Story archive for
Marisa Helms
Sort stories by date / Sort stories by author |
| Date |
Title |
Description |
| 05/01/2001 |
Dalai Lama's Visit Stirs Controversy |
Abortion politics played out in the Minnesota Senate as an abortion waiting period, vetoed by Gov. Ventura last year, was added to a massive health-spending bill. The abortion provision prompted the bill's sponsor to set the spending package aside before a final vote. Abortion opponents call the move an abuse of power, but supporters of legalized abortion say they're not willing to put an $8 billion bill at risk of a gubernatorial veto. |
| 04/30/2001 |
Flooding Closes St. Croix River |
On the Saint Croix River, officials are closely monitoring the dikes in Afton where high winds brought high waves, threatening the city's flood protection. Residents of the city of Stillwater saw the Saint Croix crest Friday at its highest level since the record flood of 1965. |
| 04/19/2001 |
Who Killed 'Father Johnny' |
U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone is disputing the findings of an FBI report that concludes Minnesota priest John Kaiser committed suicide. Kaiser was a Catholic missionary working in the African country of Kenya. Wellstone and friends and family of the priest say they believe the priest was killed by representatives of the Kenyan government. |
| 03/30/2001 |
Mary Tyler Moore Statue Stirs Debate |
For better or worse, the Mary Tyler Moore show put Minneapolis on the pop culture map, and cable reruns keep the show's 1970s career woman Mary Richards alive and well and living in Minneapolis. Perhaps the most widely-recognized image from the show is that of the character, Mary Richards, tossing up her hat in downtown Minneapolis in a triumphant gesture of independence. That image could soon be immortalized in bronze and placed on Nicollet Mall. Cable TV station TV Land wants to give the statue to the city of Minneapolis. But critics wonder about the value of the city erecting a public monument of a fictional television character. |
| 03/23/2001 |
Twins Stadium Gets Cool Reception in Senate Committee |
A Twins ballpark bill generated little support or enthusiasm from lawmakers Thursday night at its first Senate hearing. After hearing testimony on the bill, members of the Senate's State and Local Government Operations Committee asked few questions and put aside the bill until at least next week - when it faces a critical legislative deadline. |
| 03/16/2001 |
Paving the Way on the Antarctic Ice |
Antarctic explorers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen are back in Minnesota. Bancroft, a Minnesotan, and Arnesen, a Norwegian, made history last month when they became the first women to ski across Antarctica. |
| 02/22/2001 |
Energy Deregulation: Dead on Arrival at Capitol? |
As Minnesota lawmakers consider ways to alleviate a projected energy shortfall later this decade, advocates of energy deregulation are pitching a free-market solution. They say deregulating the state's electricity industry would increase power generation and improve the reliability of the system. But the much publicized instability of the deregulated California market has some Minnesotans skeptical of the benefits of retail competition. |
| 02/12/2001 |
Poll: Minnesotans Favor Renewable Sources of Energy |
A new poll shows most Minnesotans are aware and concerned about an electricity shortfall projected for the upper Midwest region over the next several years. The poll, commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, indicates Minnesotans think the state should turn first to renewable sources of energy to fill the gap. |
| 02/07/2001 |
Non-profits React to Ventura's Budget Plan |
In Anoka, lawmakers held the second in a series of legislative hearings to introduce the public to the governors' tax-reform proposals. Members of the Senate Income and Sales Tax Budget Division mostly heard testimony from non-profit organizations concerned about how the plan's sales-tax provisions will affect them. |
| 11/14/2000 |
Youth is Served in Saint Joseph |
Amid concerns that a central Minnesota town is being taken over by college students, voters elect a new mayor: a college student. |
| 08/11/2000 |
Darwin's Legend is Entwined in String |
Darwin is a tiny dot on the central Minnesota map. Many of its 250 residents say that dot got there because of one man's obsession. For 29 years, Francis Johnson created what became the largest twine ball ever rolled by one person. |
| 08/10/2000 |
Central Minnesota's Irish Connection |
Central Minnesota is getting a taste of things Irish with visiting theater artist Peter Quigley. Quigley, who's from Belfast, is an artist-in-residence at the Paramount Theatre in Saint Cloud. |
| 07/07/2000 |
Sartell: Duathlon Capital of Minnesota |
There's the Tour de France, Wimbledon in England, and - for the last 20 years - the Apple Duathlon in the small central Minnesota city of Sartell. Winners of the race, qualify for the United States team at the World Duathlon Championship in France this October. |
| 06/26/2000 |
Caught in the Crossfire |
Earlier this year, the nation's oldest and biggest gunmaker, Smith and Wesson, created a shockwave by announcing it would settle 14 lawsuits against the company by agreeing to several restrictions and safety provisions for sale and distribution of Smith and Wesson guns. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development brokered that agreement and has stayed involved by creating the Communities for Safer Guns Coalition. Now requests have gone out to local governments across the country, including Saint Cloud, asking them to join the coalition. |
| 03/16/2000 |
Orphan Films |
While there is growing concern about the state of old Hollywood films, there is a state of high panic about "orphan films," the decades-old films that have no commercial interests looking after their preservation. Many are the amateur films which provide unique insights into communities now long gone. |
| 02/25/2000 |
A Midsummer Spring |
The Guthrie is taking A Midsummer Night's Dream on the road to 16 cities around the region starting in Saint Cloud. But the Guthrie's intent is to do more than just a show. Members of the touring company are acting as artists-in-residence by teaching workshops and opening up rehearsals to the public at each stop along the tour. |
| 01/24/2000 |
The City of Ventura |
Northern Minnesota business owners say a lack of snow for a third winter in a row is threatening their economic survival, and some say it warrants a disaster declaration. State legislators from the area will try to develop a $10 million low-interest loan fund, while Congressman James Oberstar says he'll seek federal funds through a presidential disaster declaration. |
| 12/29/1999 |
Chronicling the Lutheran Traditions |
Someday, maybe decades from now, some calendars commemorating the new millennium might become collectors items, heirlooms even. For one Minnesota photographer, a 2000 calendar is the perfect medium to showcase his images of Lutheran churches around the state. |
| 12/23/1999 |
Gay TV: Out in St. Cloud |
This is a tough time of year for goats. Sheep dominate nativity scenes everywhere. And here in Minnesota cows have a lock on the dairy market. But goats are making a stand. Their milk, cheese and meat are gaining in popularity. And in the wider world of dairy consumption, goats rule. |
| 11/03/1999 |
A Bad Day for Arena and Stadium Deals |
Saint Cloud area residents said no to a half-percent sales-tax increase for a proposed regional events center. The referendum was also tied to other regional amenties like park improvements and a remodeled regional library. Officials say they're now looking for ways to fund the library and parks. |
| 09/03/1999 |
Bison: The Other Red Meat |
Bison burgers, buff dogs, bison is becoming the "other red meat" for health-conscious Americans. Cattle ranchers across Minnesota are starting to raise the nearly once-extinct animal in increasing numbers because they're low in fat and high in protein. |
| 08/26/1999 |
The Y2K Cemetery Glitch |
Many who have pre-engraved headstones are finding the year 2000 closer than they thought. |
| 06/04/1999 |
Crying Over Spilled Mil |
Although farmers are losing their livelihoods, they disagree on whether an old method of protest still works. |
| 06/02/1999 |
The Brainerd High School Choir |
Exciting things happen when you take a traditional choir and add decidedly non-traditional music. |
| 05/20/1999 |
Firemonks |
The St. John's Firemonks celebrate their 60th anniversary. |
 |
