August 4, 1999 - The Senate has approved a seven billion dollar Republican-sponsored farm aid bill. A more expensive Democratic proposal was defeated. A final version still must be worked out with the House, so cash probably will not flow until fall. Minnesota Republican Senator Rod Grams says the emergency funding is necessary, and that Freedom to Farm, the nation's current market-oriented farm policy, isn't causing the farm crisis.
July 27, 1999 - The Senate Agriculture Committee today began investigating why breakfast cereal prices are rising when farmers are seeing some of the lowest prices ever for corn, wheat and other grains. Cereal producers say their prices have been going up because marketing and packaging costs have increased. The President of the Minnesota Corn Growers' Association, Gerald Tumbleson, doesn't doubt that explanation, but he says the Senate hearing is still a good idea.
July 26, 1999 - To close out the millennium, Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered presents a look back at Minnesota life in 1900 via a 12-part series, entitled “A Minnesota Century.” This segment is a profile of the Mayo brothers.
July 13, 1999 - Baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy talks about the Minnesota Twins, who at the All-Star break are in last place in their division and have the third worst record in the American League. Despite that, Hennessy says the Twins have done much better than he thought they would in 1999, especially considering the young pitching staff.
July 6, 1999 - A group of artists, educators and book sellers is trying to save the boyhood home of one of Minnesota's best-known living authors. They are hoping to raise between 150 to 200-thousand dollars to move, rennovate and re-open the home of Jon Hassler. The author of "Staggerford," "A Green Journey" and many other novels is usually associated with central Minnesota because he taught at St. John's University for many years. But Hassler grew up in Plainview, a small agricultural town in southeastern Minnesota not far from the Mississippi River. His home was going to be deomolished to make way for a medical clinic, but fans of the author have managed to move it to a temporary site, while they raise money for the rennovation. A major benefit is planned for tomorrow evening. Executive Director of the Rural America Arts Partnership Ken Flies, says Hassler's house is in fairly good shape.
July 5, 1999 - MPR’s Lorna Benson talks with Mark Van Every, spokesperson for the Superior National Forest Service in Duluth, about the BWCA storms. Van Every says it was the worst storm his office has seen the the past decade.
June 21, 1999 - To close out the millennium, Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered presents a look back at Minnesota life in 1900 via a 12-part series, entitled “A Minnesota Century.” This segment is the story of journalist Eva McDonald. Her work exposing the harsh conditions endured by women in the new factories propelled her into the forefront of the very male world of labor politics.
June 18, 1999 - The University of Minnesota today dismissed the academic counselor for the men's basketball team. Alonzo Newby was a key figure in the academic fraud investigation. His testimony could have clarified what role coach Clem Haskins had in alleged improprieties in the basketball program. University counsel Mark Rotenberg says Newby was fired because he wouldn't cooperate with the investigation.
June 15, 1999 - V-shaped formations of migrating geese often herald the beginnings of spring or fall for many Minnesotans. Other bird watchers notice the return of robins or the exodus of orioles on their way to another winter in the tropics. In his new book "Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds" ornithologist Scott Weidensaul says the journey many birds make is nothing short of miraculous. Equally amazing is the short time they have to rest, raise a family AND bulk up for their next big flight.
June 14, 1999 - Governor Ventura will discuss farm policy with Minnesotans during a statewide radio and t-v forum tonight. Joining Ventura will be Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson and Tracy Beckman, state director of the federal Farm Service Agency. They'll respond to citizens in St. Paul, Crookston and Worthington. In addition, more than one-thousand citizens are expected to watch the forum with Minnesota Extension Service staff at some 50 sites across the state. Blue Earth County Ag Extension agent Kent Thiesse, says alot of rural Minnesotans are interested in what's going on because they are affected too. Thiesse says ag problems are so widespread now, in some ways it's worse than the farm crisis of the mid-80s.