March 15, 1999 - State officials are scrambling to find out why a hog disease known as pseudorabies spread rapidly this winter in southern Minnesota's prime pork raising areas. Over two hundred infected herds are quarantined and officials expect to find more animals with the virus.
March 9, 1999 - The 1996 Telecommunications Act is changing the service map in small Minnesota cities and towns. The legislation's goal is to foster more competition in the telephone industry. While wide-spread competition for local service has not materialized yet, ownership changes are already affecting many Minnesota communities. One major phone company is pulling out of the state and another is selling a large number of its local exchanges.
March 4, 1999 - Minnesota Agriculture commissioner Gene Hugoson heard an earful about the farm crisis during the first in a series of listening sessions around the state. Hugoson was in Marshall yesterday where farmers said state officials should be leaders in the search for solutions.. something they say is not happening.
February 24, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from community room at City Hall in Thief River Falls. Mark Steil hosts a discussion on farm crisis and its impact on mental health with local farmers and Winnie Stoltman, counselor with the Disaster Response Network based in East Grand Forks.
February 24, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from community room at City Hall in Thief River Falls. Mark Steil hosts a discussion on farm crisis and its impact on small towns with guests Howard Pearson, Pennington County Extension Agent; and Bob Bergland, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
February 5, 1999 - When the midnight bell tolls December 31st, there's a good chance some city employee who drew the short straw will be standing next to a water pump or some other piece of equipment, praying it functions normally as the year 2000 begins. The y2k computer bug has crawled onto the radar screen of small government, and most are taking it seriously.
February 1, 1999 - The new farm crisis was expected to be a major topic in the legislature this year but you wouldn't know it from Governor Ventura's budget proposal. Scores of Red River valley farmers have left the business and hog producers are suffering one of their worst price slumps ever. Ventura though only made a couple of suggestions to help farmers and those ideas aren't finding much support.
January 22, 1999 - The amount of electricity produced by wind power will continue to grow in Minnesota under a decision yesterday by the state Public Utilities Commission. The PUC ordered Northern States Power to double its wind capability as the utility searches for the additional power it will need to meet growing demand.
January 20, 1999 - President Clinton pledged in his state of the union message to work with congress to build a farm safety net. It was a rare nod to farmers in the president's most important policy speech. Some Minnesota farmers say the presidents recognition of agricultural problems could be an important one.
December 31, 1998 - An MPR Special report, presenting the big Minnesota news stories of 1998. Highlights include Governor election, Comfrey and St. Peter tornado, farm crisis, mergers, the Northwest strike and the big tobacco trial. Program ends with brief remembrance segments on various individuals that made news in the year.