January 6, 1999 - While the US Senate is focussing most of its attention on preparing for the impeachment trial of President Clinton, there are some other things going on. A group of farm state Democratic Senators held a hearing in Washington yesterday to discuss what can be done for hog farmers who are struggling because of record low prices.
June 1, 1998 - The Church of St. Louis, King of France (aka “The Little French Church”) in downtown St. Paul introduces its brand new pipe organ. The organ is the centerpiece of a campaign to renovate the church, which was designed by French architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray in 1909. The architect also designed the St. Paul Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, but Masqueray called the Church of St. Louis his 'little gem'...and church officials say the new organ will be its crowning jewel.
May 6, 1998 - The history of organized crime in the Twin Cities and the life of St. Paul's most notorious grandmother is the focus of a documentary tonight on the A&E Cable TV channel. For some 50 years, 'Ma' Barker has been known as the leader of the Barker-Karpis gang and the mastermind behind a series of local kidnappings and bank robberies in the 1930s. But St. Paul author Paul Maccabee contends Barker was framed by the FBI for crimes she never committed. Maccabee presented his theory in his 1995 book "John Dillinger Slept Here." He's also featured in tonight's documentary.
May 6, 1998 - The history of organized crime in the Twin Cities and the life of St. Paul's most notorious grandmother is the focus of a documentary tonight on the A&E Cable TV channel. For some 50 years, 'Ma' Barker has been known as the leader of the Barker-Karpis gang and the mastermind behind a series of local kidnappings and bank robberies in the 1930s. But St. Paul author Paul Maccabee contends Barker was framed by the FBI for crimes she never committed. Maccabee presented his theory in his 1995 book "John Dillinger Slept Here." He's also featured in tonight's documentary: St. Paul author Paul Maccabee is featured in the documentary on 'Ma' Barker that airs tonight on the A&E Channel.
April 28, 1998 - Faculty at Minnesota's State Universities have authorized a strike against MnSCU - the State Colleges and Universities system... although a strike date has not been set. The Inter Faculty Association, which represents more than three-thousand faculty members, has been negotiating since its contract expired last June. The union's demands include higher pay raises and less reliance on part-time faculty. Ann Weyandt is chief negotiator for MnSCU. Sun 28-MAY 11:24:52 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
April 23, 1998 - The National Basketball Association plans to locate a new women's professional team in the Twin Cities beginning in June, 1999. The WNBA, which begins its second season in June, also announced a new team for Orlando, Florida. The league owns the teams, but local NBA franchises are in charge of running them. Roger Griffith is the Minnesota Timberwolves chief financial officer. He told MPR's John Bischoff the Timberwolves staff will handle the promotion and management of the team.
April 10, 1998 - Students and faculty from the University of Minnesota's Chinese Language Program will meet with President Mark Yudof this morning to discuss the program's future. More than 20 students are in the third day of a hunger strike to protest understaffing of the program. University officials say a new professor will be hired next fall... but so far, that assurance hasn't been enough to end the strike. Minnesota Public Radio's John Bischoff reports: Sun 28-MAY 11:38:42 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 20, 1998 - The musician known as the king of the flute makes his Twin Cities debut tonight. Chen Tao is lauded in China as one of the country's most accomplished musicians. The New York Times calls him a 'poet in music. Chen and two other acclaimed Chinese musicians will perform a concert of traditional Chinese music tonight in Minneapolis, as Minnesota Public Radio's John Bischoff reports: The flute is usually thought of as a gentle instrument... best suited for melodies about love, flowers and spring. But 2,000 years ago in China, generals used flutes to fire up the blood of warriors on horseback:
February 20, 1998 - This winter may go down as one of the warmest ever in Minnesota. The winter of 1986-87 currently holds the record... with an average statewide temperature of 21.7 degrees. But we could come within a tenth of a degree of that record this year according to a forecast by assistant state climatologist Greg Spoden. As you might expect, Minnesotans have developed some strong opinions about the departure from the usual sub-zero chill... as Minnesota Public Radio's John Bischoff discovered on a stroll down Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis .
August 25, 1997 - The Minnesota Department of Transportation is testing a new traffic control system that's a bit more sophisticated than your average ramp meter. The Guidestar Trilogy Project uses electronic sensors, global positioning satellites and dashboard computers to help drivers steer clear of traffic jams on Twin Cities highways. MnDOT is testing the system to work out bugs and to figure out how much people are willing to pay for it. Minnesota Public Radio's John Bischoff reports: (car door slam, ding dong) "When they installed this they put in a monitor and stand. Then in the trun