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September 12 - 16, 2005
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, Sept. 12, 2005 |
Union ends talks with NWA
Northwest's mechanics union is still on strike after contract talks with the airline broke down over the weekend. Northwest is now asking for even deeper job cuts than the company wanted at the start of the strike. In a major reversal, the union says it was willing to agree to most of the concessions, in order to put them to a vote by the rank-and-file. But talks crumbled around one major issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter has more.
Chai Vang trial resumes Monday
The prosecution in the trial of Chai Vang says it will call the survivors of a shooting incident that left six Wisconsin hunters dead as witnesses today. Vang, who's from St. Paul, faces six counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder after last November's shooting in the woods in Wisconsin. Other members of the hunters' group who were not part of the confrontation are expected to be called as witnesses today. The jury that will decide Vang's fate heard opening arguments over the weekend. Bob Kelleher is covering the story for Minnesota Public Radio, and he joins us now.
Bankruptcy an option for Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines' striking mechanics walked away from negotiations with the airline over the weekend. The mechanics have been on strike since August 20th. They're refusing to accept pay cuts and layoffs that would cut their ranks by about half. The airline says it needs those cuts in order to avoid bankruptcy. And there's word this morning that Delta airlines expects to file for bankruptcy by the end of the week. For more on the factors involved in bankruptcy for Northwest, we've called Rajesh Aggarwal, associate professor of finance at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
Vikings lose season opener
The Minnesota Vikings lost their home opener to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-13 at the Metrodome. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper turned the ball over five times and the team's only touchdown came from the defense. Some may blame the lack of offense on the loss of wide receiver Randy Moss. However, others say the problems stems from the loss of another, less famous key player. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Working for orchestral equality
Marin Alsop made history this summer when the Baltimore Symphony made her the first female director of a major American orchestra. She said it was a sad reflection on the orchestral world that it took so long to happen. Around the same time a male violinist with the New York Philharmonic filed a gender discrimination suit. These events are emblematic of changes in classical music over the past few decades, both nationally and locally with the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Minnesota Public Radio's Karl Gehrke has more.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005 |
Survivor recalls fatal shootings in Wisconsin woods
One of the hunters who survived a shooting in Wisconsin's woods last fall has testified in the murder trial of Chai Vang. Vang is the 36-year-old St. Paul man charged with shooting eight deer hunters. Six hunters died, two were wounded. The shooting happened after Vang was found in a deer stand on private property. Vang is on trial in Hayward, WI. Minnesota Public Radio News' Bob Kelleher reports.
Replacements may be permanent at Northwest
Northwest Airlines says it will start hiring permanent replacements for its striking union mechanics starting Tuesday. The airline has used a temporary workforce since mechanics walked off the job August 19. Mechanics union officials say the company's threat to hire permanent replacements is largely a bluff, intended to get union members to abandon the strike. Minnesota Public Radio News' Jeff Horwich reports.
Reaction to hurricane "refugee" commentary
Many people who made it out of the Gulf Coast, either before or after the hurricane, are now scattered across the country, many of them in evacuee camps. Since shortly after the disaster, there has been some discussion about what to call those people. Late last week, Minnesota Public Radio News ran a commentary on Morning Edition from a local actor and singer who opposes calling them "refugees." T. Mychael Rambo argued that the term has negative connotations, racial overtones, and perpetuates the view of those suffering as "the other." We received several calls on our comment line, reacting to that perspective.
Wilf says Vikings want to be part of stadium talks
Governor Pawlenty will meet with representatives of the University of Minnesota, Tuesday, who will encourage him to support state funding for a new Gopher football stadium. Monday, Pawlenty and legislative leaders met with new Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, who is lobbying for a new stadium in Anoka County. Pawlenty has said he will consider calling a special session sometime this fall to deal with stadium proposals from the Vikings, Gophers and Twins. Former State Senator Steve Novak, who is leading Anoka County's bid for a new Vikings stadium, joins Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer today.
Minnesota architect celebrates birthday, people celebrate design
Architect Ralph Rapson turns 91 Tuesday. Many in his field consider him to be Minnesota's most important architect of the 20th century. The public knows him best for designing the original Guthrie Theater, which is slated for demolition in the coming year. He is also credited with making modern design more accessible, and shaping two generations of young architects. Minnesota Public Radio News' Marianne Combs profiles Rapson and his influence.
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Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005 |
Report: Northwest Airlines may file for bankruptcy
Northwest Airlines' pilots union says the company's board of directors will likely decide Wednesday, whether the airline will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The union has a representative on the board. A Northwest spokesman would not confirm the union's statement. Tuesday, Northwest officials said the company decided not to make more than $40 million in payments the airline owes to creditors, and the company's stock closed down more than 50 percent at the end of trading yesterday. Minnesota Public Radio News' Mark Zdechlik reports
Northwest misses payments; bankruptcy speculation halves stock
Talks of Chapter 11 filing has rankled Wall Street, and Northwest Airline's stock took a dive Tuesday. But, as Minnesota Public Radio News' Annie Baxter found out, not everyone is sounding the alarm over a possible Northwest bankruptcy filing.
Testimony: Vang tried to walk away from confrontation
The judge in the murder trial of Chai Vang says the jury could have the case by Friday. Vang is charged with murdering six Wisconsin hunters and attempting to murder three others last fall. More details of the confrontation that escalated into the shooting emerged in testimony Tuesday. One of the hunters who was wounded and survived said Vang was threatened, and he says racial slurs were used in the confrontation. Vang is a Hmong man from St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio News' Bob Kelleher reports on the trial.
St. Paul primary voters choose Coleman over Kelly by wide margin
Former St. Paul city council member Chris Coleman outpolled Incumbent Mayor Randy Kelly by 25 percent in the city's primary election for mayor. The DFL endorsed Coleman had 52 percent of the vote yesterday, and Mayor Kelly had 27 percent. Green Party candidate Elizabeth Dickinsen finished third with 19 percent. Coleman and Kelly will move on to the general election in November. Minnesota Public Radio News' Marisa Helms reports.
Rybak, McLaughlin advance in Minneapolis mayor race
In November, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, will face each other in the general mayoral election. Rybak advanced to the November ballot after receiving 45 percent of the vote in yesterday's primary, McLaughlin received 35 percent. Rybak says the victory gives him the momentum he will need to win in November, but McLaughlin says Rybak doesn't have the support he thinks he has. Minnesota Public Radio News' Tom Scheck reports.
Katrina impacts barge traffic in Twin Cities
Hurricane Katrina has affected the barges that travel on the Mississippi River through the Port of New Orleans, but an expected bumper crop of corn is also having a big impact on that traffic as well. Morning Edition Cathy Wurzer speaks with Lee Nelson, the president of Upper River Services, a St. Paul-based company that moves barges on this part of the river.
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Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005 |
Northwest files for bankruptcy
The parent company of Northwest Airlines will make its first appearance in bankruptcy court at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in New York City. The airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the stock markets closed Wednesday. Northwest says it had to file for bankruptcy because the skyrocketing cost of fuel overtook its efforts to reduce expenses. The airline has been losing about $4 million a day and has the highest labor costs in the industry. Minnesota Public Radio News' Annie Baxter reports.
Northwest bankruptcy to have bigger impact on workers than travelers
Labor law experts say bankruptcy puts Northwest in a much better position to reduce its labor costs, which are the highest in the industry. The airline will still have to bargain in "good-faith" with its unions, but if there is no progress, a federal judge can now impose new terms of employment. Minnesota Public Radio News' Mark Zdechlik reports.
Bankruptcy law expert: NWA analysis
Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines have both filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Travelers will not notice any major changes for the time being, but the internal workings of the airlines will be completely restructured. Joining Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer this morning to explain how the process works is George Singer, an attorney with Lindquist & Vennum here in Minneapolis and adjunct professor of bankruptcy law at Hamline University.
Travel expert: NWA analysis
Terry Trippler, a travel analyst with CheapSeats.com, joins Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer to discuss the consumer perspective of the NWA bankruptcy filing.
Hunter: Vang seemed nervous but polite
Chai Vang is expected to take the stand Thursday to testify in his defense in his murder trial. Defense attorneys have been largely silent during the four days of the trial so far. Wednesday, the prosecution offered Vang's account of the confrontation in the Wisconsin woods last November. A dispute over a deer stand ended with six hunters dead, two wounded and murder charges against Vang. Minnesota Public Radio News' Stephanie Hemphill reports the latest developments in the Vang trial from Hayward, WI.
Ramsey County sheriffs patrol floodwaters in New Orleans
Almost 90 Twin Cities metro area law enforcement officers are due to arrive in New Orleans later Thursday and Friday to help that city recover from Hurricane Katrina. The group is expected to patrol the city and carry out assigned duties when they arrive. One job that is already getting done with the help of Minnesota law enforcement, is water search and rescue. Many parts of New Orleans are still flooded, and a dive team from the Ramsey County sheriff's office has been working in the city since early this week. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with George Altendorfer, the head of the dive team, Wednesday. He says they have been working 14-hour days on a variety of tasks.
UNITE HERE, union leaves AFL-CIO
Leaders of UNITE HERE, a union representing apparel, hotel, and restaurant workers, are meeting in St Paul to plan out the organization's future. Wednesday, UNITE HERE officials said they will break ties with the AFL-CIO in favor of joining the newly founded Change To Win Coalition. The Change To Win Coalition was formed in July, when four other unions chose to leave the AFL-CIO. The Coalition currently represents about six million workers in seven unions. Noel Beasley, manager of the Chicago and Midwest Joint Board for UNITE HERE, joins Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.
Green Party gains strength in Twin Cities
The Green Party says the primary elections in Minneapolis and St. Paul has given them some new momentum in the state's two biggest cities. In St. Paul, mayoral candidate Elizabeth Dickinson trailed mayor Randy Kelly by just 7 percentage points. In Minneapolis, there are five Green Party members on the ballot for city council races, two of whom are incumbents. Some of the Minneapolis candidates are longshots and one is the target of a federal investigation, but some say the Greens will eventually wield more power in the Twin Cities. Minnesota Public Radio News' Brandt Williams reports.
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Friday, Sept. 16, 2005 |
Vang says he fired after hunter shot first
The case of Chai Vang is expected to go to the jury today. The St. Paul man is charged with murdering six hunters in northern Wisconsin last November. Yesterday, Vang took the stand to testify in his own defense. Minnesota Public Radio News' Stephanie Hemphill reports.
The ripple effect of Northwest in bankruptcy
Northwest Airlines has told its pilots union that the company will start to layoff 400 more pilots in November. The airline says it wants to work out the details of the layoffs with the union in negotiations... instead of asking a bankruptcy judge to impose the layoffs. Northwest says the cutbacks are necessary in order to scale back its operations and become a slightly smaller carrier as it reorganizes in bankruptcy. Northwest is the country's fourth largest airline and accounts for most of the traffic at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Reducing the number of routes will affect the company's share of the local market, and Minnesota Public Radio News' Annie Baxter takes a look at whether that will create an opening for low cost carriers.
What Northwest's bankruptcy means to businesses
In Northwest Airline's first appearance in bankruptcy court, a judge gave the company until mid-January to file a reorganization plan and make financial disclosures detailing its assets, and liabilities. In its bankruptcy filing earlier this week, Northwest submitted a long list of businesses to which the company owes money. Many of the airline's creditors are banks, insurance companies, and other major investors around the country. Many others are companies that did business with Northwest, some in Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio News' Jeff Horwich looks at what a Northwest bankruptcy means to some local companies expecting payments.
Northwest retirees worried about their pensions
Federal officials say Northwest Airlines must continue to make payments to its underfunded pensions, even though the company filed for bankruptcy earlier this week. The bankruptcy filing has raised serious questions among workers and retirees about the pension benefits they have been promised. Airline officials say they want to avoid handing off their pension obligation to the federal government, but that goal hinges on the passage of federal legislation that would allow Northwest to stretch out billions of dollars in required fund payments. Minnesota Public Radio News' Tim Pugmire reports.
Advice to Northwest fliers: Don't panic
Consumer groups that give advice to travelers flying on bankrupt airlines are offering their expertise to people who fly on Northwest Airlines. These advisors have some tips about how travelers can protect themselves when buying tickets and using frequent flyer miles on bankrupt airlines. Minnesota Public Radio News' Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Expert analysis: airline bankruptcy protection
As Northwest begins the process of recovering from bankruptcy, some industry analysts and bankruptcy experts believe the airline will cut costs and services, and emerge from Chapter 11 looking like some of their low-cost competitors. With three of the nation's four largest airlines bankrupt, Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer speaks with Sam Peltzman, professor of economics at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business, to talk about the protection that Chapter 11 provides to the airline industry.
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