Minn. Public Radio Expands Empire AP Online | October 13, 2001 | Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This material is published under license from the Associated Press. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Associated Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

JEFF BAENEN, Associated Press Writer
AP Online
10-13-2001
Minn. Public Radio Expands Empire

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- When Garrison Keillor gives the week's news from Lake Wobegon, he conjures up images of small-town Minnesota -- the Sidetrack Tap, the Chatterbox Cafe, Ralph's Pretty Good Grocery.

But Minnesota Public Radio, the producer of Keillor's popular ``A Prairie Home Companion'' radio show, is anything but a mom-and-pop operation. It's grown from one station in central Minnesota to a nearly $39 million network that produces 14 national programs heard by 8.5…