September 29, 1998 - Our September installment of the MPR "Voices of Minnesota" series is a special baseball edition, with profiles of Minnesota baseball stars Paul Molitor and Kirby Puckett. MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki interviews Molitor and Jim Bickal interviews Puckett. Following interviews a conversation with sports commentator Howard Sinker and call-in from listeners.
September 16, 1998 - The election primary for the State's top lawyer--Attorney General now sets the stage for a November race between a former commerce commissioner who wants to investigate the health insurance industry and an Anoka State representative who wants to fight juvenile crime. Both winners have different plans for the office that's largely fought consumer fraud under Skip Humphrey's direction for the past 16 years. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
September 11, 1998 - Northwest airlines is by no means free and clear of labor problems despite a tentative settlement between the company and its striking pilots. Five other unions are on deck to hammer out *their* contracts with Northwest management. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports on what's next for Northwest labor negotations:
September 8, 1998 - Northwest Airlines says it will help its regional airlines Mesaba and Express One resume flying.....within the constraints of its current pilot strike. That comes in response to a federal transportation department order last Friday. Mesaba and Express One shut down their operations last week saying they were too intertwined with Northwest to fly when Northwest pilots were on strike. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The department of transportation ordered Northwest to provide its regional airlines with the same resources it gave them *before* Northwest pilots went on strike. That includes: ticketing; scheduling, banking and ground services. Northwest said it cannot guarantee how long or to what it extent it will help Mesaba and Express One...but it will *try* to help both airlines get back in the air.
September 1, 1998 - Northwest airlines has started laying off employees as a result of the pilot's strike. Today the airline announced it would furlough 162 dispatchers and 15 meteorologists. Other union heads say they expect more layoffs in the next few days. Northwest says it will decide tomorrow (Wednesday) whether to lay off flight attendants. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: Northwest says it's paid its employees--other than striking pilots--as if the airline were running full steam. But that could soon change barring an agreement between management and pilots. Layoffs would save the carrier money but could also delay a start-up by several weeks once the strike ends.
August 31, 1998 - Pilots for Northwest airlines are walking picket lines for the third day in a row today at the airline's hubs in Detroit, Memphis and Minneapolis St Paul. Northwest has cancelled all domestic flights through Tuesday and cancelled all international flights through Wednesday even if pilots and management settle. The company could announce even more cancellations later today. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports from St Paul: That report by Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki.
August 27, 1998 - (UPDATED FOR THURS M.E.) Reports flew Wednesday that Northwest and its pilots are close to settling a two-year old contract dispute and possibly averting a strike tomorrow (Friday). The strike would cripple air service in Minnesota and strand thousands of travellers. But Northwest announced it's cancelled 400 weekend flights and has already stopped accepting cargo. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: Despite a flurry of reports ranging from a settlement was close at hand to both sides had reached a tentative agreement...Northwest management and pilots were quick to deny any settlement was near: Northwest's Jon Austin: (talks are continuing we continue to put reasona
August 26, 1998 - Reports flew today (Wednesday) that Northwest and its pilots are close to settling a two-year old contract dispute and possibly averting a strike this Friday. The strike would cripple air service in Minnesota and strand thousands of travellers. But Northwest announced it's cancelled 400 weekend flights and will stop accepting cargo for flights this evening. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: Despite a flurry of reports ranging from a settlement was close at hand to both sides had reached a tentative agreement...Northwest management and pilots were quick to deny any settlement was near: Northwest's Jon Austin: (talks are continuing we continue to put reasonable proposals on the table we continue good faith negotiations the talks are on-going)
August 26, 1998 - (FOR WED MORNING ED) Northwest and its pilots have moved talks from the Ozarks to Minneapolis marking another day of mediated sessions. Neither side will comment on the status of those talks. Pilots could walk off their jobs 11 pm Minnesota time Friday. But as Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports travel officials are encouraging consumers to begin making alternative travel plans days *before* the strike date: Northwest airlines is expected to announce Wednesday whether it will cancel international flights even earlier than Friday evening's strike deadline. That's possible since Northwest may not want to strand airplanes overseas. Bob McFarlin of the Minnesota Department of Transportation says Northwest passengers may want to book other flights as soon as We
May 18, 1998 - Political foes of Minnesota Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Skip Humphrey say he should've disclosed all of the fees paid to attorneys in Minnesota's tobacco trial when he announced the settlement two weeks ago. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported over the weekend the Robins Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi firm will receive at least 100-million-dollars more than Humphrey stated. Humphrey supporters say the fees are a non-issue because the tobacco companies agreed to pay them on top of the settlement. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: When Humphrey announced the tobacco settlement on June 8th, he proudly told supporters tobacco companies would pay attorneys fees *on top* of the 6 billion dollar settlement. He said tobacco companies would pay attorneys 440-million dollars or about seven percent of the settlement. But the Pioneer Press reported over the weekend that Humphrey was quoting only the fe