is part of the city's historic flour milling district. Developers are building apartments and townhomes for people they believe will be attracted by the central riverfront's scenery and location. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. audio . . . sfx wrecking ball Right now the neighbors are a little noisy. But the wrecking crew tearing down the old General Mills grain silos will leave soon. Then, developer Peggy Lucas' customers can catch a glimpse of what they've bought - an unobstructed view of the Mississippi River. Lucas' company, Brighton Development, is building apartments in the historic North Star Blanket fa
May 13, 1998 - Homeless people trying to kick their alcohol or drug addiction face long odds. They don't have money for shelter, and they face a slim chance of finding a job. The owners of a new apartment building having its grand opening Thursday in Minneapolis' Elliot Park neighborhood rent rooms to homeless people who promise to stay sober. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. The glow in Sondra Mallett's eye's matches her gleaming new surroundings. Every appliance is new, every wall freshly painted. She calls her efficiency in the Alliance Apartment building, 'a baby mansion.' audio . . . and I'm really in the process of learning how to live life that is free from drugs.