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February 17 - 21, 2003
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Monday, Feb. 17, 2003 |
MPR investigation finds poor pesticide enforcement
Millions of pounds of pesticides are used in Minnesota every year, and some of those chemicals are misused. Careless or accidental pesticide use exposes people to dangerous chemicals. Those incidents often violate state and federal law. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is the only state agency responsible for enforcing those laws. The lead investigator says all allegations of pesticide misuse are aggressively pursued, but an MPR investigation found violations of the law are often not punished and are sometimes ignored. Here's an excerpt of an investigative report from Mainstreet Radio's Dan Gunderson.
Pawlenty to release budget on Tuesday
Lawmakers at the state Capitol are waiting for Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget for the next biennium. Pawlenty is expected to unveil his proposal on Tuesday. It must cover a $4.2 billion. Joining us to preview the week for state lawmakers is MPR's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum.
Minneapolis office vacancies increase
Office vacancies in downtown Minneapolis continue to push higher, even after three years of a down market. The vacancies create headaches for owners of some of the most valuable properties in the state and increase the tax burden for residential property owners. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes explains.
Second time around for luxury car company
There are few things as sweet as catching a dream and making it come true. Max Prinzing is still a few steps behind his, but he's closing fast. Prinzing builds brand-new cars that look like old classics. They remind people of a Rolls Royce or Duesenberg from the 1930s. The cars cost nearly $100,000. Prinzing hit some bumps along the way, but so far the wheels have not come off. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
St. Paul group planning car-sharing program
The St. Paul Energy Consortium is planning a car-sharing program which would allow members to have access to a car without the expense of payments, insurance, or maintenance. If the plan works, the cars would be sprinkled around the city, available for members to use when they have a reservation. Joining us on the line to talk about the program is Tanya Seaman, executive director of a car-sharing program in Philadelphia called Philly Car Share.
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Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003 |
Pawlenty to release budget plan
Gov. Tim Pawlenty today will release his plan for erasing a $4.2 billion deficit projected over the next two years. The state's fiscal shortfall is one of the largest in recent memory. Bridging the gap will dominate discussion at the Capitol for the remainder of the session, and it is complicated by Pawlenty's pledge not to raise taxes to close the divide. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
House votes to repeal Profile of Learning
The Minnesota House has voted overwhelmingly to repeal the Profile of Learning graduation standards. Yesterday's vote marks the fifth straight year the House has voted to repeal the profile. Supporters are more confident than ever that this is the year the standards will be scrapped. The Pawlenty administration has indicated its support of new standards by creating a task force to make new ones. The Minnesota Senate, which has voted to preserve the Profile in the past, is also inclined to make major changes. Several senators, however, say they don't want to move too quickly until they know what will replace the Profile. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
State workers likely to lose domestic-partner benefits
Bills that ratify contracts for state workers have cleared legislative hurdles. The bills include pay and benefit provisions agreed to by state employee unions and the Ventura administration. But they're missing another provision - health benefits for same-sex domestic partners. Gay and lesbian groups say removing the benefits is a slap in the face. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Call-up of National Guard and Army Reservists continues
The call-up of National Guard and Army Reservists continues in preparation for war. Lt. Col. Denny Shields is with the Minnesota National Guard. He says 600 National Guard members are on active federal duty at various places around the country.
Pitchers and catchers start spring training
Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers are hard at work at spring training in Florida this week. Unlike last year when most players were talking about whether the Twins would be contracted, the team is optimistic about their chances this year. The team reacted to the threat of contraction by winning the American League Central Division Championship and coming within a few games of playing in the World Series. Joining us on the line is LaVelle Neal who covers the Twins for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
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Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003 |
Gov. Tim Pawlenty releases budget balancing plan
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has released a budget proposal that erases a projected $4.2 billion deficit without raising taxes. Gov. Pawlenty's budget would increase state spending by about a billion dollars in the next two years. But it makes deep cuts in the projected growth of health and human service programs, and cuts aid to local governments and higher education. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Pawlenty's budget on K-12 and higher education
Gov. Pawlenty has largely kept his pledge to shield elementary and secondary classrooms from the cuts needed to balance the state budget. He says his proposed spending plan for the next two years actually includes a slight increase in the per student funding formula for public schools. The state's public higher education institutions, however, face a 15 percent decrease in state funding. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Pawlenty budget cuts local governments aid
Local government officials across the state say they're concerned that Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget proposals will lead to cuts in public safety or property tax increases or both. As part of Pawlenty's plan to erase a $4.2 billion deficit projected over the next two years, the governor has suggested cutting state aid to cities and counties. Administration officials say it's a simple matter of spreading the budget burden evenly. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Health programs take cut in Pawlenty budget
Gov. Pawlenty has proposed a two-year budget that includes cuts to higher education and local government aids, as well as a public employee wage freeze to eliminate a projected $4.2 billion deficit. The plan he released yesterday does allow for some growth in health and human services spending, but far short of projections for fiscal years 2004 and 2005. Pawlenty says the state can afford to cut back on its social programs and still be on par with other states in the Midwest. Advocates of the poor, however, say Pawlenty's budget proposal will harm the poor and working class. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
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Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003 |
Poor, elderly, disabled protest Pawlenty budget plan
Advocates for the poor, the elderly and the disabled converged on the state Capitol yesterday in hopes of urging lawmakers to keep full funding for their programs. The groups are worried that Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget proposal would have a negative impact on them. Pawlenty's proposal actually increases health and human services programs 8 percent in the next two year budget. The programs, however, were scheduled to increase 20 percent. The Pawlenty administration says the cutbacks to some services are necessary to balance the state's budget without raising taxes. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Political effects of Pawlenty's budget plan
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to close a $4.2 billion projected budget deficit doesn't just have financial impact across the state. It also has a political impact too. Pawlenty's budget makes cuts, or limits growth in health programs, higher education, and state employee pay. It also spends much of the tobacco endowments. But his budget also largely preserves funding for K-12 education, and included no new taxes. Joining us on the line to talk about the politics of the budget is Chris Gilbert, professor of political science at Gustavus Adolphus College.
St. Paul discusses budget and state aid cuts
Officials in Minnesota cities are sizing up the budget cuts they will face as a result of diminished state aid outlined by Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week. The budget gaps are biggest in the state's biggest cities, including the capital city. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports on how the cuts are going over in Saint Paul.
Wisconsin's welfare plan a model for Minnesota
Minnesota state lawmakers will hold a hearing today on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to copy much of Wisconsin's welfare-to-work system. The Wisconsin program, known as W-2, has received national attention for reducing the number of welfare clients receiving cash benefits. But critics say the program has many problems. Wisconsin's new governor, Democrat Jim Doyle, has just proposed significant changes. Chuck Quirmbach of Wisconsin Public Radio reports.
U.S. Bancorp spins off Piper Jaffray
Minneapolis based U.S. Bancorp plans to spin off its Piper Jaffray brokerage as a separate company by this fall. U.S. Bank paid $730 million dollars to acquire the locally based brokerage five years ago. Piper has been hit by a series of fines by regulators over the past year. But analysts point to other factors for the spin-off. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
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Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 |
Immigration appeals process not working say critics
Immigration attorneys say U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's actions in streamlining the Department of Justice's Board of Immigration Appeals are violating due process for foreign nationals facing deportation. Ashcroft last September ordered the Board to clear its caselog of 56,000 cases in six months. Immigration attorneys say as a result, Board members are disposing of cases so quickly, they're merely rubber-stamping lower court decisions and failing to give each case a meaningful review. Since then, foreign nationals seeking answers as to why the B.I.A. upheld their deportations are overwhelming the federal courts with appeals. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
Outstate Minnesota cities weigh in on state budget cuts
City leaders across Minnesota are gearing up for a fight. They are upset over Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to fix the state's $4.2 billion budget deficit. The plan would cut state assistance to cities and counties by more than 20 percent. The governor says those cuts will not be any more than five percent the first year. City leaders say he is wrong. They fear they will have to cut essential services like police and fire protection. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson has the story.
Higher education community to fight budget cuts
Students and faculty from the state's public colleges and universities are mobilizing to fight most of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's budget recommendations. They say Pawlenty's proposed nine percent cut to higher education will exacerbate existing problems and limit access for many students. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Wage freeze would go beyond state workers
Tucked into Gov. Tim Pawlenty's $4.2 billion deficit-reduction package is a proposal to freeze the wages of all public employees. The freeze would affect not just state workers, but everyone on the public payroll: police, county health workers, teachers, and even professors in the state colleges and universities system. Administration officials say the plan is a tool to keep a lid on spending during difficult budget times. But union officials say the plan erodes the collective bargaining process. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Minnesota weather myths
University of Minnesota meteorologist Mark Seeley's weather commentary. This week, he discusses Minnesota weather myths.
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