Story archive for
Bill Catlin
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| Date |
Title |
Description |
| 05/07/2001 |
Idled Workers Struggling With Job Search |
A string of layoffs by Twin Cities companies like 3M, ADC Telecommunications, and a host of smaller firms tell the tale - the job market in Minnesota is softening. Claims for unemployent insurance in Minnesota through most of April soared by 67 percent, compared to the same period last year. And though unemployment remains low, state officials expect it to rise. People looking for a new job will tell you it's harder than they expected. |
| 04/30/2001 |
Economic Trend: Discouragement on the Rise |
The economic slowdown is taking a toll on Minnesota's job market. Unemployment remains low, but layoffs and jobless claims are soaring and job growth has shrunk by half. The spate of job cuts is also raising concerns about Gov. Jesse Ventura's goal of cutting state funding for a program to help laid-off workers. |
| 03/28/2001 |
CEO Salaries Under Fire As Stocks Dive |
Spring is proxy season, when publicly-traded corporations have to reveal what they pay their top brass. Pay packages for CEOs skyrocketed over the 1990s, surpassing gains in corporate profits and the S&P 500. This spring, with investors nursing their wounds from a punishing drop in stocks, CEOs are taking more heat from shareholders over huge pay packages. And some Minnesota companies are in the crosshairs. |
| 03/22/2001 |
Key Senator to Hold Hearing on Allina Spending |
A key lawmaker says he plans to hold a hearing on spending by Allina Health System. Sen. Doug Johnson contends that lucrative consultant contracts, expensive golf and resort outings, basketball tickets and other expenses are driving up health care premiums. |
| 03/14/2001 |
Ventura Finds a Friendly Crowd |
Gov. Jesse Ventura stumped for his budget at a meeting of the state's largest business group, and got a more friendly reception than some other business interests have offered recently. |
| 02/23/2001 |
Jobs Go Begging, Despite Economic Slowdown |
A new state survey finds that job openings outnumbered the unemployed in Minnesota by about 2-1 at the end of 2000. |
| 02/22/2001 |
Merger Not Necessary for NWA, Dasburg Says |
Northwest Airlines' departing CEO and President John Dasburg says he's leaving the airline after more than a decade because a number of important personal and professional factors came together. In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Dasburg also outlined his conviction that Northwest does not have to merge with another carrier to thrive in a consolidating industry. |
| 02/20/2001 |
Northwest Management Shuffle Fuels Merger Speculation |
Airline industry analysts say they don't expect major changes in the direction of Northwest Airlines. The Twin Cities-based carrier announced Monday that Chief Operating Officer Richard Anderson will replace CEO John Dasburg, who is leaving to head Burger King. Northwest said Chief Corporate Officer Doug Steenland will take the title of president previously held by Dasburg. Anderson and Steenland have been deeply involved in Northwest's response to labor conflict and airline industry consolidation. |
| 02/19/2001 |
Poll: What, Minnesota Worry? |
Despite the abrupt national economic slowdown, Minnesotans remain fairly upbeat about their personal circumstances. A Minnesota Public Radio and St. Paul Pioneer Press poll indicates more than 80 percent of state residents feel their household financial situation will be the same or better a year from now. |
| 01/12/2001 |
Talks Between Northwest and Mechanics Break Down |
The National Mediation Board has broken off talks between Northwest Airlines and its mechanics union. Contract negotiations that have spanned more than four years are again in limbo, suggesting an agreement between the airline and a powerful labor group remains far off. |
| 11/24/2000 |
Retails Sales Outlook: Good, Not Great |
How big is your holiday gift budget? A retail industry group expects consumers to spend about six-percent more than last year. But the U.S. economy and retail sales are slowing. |
| 10/04/2000 |
Banker Brothers Unite |
Minneapolis has gained the headquarters of a top-10 national bank. U.S. Bancorp, the largest remaining locally-based financial-services institution, has agreed to be acquired by Milwaukee-based Firstar. The deal also unites Jack and Jerry Grundhofer, the brothers, who have run the two banks separately. |
| 09/19/2000 |
A State of Denial? |
A U of M summit on the economy occurs in the midst of a vigorous debate about whether Minnesota is thriving or falling behind. |
| 08/21/2000 |
Capitalizing on U Technology |
The University of Minnesota is launching an effort to commercialize promising University technologies by bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and academia. Amid worries that Minnesota has fallen behind in the high-tech, information-based economy, many observers say the University must play a central role in keeping Minnesota competitive. |
| 08/07/2000 |
Northwest Merger Talks Stall and Alliance Talk Emerges |
Merger talks between Northwest Airlines and American airlines have apparently stalled. The two sides are far apart on the issue of price. Talks occurred after United Airlines announced its plan to buy US Airways. If they're unable to agree on a deal, some analysts think Northwest and American may consider a marketing alliance instead. |
| 07/26/2000 |
Legislators Consider Impact of Northwest Merger |
Witnesses told a panel of powerful state lawmakers the state should take an active stance in dealing with a possible takeover of Northwest Airlines. The Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy held a hearing this morning to gauge the economic impact on the state if Northwest is acquired. American Airlines has reportedly made an offer for Northwest in response to United Airlines' plans to buy US Airways. |
| 07/17/2000 |
Negotiating Northwest: Who Profits? |
While many analysts say the two companies will eventually agree on terms, as one wall street source put it, Northwest has all the leverage. |
| 07/12/2000 |
NWA-American Merger: A Matter of Time? |
For weeks, there's been speculation that Northwest and American Airlines are talking merger. Now comes the suggestion that both sides have put numbers on the table, and it's only a matter of time before a deal is struck. |
| 07/10/2000 |
MSP May Survive NWA Merger |
Many have speculated that the rumored merger of American and Northwest airlines would doom the Twin Cities as a hub for a major airline. Not, more and more analysts say there's room for the Twin Cities among the airline elite. |
| 06/21/2000 |
Rough Air Ahead for Airline Merger |
United Airlines plan to buy US Airways came in for more flack in Washington. The merger proposal has taken a drubbing in several recent congressional hearings, in part because of concerns it would cause a chain reaction of airline mergers. The drumbeat in Congress may affect the proposed merger. |
| 05/24/2000 |
Is Northwest Next? |
United Airlines' plan to buy US Airways has triggered speculation the deal will fuel a new round of mergers and consolidation in the airline industry. Some analysts are singling out Twin Cities based Northwest as a likely target. |
| 05/16/2000 |
Will Minnesota Warm to Incubator Solution? |
Establishing a University-connected business incubator has become one of the more prominent proposals for reinvigorating Minnesota's high-tech economy. Incubators typically offer early-stage businesses low-cost space and a variety of services to help them become viable. They're not a new idea, but they've gained new visibility nationally with the success of a few Internet-related efforts. Incubators can help individual firms, but they're not necessarily the key to a building a high-tech economy. |
| 03/21/2000 |
Keeping Ideas in Minnesota |
Minnesota has been the launching pad for many leading technology businesses in the past. But some entrepreneurs say the state is no longer a good place for high tech start-ups, and the state's share of the U.S. venture capital pie has gone down. Recently several local investors have formed new funds to target Minnesota and the Midwest. But many observers say the state needs to do more to promote high technology, including starting its own venture capital fund. |
| 03/20/2000 |
The Digital Furnace |
High technology has become a major focus of economic development efforts around the country. Governors and lawmakers across the country are unveiling plans to prevent their states from losing out on the job growth and high wages that characterize successful technology industries. In Pittsburgh, the state's efforts are helping the region emerge from the ashes of the steel industry as a technology powerhouse. |
| 02/08/2000 |
How Private is the Home Computer? |
Northwest Airlines and its flight attendants union today resumed negotiations aimed at ending a more than three-and-a-half-year old contract dispute. Meanwhile, the company suspended the bulk of its ongoing effort to search the home computers of flight attendants. A federal judge in St. Paul authorized the searches in connection with a company lawsuit accusing flight attendants of conducting an illegal sickout. The judge has put that lawsuit on hold. But critics say the airline's effort intrudes on First Amendment rights and invades employee privacy. |
| 01/08/2000 |
A Privacy Bill of Rights |
Minnesota House Republicans are proposing a Privacy Bill of Rights for Minnesotans. Republicans want to stop state government agencies from selling mailing lists, and force telemarketers to register with the state. |
| 10/08/1999 |
Eyes Wide Open |
The men heading up the partnership to buy the twins are no strangers to professional sports. Glen Taylor owns the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Robert Naegele is managing partner of the Minnesota Wild hockey team. Why are they buying a losing baseball franchise? |
| 09/27/1999 |
Merger for U.S. Bank and Firstar? |
The wave of consolidation in banking has slowed since last year, when a flurry of mega-mergers, including the pairing of Norwest and Wells Fargo, reshaped the industry landscape. At the time, many observers wondered whether U.S. Bancorp, the Twin Cities' other major bank, would find a partner. The company has been snapping up smaller California banks, but hasn't made a big move. Banking industry analysts are pondering the possibility that U.S. Bancorp would join up with Firstar of Milwaukee, a merger that would bring together the brothers Grundhofer. |
| 06/18/1999 |
How It Happened? |
In a wide-ranging interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Honeywell CEO Michael Bonsignore explains the circumstances that led to the merger of the company with AlliedSignal, and the decision to close the Minneapolis headquarters. |
| 06/14/1999 |
Who's Next? |
With the number of corporate headquarters moving out of Minnesota on the upswing, the business community waits for another shoe to drop. |
| 05/19/1999 |
Legislature Gives Minnesota the Business |
Though not completely happy, business leaders are generally upbeat about legislative session. |
| 04/15/1999 |
Ventura's First 100 Days: Business |
MPR's Bill Catlin looks at how Ventura's policies affect business in Minnesota. |
| 03/22/1999 |
Tough Times |
Minnesota's film industry is in a downward spiral. Ventura tries to help. |
| 11/11/1998 |
Frequent-Flyer Miles Bring Airlines Smiles |
The cost of "free flights" continues to rise along with airlines' profits. |
| 03/18/1998 |
Deflation and Consumers |
Rock-bottom prices may seem ideal for consumers, but many businesses - and their employees - are struggling. |
| 01/22/1998 |
Tobacco and the Stock Market |
Smokers and non-smokers alike may be surprised to learn how the tobacco trial could affect their personal finances. |
| 09/10/1997 |
Banking On Fees |
Are bounced check and ATM fees getting out of hand? Bill Catlin investigates in this three-part series. |
| 08/01/1996 |
Online Banking: Is the Convenience Worth the Price? |
If you use online banking, you do some of the work once the domain of tellers, but the bank doesn't pay you - you pay the bank. |
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