Story archive for
Amy Radil
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| Date |
Title |
Description |
| 11/29/2000 |
Scouting for a Solution at Mayflower Church |
Mayflower Church has one of the most liberal policies toward welcoming gay and lesbian members, and ordaining gay clergy. Church members and others involved with the Boy Scout troop that the church sponsors, say their values are in conflict with the Scouts' policy of banning gay scoutmasters. |
| 11/08/2000 |
Republicans Retain Control of Minnesota House, DFL Keeps Senate |
Republicans picked up one seat in the Minnesota Senate, but DFLers maintain a majority of twelve votes there. Meanwhile, Republicans in the House retained their majority, but by the slimmest of margins Tuesday, with their lead over House DFLers shrinking from seven to four. House DFLers defended all of their open seats in addition to picking up two Republican districts. |
| 11/03/2000 |
Dayton's Gun Control Position Questioned |
A U.S. Senate debate at the Mall of America raised questions about DFLer Mark Dayton's position on gun control. As Dayton sparred with incumbent Republican Rod Grams and Independence Party candidate James Gibson, he seemed to contradict positions he staked out earlier in the campaign. |
| 11/01/2000 |
A Third-Party Blueprint |
Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader says his focus is on building a political movement, not on whether his showing hurts Vice President Al Gore or helps George W. Bush. Nader joined Gov. Jesse Ventura in advocating a number of reforms they say would open the political process to third-party candidates and galvanize more Americans to vote. |
| 10/23/2000 |
Third Party Candidates Shake Up Senate Debate |
Minnesota's four major-party candidates for U.S. Senate debated agriculture policy, as well as federal spending for nursing homes and the military, Monday at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato. Constitution Party candidate David Swan brought a radically different perspective to such now-familiar topics as Social Security, calling such government programs unconstitutional and saying they should be eliminated. Meanwhile, DFL candidate Mark Dayton predicted a bitter conclusion to the Senate race, and Republican incumbent Rod Grams defended his use of negative ads. |
| 10/19/2000 |
Social Issues Highlighted in Senate Debate |
Minnesota's three major U.S. Senate candidates tackled social and fiscal issues and their own campaign spending and attack ads Wednesday in their first televised debate. NBC's Tim Russert helped moderate the debate, which took place in Minneapolis before an audience convened by the Minnesota Meeting organization. |
| 10/17/2000 |
Debate Features Alternative Senate Candidates |
Third, fourth and fifth-party candidates for U.S. Senate had their say in a half-hour debate on Twin Cities Public Television on October 16. Senate candidates from the Grassroots, Socialist Workers, Independence, Constitution and Libertarian parties took audience questions and probed each other's views. Issues ranged from eliminating the federal income tax to forming a "workers' government" and cutting back corporate welfare. On the international front, the candidates showed greater unity in wanting the U.S. out of most foreign affairs. |
| 10/16/2000 |
Environmental Issues Lead Senate Debate |
In their first debate outside the Twin Cities, Republican incumbent Rod Grams, DFL candidate Mark Dayton and Independence Party candidate James Gibson squared off on issues that haven't gotten much attention in the campaign for U.S. Senate, dealing with the environment and the use of federal lands. |
| 09/13/2000 |
Independence Party Could Be Player in Senate Race |
Software developer Jim Gibson says as the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, he can chart a centrist path between Republican candidate Rod Grams and the winner of Tuesday's DFL primary, Mark Dayton. Gibson, the Independence Party's endorsed candidate for the Senate, easily beat his opponents to clinch his party's nomination. But Gibson says he faces an uphill challenge, both in raising the money he needs to compete, and in getting equal treatment among Republicans and Democrats. |
| 09/08/2000 |
Affidavit Raises Possibility of Dirty Tricks in Senate Race |
An affidavit released by the Anoka County Attorney's office shows what may be a link between Republican Senator Rod Grams' re-election campaign and some e-mails critical of one of his DFL rivals, Michael Ciresi. The affidavit says the e-mail account used to send the e-mails was used in the home of one of Grams' campaign advisors, Christine Gunhus. Grams has emphatically denied that his campaign was involved in creating the e-mails, in which the sender posed as a DFL activist. |
| 08/23/2000 |
A Different Kind of Home |
Mary Jo Copeland's Sharing and Caring Hands is nationally recognized for helping the poor with a minimum of paperwork. But Copeland's plan to build an orphanage in Brooklyn Center is drawing another kind of national attention. Representatives of a children's advocacy group are travelling to Minnesota to condemn the proposal. |
| 08/11/2000 |
The Color of Justice: Documenting Discrimination |
St. Paul and Minneapolis residents have testified about their perceptions of racial profiling, describing traffic stops and other police actions they perceived to be racially motivated. |
| 07/19/2000 |
Stadium Debate Simmers Under Selig's Fire |
Appearing before the Twins-sponsored group Minnesotans for Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig promised changes will be implemented to ease the disparities between rich and poor teams and to make the game more competitive. But Selig mostly repeated his familiar message that the Minnesota Twins must have a publicly-funded ballpark to survive - a message the newly-formed committee says it's not yet ready to consider. |
| 07/10/2000 |
Olson Ungagged |
Sara Jane Olson celebrated the judge's removal of her gag order, appearing at a benefit concert for her legal defense fund in Minneapolis. She blasted the conspiracy charge against her as an attempt by prosecutors to "rig" her trial. |
| 07/04/2000 |
Holiday Puts Spark in Fourth District Race |
Campaigning picks up as the official start of the campaign season begins. Candidates are now asking voters for their votes with equal fervor as they asked for their money. |
| 06/26/2000 |
Independence Party Endorses Gibson for Senate |
Jim Gibson has formally launched his campaign as the Independence Party's endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate. Gibson won his party's endorsement with ease, but faces a daunting race ahead. He faces at least two competitors in his party primary, and party officials are hinting others may still enter the race. |
| 06/22/2000 |
Keeping Up with the Venturas |
Vice President Al Gore's social call on Governor Jesse Ventura mixed some business with pleasure as Gore talked with DFL stalwarts in St. Paul, visited striking hotel workers in Bloomington, and attended a horse show with the Venturas. Gore made no public statements or speeches, but that didn't stop speculation about the political overtones of his visit. |
| 06/15/2000 |
Racial Profiling Allegations Bring Calls for Statewide Data Collection |
Minority professionals across the Twin Cities testified before the Minnesota Senate that they believe they have been victims of racial profiling. Their experiences have state senators calling for data collection across Minnesota. |
| 06/12/2000 |
Fundraiser in Chief |
In his latest visit to Minnesota, President Clinton shows why he can still help win elections, even if he's not running. Clinton says he may be back again before November. |
| 06/06/2000 |
Hands Off, Hands On |
State leaders' reactions to the closing of the LTV mine in Hoyt Lakes, and the possible merger of Northwest Airlines, demonstrate the extreme philosophies of the government's role in influencing private business. |
| 06/05/2000 |
Janezich Starts at the Top |
The DFL state convention has completed its work and the four remaining DFL candidates for U.S. Senate say they are ready for the primary race to begin. Jerry Janezich won the endorsement, but he's got company on the campaign trail. |
| 05/24/2000 |
Watchdogs Hope to Counter Political Money Machines |
Political contributions from lobbyists and political-action committees rose in Minnesota last year, and some political observers expect the trend to continue this campaign season. Fueling the flow of money, in part, is a Minnesota Supreme Court decision allowing parties to spend unlimited money to help their candidates. Since laws to curb spending have failed at the Legislature, reformers and political leaders are trying another tactic: they'll be offering more scrutiny of campaign advertising by political experts and, hopefully, citizens. |
| 05/18/2000 |
Legislature Completes 2000 Session |
Governor Ventura may head the executive branch, but in its last day of work, the 2000 Legislature showed who's got the political muscle with a display of power through veto overrides not seen in the state in more than 60 years. |
| 05/16/2000 |
Arts Take Hit in Ventura Vetoes |
Governor Ventura made selective use of his veto pen while signing four major spending bills into law Monday. He eliminated funding for about $12 million in projects from the four bills, in contrast to vetoes totaling $140 million last year. But legislators are protesting what they say is Ventura's bias against the arts, and rural Minnesota. |
| 05/10/2000 |
Session 2000: The Bonding Bill |
Over half of the funding will be spent on schools, from childrens' programs to college campuses around the state. It survived protests by some House Republicans, brought on by Governor Ventura's last-minute insertion of transit money into the bill. |
| 05/08/2000 |
McCollum Gets Early Boost in Fourth District Race |
State Representative Betty McCollum of North St. Paul won the endorsement last weekend for the Fourth Congressional District race against Republican State Senator Linda Runbeck. But the DFL campaign to replace retiring Congressman Bruce Vento is just beginning. Three other DFLers are considering running against McCollum in a September primary. McCollum will try to persuade the other candidates to drop their bids against her in the name of party unity. But even if she were to succeed, the Fourth District race is shaping up to be a tough, expensive fight. |
| 05/04/2000 |
Good Deal, Bad Deal |
Negotiators on all sides of the budget dispute at the Capitol say this year's deal does not constitute very good policy, and should not serve as a precedent in future years. |
| 05/01/2000 |
Unicameralism Makes A Comeback |
Once given up for dead, Governor Jesse Ventura's legislative priority makes a return at the State Capitol. |
| 04/25/2000 |
Toothless Justice |
House and Senate members pass a law cracking down on repeat drunk drivers, then refuse to fund its implementation. |
| 04/24/2000 |
Privacy Dies a Back Room Death |
Backed by the outrage of politicians against privacy invasions, privacy legislation seemed like a sure winner in this legislative session. But most meaningful legislation is dead; killed by a well-organized effort by businesses which want consumer information. |
| 04/19/2000 |
A Wolf Revival at Capitol |
Capping a battle between urban and rural legislators, the Minnesota Senate revived last week's failed wolf-management bill and passed it Tuesday along with a funding increase for the Department of Natural Resources. |
| 04/07/2000 |
Ventura Gets Tangled in Abortion Debate |
Lawmakers who support legalized abortion worry Governor Ventura has changed his stance on abortion. But just where Ventura stands on the issue, and why he entered the most recent fray atthe Legislature all, are still unclear. |
| 04/06/2000 |
Negotiators Reach Deal on Wolves |
Republican Senator Rod Grams rolled out his first re-election television ad this week. It's the beginning of an effort to bolster the image of a politician with relatively low approval ratings for an incumbent. Third in a series. |
| 04/03/2000 |
A Pious Rebellion |
An alliance between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Episcopal Church is hitting some snags, and Minnesota has become home base for a national Lutheran group protesting the union. |
| 03/29/2000 |
LRT Planning: Cutting Corners |
A House panel examined the allegations of a conflict of interest surrounding theMinneapolis light-rail project Tuesday, and added what critics say are more troubling details to the picture. |
| 03/21/2000 |
Abortion, Welfare Rules Highlight Spending Plan |
After a marathon 13 hours of debate, the Minnesota House approved a 300-page bill Monday containing a multitude of policy and spending provisions. Among its most controversial items are a total benefit cutoff for welfare recipients who don't comply with the program, and the "women's right to know" bill, which requires that specific information be presented to a woman seeking an abortion. House leaders say they folded many bills into one to save time, but they concede the bill will be a tough sell in a House-Senate conference committee. |
| 03/15/2000 |
Legislators Give Wolves a Break |
Wolf advocates won a victory in the Minnesota Senate, which voted more than two-to-one to pass a bill granting strong protections to wolves statewide. The Legislature must pass a management plan to take effect when wolves are removed from the federal endangered-species list and returned to state control. The vote sets the stage for House-Senate negotiations, and creates a wide gulf between the two chambers, since the House passed a bill allowing wolf hunting and trapping. |
| 03/13/2000 |
LRT's Rough Ride |
House Republicans have introduced legislation to kill funding for the Twin Cities' light-rail line from downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America and the airport. They accuse the state transportation department of making misleading cost predictions last year when money was first allocated. But other legislators, say having taken the plunge, they should see the project through, especially considering the Senate and Governor Jesse Ventura both support the project. |
| 03/06/2000 |
The Independence Party Challenge |
Now that Minnesota members of the Reform Party have voted to leave the national party and form the Minnesota Independence Party, they're scrambling to retain major-party designation, and the power and money that goes with it. |
| 03/02/2000 |
Bush, Gore are Winners in Minnesota Presidential Poll |
A Minnesota Pubic Radio - St. Paul Pioneer Press poll shows Minnesotans have no clear favorite for president. If the presidential election were held today, Republican John McCain would likely defeat Democrat Al Gore in Minnesota by a narrow margin. But Gore would edge out George W. Bush if the Texas governor were the Republican nominee. |
| 02/21/2000 |
Grams Announces Re-election Bid |
U.S. Senator Rod Grams has officially announced, he'll seek re-election to Congress in November. Grams has been mostly in the background as nine Democrats and one Reform Party candidate announced their intentions to seek the seat he has held since 1994. |
| 02/16/2000 |
Freedom to Drive Legislation Advances |
The Senate Transportation Committee has voted to shut down Twin Cities' ramp meters for a one-month study of their effectiveness. The measure is part of a so-called "Freedom to Drive" agenda pushed by Republican Minority Leader Dick Day. A measure to ticket drivers who hold up traffic in the left lane of Minnesota freeways also won committee approval. |
| 01/24/2000 |
Snow Shortage is Seen as Disaster in Northern Minnesota |
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. |
| 12/30/1999 |
The Y2K Bust |
David and Johanna Hecker are devout Christians who have been living for 22 years in northeast Minnesota, on land they call God's Wilderness. When they heard about the anticipated problems with Y2K, they advertised; offering to sell land to other Christian, home-schooling families and help build cabins to avoid any millennial disruptions. Visitors arrived from all over the country. But things haven't quite worked out as the Heckers hoped. |
| 12/08/1999 |
Janezich Enters Senate Race |
The 2000 election is 11 months away, yet campaign ads have already begun hitting the airwaves. DFL Senate candidate Mike Ciresi has been running radio spots on the Iron Range, the Republican Party has countered with an attack ad, and the first of what promises to be an explosion of so-called "issue ads" challenges Congressman Bill Luther. |
| 11/03/1999 |
Doty Returned to Office |
Election results in Duluth brought significant turnover among city council and school board members, with both bodies likely taking on a more labor-friendly and liberal tone. But labor-endorsed candidates did not sweep either body, and some extremely-close votes had candidates pondering the mixed messages voters sent. The elections for mayor and state legislature were more sweeping: Mayor Gary Doty easily won a third term, and DFLer Dale Swapinski won Willard Munger Senior's former legislative seat by a wide margin. |
| 09/09/1999 |
Blom Confesses to Killing Katie Poirier |
After more than two months in prison, Blom confesses he kidnapped Poirier and says the human remains found on his property are hers. |
| 08/12/1999 |
Deal With It |
In a speech to rural leaders, Governor Ventura suggests rural Minnesotans should stop thinking in a crisis mode, and accept the fact that change happens. |
| 07/21/1999 |
On a Wing and a Parachute |
Cirrus Design of Duluth gets FAA permission to deliver its SR-20, the plane with the parachute. |
| 04/20/1999 |
They Could've Been Heroes |
Cohasset residents lament the demise of Technimar. |
| 03/12/1999 |
Ganging Up on Kids |
Rural teens say they're victims of an anti-gang fervor. |
| 10/15/1998 |
Duluth's Hmong Families Find Reform Pressure |
Social workers and employers are struggling to keep families from relocating to the Twin Cities. |
| 09/11/1998 |
Doug Johnson: The Environment |
Move the Department of Natural Resources to greater Minnesota; give regulatory control of feedlots to local municipalities. |
| 09/01/1998 |
Doug Johnson: Crime |
Support the issuing of concealed-weapon permits; greater anti-crime measures in schools. |
| 08/26/1998 |
Doug Johnson: Economic Development |
New agency to address situations in rural Minnesota; move ag-centered government agencies to out-state areas. |
| 08/20/1998 |
Doug Johnson: Health Care |
More competition within the state health care system; provide affordable alternatives for elder care. |
| 08/17/1998 |
The Northwest Angle |
Change is difficult for locals in this unique piece of Minnesota. |
| 08/10/1998 |
Doug Johnson: Welfare |
Fully fund a sliding fee child care program; invest $50 million to assist welfare recipients. |
| 08/04/1998 |
Doug Johnson on Taxes |
Permanent individual income tax cuts; additional $400 million in property tax relief. |
| 07/29/1998 |
Doug Johnson on Education |
Balance funds between rich and poor districts; reduce guns and drugs in schools. |
| 07/08/1998 |
Doug Johnson, DFL Candidate |
Part of the gubernatorial candidate series. |
| 04/21/1998 |
A Native American Candidate for Sainthood |
A 17th century Mohawk lights a path for Native American Catholics who wish to hold on to their culture. |
| 10/31/1997 |
Hell House debuts in Minnesota this Halloween |
Billed as a guided tour of Hell - one with a Christian evangelical message |
| 10/03/1997 |
Moose Calling |
Only 200 moose hunting permits are awarded by the DNR each year, but for the chosen, it's the chance of a lifetime. |
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