Tuesday, August 3 1999

Twin Make a Deal....

Last night, Mayor Norm Coleman and the Minnesota Twins announced a deal in which the Twins will sell the team and move to a new stadium in St. Paul. Of course, that deal depends on a lot of "ifs"... if a buyer is found, if St. Paul voters approve a hike in the sales tax, if the legislature approves the hike and gives the team around $100 million. Despite all the uncertainty, the Mayor was jubilant and insisted progress has been made. Tonight, we look at the deal and the future of the Twins and take your calls live on our program.

Plus...

A discussion with Jon Austin from Northwest Airlines, headlines from around the state, the candidates who want to fill Willard Munger's shoes and a sneak peak at a new Guthrie production, "Ah, Wilderness". NewsNight tonight... please join us.

Wednesday, August 04

A Gaggle of News, Views & Music

Tune in tonight for a look at the lack of affordable childcare in southern Minnesota... Don't Believe the Hype presents a piece about Puerto Rico... headlines from across the state... and live bluegrass music from Pig's Eye Landing. NewsNight MN... please join us.

Thursday, August 05

Back In Society

A young man was released from Red Wing Juvenile Corrections after serving 9 months... Kaleem say he's ready to rejoin the community. NewsNight's Mary Lahammer followed him on his first day of freedom to his new halfway house. Find out how Kaleem became a role model to others while in Red Wing, his famous family tree and what lies ahead for this remarkable young man.

Plus...

Walker Art Center film & video curator Bruce Jenkins is leaving for a new job but first he stops by tonight to show some of his favorite film clips and talk about his 14+ years at the Walker... Fighter pilot Lee Archer Jr. is in town, he shot down 5 planes in WWII as one of the Tuskegee Airmen. Lou Harvin stopped by Holman Field to talk to the highly decorated war hero... and FarmFest '99 wraps up. We have a report from Redwood County as the U.S. Senate approves $7.4 billion in farm aid. And more Looper! NewsNight MN... please join us.

Monday, August 9

Closing a Door to the Past

For twenty years, the Upper Midwest Women's History Center has been a non-profit resource for educators and the public alike. Created to promote women's studies in schools, the Hamline University center is ending its' non-profit status and will close awaiting new financial arrangements. Tonight, executive director Susan Hill Gross will chat with Ken Stone about the center's past, present and possible futures.

Plus...

Headlines, Duluth's rural technology conference, no porn for prisoners, art on the move at the MIA, new planes for Northwest, Governor Ventura on wrestling, a tribute to the late Augie Garcia, our long-as-it-needs-to-be weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - your news, our way.

Tuesday, August 10

Farm Aid '99

Today, Governor Ventura requested federal disaster assistance for farmers in nine northwestern Minnesota counties. If Ag Secretary Dan Glickman grants the request, the USDA would provide emergency low-interest loans to farmers in those nine counties. Tune in to NewsNight tonight for more info and an update on crop progress in Minnesota.

Plus...

Techie toys for cops, Governor Ventura in the ring, online banking, a look at Minnesota-based Polaris and their cycle and meteorologist Bruce Watson stops in with a prop from his backyard and a forecast for the Fall. NewsNight MN... please join us.

Wednesday, August 11

A Breakthrough in the Fight Against AIDS?

The preliminary results from a promising new treatment of pre-natal HIV infection have been released and we'll be joined this evening by noted AIDS physician Dr. Frank Rhame for a discussion of the latest treatments and an update on the on-going vaccine trials.

Plus...

Headlines, a federal judge hands down a ruling on diversity training, another look at the recent delicate moving procedure for a painting at the MIA, new charter schools, our mini-weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - this ain't your father's newscast.

Thursday, August 12

Kids & TV

A recent study has suggested that any level of television viewing is harmful to kids. Joining us to talk about this rather disturbing pronouncement will be the Institute on the Media and the Family's Dr. David Walsh.

Plus...

Headlines, a St. Paul gun lawsuit hits a snag, indictments handed down in White Earth, the Governor in Duluth, Reform Party animals in our viewer calls segment, Lou Bellamy talks about the Penumbra Theatre, our wet weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - who could ask for anything more?

Monday, August 16

After the Straw Poll

The results of last weekend's Iowa straw poll seem to place Governor George W. Bush squarely in the lead of the GOP race for the presidential nomination. Of course, the election is over a year away and lots can happen in that time. To get a feel for what some of the candidates are planning now, we'll be having a live discussion featuring campaign officers for some of the more prominent hopefuls. Guests include Allan Quist, State Chair for Gary Bauer, Forbes 2000's Brian LeClair and Tony Trimble from the Bush campaign.

Plus...

Headlines, two state departments merge, the ongoing protests against bulldozing the Glenwood Ave. projects, our atypical weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - the State's most unusual newscast.

Tuesday, August 17

The Sumner-Olson Battle Comes to a Head

As a result of Minneapolis' Holman decree, demolition is slated to recommence tomorrow at the Sumner-Olson housing project - over the protest of some very vocal opponents. Lou Harvin has put together a look at the issues in this conflict, to be followed by a live discussion with Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton and Jason Brown, NAACP Legal Chair.

Gangway for the Runway

A recent land swap between the Mall of America and the Mpls/St. Paul International Airport removed several obstacles in the path of a new runway, but numerous ones remain - the Sheraton hotel, the Doubletree Inn and the Richfield Golf Course to name just a few. Mary Lahammer's been looking into this little-publicized effort to get some established businesses out of the way before the jets start coming in and tonight she'll bring us her report.

Tap, Tap, Tappin'

Tonight's Spotlight will be shining on some performers from the cast of "Tappin' in the Twin Cities". They'll talk to us about the production, then treat us to a sample of their special tappin' terpsichore.

Plus...

Headlines, the governor's statewide tour, Mayor Coleman holds the line on taxes, the FAA says no to quieter homes, our one-of-a-kind weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - if we don't do it, who will?

Wednesday, August 18

Media on Trial

Yesterday's verdict in the defamation suit against WCCO-TV had media types across the region breathing a collective sigh of relief. Attorney Paul Hannah, media lawyer for Hanna & Jasperson, will join us in the studio to talk about the trial and what the outcome will mean for the local media.

Plus...

Headlines, sports guy Justin Maiman's report on the efforts to renovate Duluth's Wade Stadium, Don't Believe the Hype's vibin' session on violence in schools, Sen. Wellstone meets with bankers, the Science Museum's iguana on the move, our one-of-a-kind weather AND a live performance by the legendary Lori Line!

NewsNight - just TRY to find this kind of stuff on one of those other channels.

Thursday, August 19

How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?

Ken Stone will bring us a report on Sen. Wellstone's farm tour and his efforts to bring some relief to beleaguered farmers.

The Merging of Nature and Art

The Tweed Museum of Art at the University of Minnesota/Duluth has launched an ambitious new traveling exhibition titled "Botanica - Contemporary Art and the World of Plants". Greater Minnesota correspondent Jim Neumann was a recent visitor and will bring us a look at the show.

Plus...

Headlines, the recent Zapruder film court judgement, the Vikings break training, a live performance by poet Sarah Fox, our short 'n snappy weather, the Press Release of the Week and more!

NewsNight - the best thing to happen to your TV since the remote.

Monday, August 23

Greater Minnesota Editors' Panel

Every so often we convene a panel of Greater Minnesota newspaper editors to talk about issues outside the Twin Cities metro area. Tonight we'll be joined by Bill Hanna of the Mesabi Daily News, the Winona Post's Fran Edstrom and Pia Lopez of the St. Cloud Times to discuss the farm crisis, unicameral legislation, tax rebates and more.

And In This Corner...

...Minnesota's wrestlin', cussin', refereein' governor. Last night's pay-per-view "Summer Slam" wrestling event at the Target Center has once again put Governor Ventura in a less-than-flattering spotlight. Mary Lahammer has studied the governor's performance in the ring and will bring us her take on his much-touted return to the wrestling world.

Tonight, the NewsNight Spotlight Shines On..

...a live performance by Nuts and Bolts, a musical/comedy troupe from Barnum's Kaleidoscape. We're not entirely sure just WHAT they'll do this evening, but that's the fun of live television, isn't it?

Plus...

Headlines, the governor meets with tribal leaders, more on affordable housing for Minneapolis, St. Paulites up in arms over billboards, our quick-as-a-wink weather and more!

NewsNight - this ain't your father's newscast.

Tuesday, August 24

Things are Heating Up in St. Paul

Mayor Coleman's attempts to privatize city operations have gotten a lot of folks heated up. Tonight, we'll be joined by Erich Mische of the mayor's office and St. Paul Trades & Labor's Shar Knutson as they square off on the mayor's St. Paul Compete initiative.

But What Does it Really Mean?

Today, the Fed increased short-term interest rates by one quarter of a point. Is it a bad sign? A good one? Does it mean anything? We'll talk interest rates with Sung Won Sohn, V.P. and Chief Economic Officer of Wells Fargo & Co.

Plus...

Headlines, new wrinkles in the old driver's test, Sesame Street comes to town, a performance by Texan singer/songwriter Trish Murphy, our mini weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - television you don't have to feel guilty about.

Wednesday, August 25

Women, Infants and Children Celebrates a Milestone

Today, members of our congressional delegation, WIC workers and alumni will be celebrating 25 yrs of WIC, a program which provides nutrition education, health and social service referrals to pregnant women, infants and young children. Joining us this evening to discuss the program will be Jan Jernell, director of the MN Department of Health's Family Health Division.

Preparing the Purple

Leo Lewis, the Minnesota Viking's Director of Player Development will sit down with Mary to discuss player psychology, the Demetrius Underwood incident and the upcoming season.

Plus...

Headlines, producer Koua Yang's look at a local Hmong archive that's among the first of its' kind in the nation, Rod Grams changes horses, a former state rep leaves, Cargill's sticky corn syrup situation ends, a live performance by jazz saxophonist Fred Ho, our surprisingly brief weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - named a 'Model of Excellence' by the American Journalism Review. Tune in and find out why.

Thursday, August 26

Flight Attendants Vote

Votes on a new five-year contract for Northwest's flight attendants are being tallied today in Detroit. With final results being expected early this evening, we'll be talking with Billie Davenport, president of Teamsters local 2000, about the potential fallout from this controversial vote.

Hollywood on the Mississippi?

Minnesota is once again seeing a flurry of motion picture production, including recent releases like A Simple Plan and Drop Dead Gorgeous and several others currently filming. Traveling crews such as these can create hundreds of jobs and pump millions of dollars into state coffers. Many are crediting Governor Ventura's Hollywood connections with this upswing in production, so Mary Lahammer looked into the situation and has filed a report on the status of Minnesota's desirability as a filmic location site.

Plus...

Headlines, Day One of the State Fair, a preview of this weekend's documentary study of St. Paul architect/designer Mary Jane Colter, the Press Release of the Week, a live performance by singer/songwriter Larry Havluck, our short 'n snappy weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - Minnesota's alternative newscast.

A Special Extra-length NewsNight

Tonight, in association with the Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio and the County Extension Service, we present another in our series of Citizens Forums to discuss communities and agriculture in rural Minnesota. In addition to Senators Rod Grams and Paul Wellstone, the guest list will include State Planning Director Dean Barkley and Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson. Asking the questions will be 100 selected Minnesota citizens joining us in the studio and from the State Fair and the towns of Crookston and Worthington, MN - we like to think of it as participatory journalism...

NewsNight - let's see those other guys try something like this.

Tuesday, August 31

Working Without a Net

Minnesota's State employees are currently working without a contract and a bunch of people are none too happy about it. Tonight, we'll be joined by Jim Monroe, Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees to talk about what progress has been made toward a new contract and what kinds of terms are being sought.

From the Battleground to the Campground

On paper, it seems an unlikely plan; to assemble young adults from war-ravaged Bosnia, send them to camp in Northern Minnesota and have them come back with an action plan for better future relations. It's known as the Bosnian Leadership camp and, tonight, we'll be talking with the program's director and one of the young participants.

Plus...

Headlines, the Governor meets with Mark Yudof and Willie Nelson, St. Paul Compete is told to cool it, Ken Stone's look at the 20th anniversary of a very special Minnesota radio station, a live performance by Machinery Hill, our one-of-a-kind weather forecast and more!

NewsNight - your news, our way.

NewsNight Minnesota is a TPT production.

[NewsNight Home] [Local Broadcast Times] [Write us!]