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April 7 - 11, 2003
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, April 7, 2003 |
Pennsylvania's tax free zone program
One of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's top priorities this legislative session is to bring more jobs and businesses to rural Minnesota. Pawlenty is proposing 10 tax free zones as a way to entice businesses to move into rural areas. Pennsylvania has had a similar program for about five years. Some people there say it's been a great help in bringing development to depressed areas. Others say there are different ways to create jobs that work better and give local communities more flexibility. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Previewing the week ahead at the State Capitol
DFL lawmakers in the Minnesota Senate will release their plan today for the next two-year budget. The plan is likely to differ from Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal, which fixes a projected $4.2 billion shortfall without raising taxes. House and Senate Republicans released a plan last week that closely follows the governor's. Joining us to discuss the week ahead is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum.
African Americans discuss the State of Black Minnesota
African American church and community leaders say Black Minnesotans face growing challenges in today's troubling economic times. Sunday night at a worship service held in the State Theater in Minneapolis, black leaders told the crowd of nearly 500 that African Americans still face high rates of unemployment, poverty, and health problems. However, they expressed hope that through continual church and community collaboration those problems can be solved. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
MPR's Chris Farrell on Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics correspondent discusses the war in Iraq, and the economy. Markets are up on hopes for a short war, and some are already looking ahead to the costs of rebuilding Iraq.
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Tuesday, April 8, 2003 |
Senate DFL releases budget plan
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is making a series of appearances around the state today where he will respond to a budget balancing proposal offered by Senate Democrats. The proposal, which was released yesterday, calls for more than $1 billion in tax increases. The plan is a direct challenge to the governor, who has pledged not to boost state taxes in order to erase a projected $4.2 billion deficit. Pawlenty and House Republicans have called the DFL package dead-on-arrival, but Democrats say it's clear that state government will need new revenues in some form to weather the fiscal crisis. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
House Ethics Committee hears Lindner case
DFL lawmakers asked the House Ethics Committee last night to discipline Rep. Arlon Lindner for comments that offended some homosexuals and blacks. They argued that Lindner made bigoted statements that brought dishonor to the House. Lindner's attorney said the charges are false, and Lindner's comments have been taken out of context. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
In search of outstate "JOBZ"
Gov. Pawlenty is calling his "JOBZ" program "the mother of all economic development incentives." Communities in outstate Minnesota are already compiling their evidence to convince state officials that their town needs the extra boost. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Special operations forces play key role in war with Iraq
U.S. warplanes bombed a building in Baghdad where they believed Saddam Hussein may have been meeting with his sons. The decision to bomb yesterday was based on information gathered by Special Operations forces which are operating covertly in Baghdad. Keith Larson, of Two Harbors, Minnesota, served with a different group of special forces, the elite Special Operations Group, during the Vietnam War. The unit's existence was only recently admitted by the U-S Army. Former Sgt. Larson says he did his work in secret.
Hermann the German gets optimistic diagnosis
The initial diagnosis for "Hermann the German" is: better than expected. Hermann is a century-old statue in New Ulm. It depicts an ancient German warrior, but it needs repair. A metal expert and a sculptor are studying Hermann's copper skin and steel frame. So far they're pleased with what they're finding. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
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Wednesday, April 9, 2003 |
Abortion bill headed to the Senate
The Minnesota Senate will vote Thursday on a bill that would require any woman seeking an abortion to get specific information and wait 24 hours before the procedure is done. A parliamentary procedure on the House floor will force the full Senate to either adopt the bill or send it to conference committee. Supporters say they have the votes in the Senate to send the bill to Gov. Pawlenty's desk. Critics say the parliamentary procedure is undermining the committee process and won't allow the Senate to make any changes to the bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Study: warmer climate change due for Minnesota
A study released by the Union of Concerned Scientists says within the next 30 years, climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels will have dramatic effects on Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
A study released by the Union of Concerned Scientists says within the next 30 years, climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels will have dramatic effects on Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
Light rail pulls into the Mall of America station
Long before the first Twin Cities light rail car rolls a year from now, builders hope to improve the location of one of the line's most important stops - the Mall of America station in Bloomington. Planners originally proposed a station a block and a half away from the shopping center. The search is underway to find the additional money it will cost to deliver light rail passengers closer to the Mall. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
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Thursday, April 10, 2003 |
Bridge becomes town square on war in Iraq
As the war in Iraq continues, so do the weekly anti-war demonstrations on the Lake Street bridge between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Peace activists who gathered there last night say the issues surrounding the conflict have not disappeared. They say they will continue protesting what they calling imperialist foreign policy objectives. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Veteran correspondent talks about war
A Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times correspondent is in Minnesota to speak about war. Chris Hedges was a foreign correspondent for fifteen years before coming home to write a book about his experiences. He has covered conflicts around the world including Nicaragua, El Salvador, Sudan and Bosnia. He also covered the 1991 Gulf War, where he and other journalists were taken hostage by Iraq's Republican Guard. Hedges says the coverage of this war in Iraq has been, in his words, "terrible."
Wild and Gopher men play big hockey games today
It is a big day for hockey fans in Minnesota as the Minnesota Wild plays its first playoff game in franchise history, and the men's Gopher hockey team competes in college hockey's Frozen Four. The Gophers are the defending NCAA champions and play the Michigan Wolverines in Buffalo, New York late this afternoon. At about the time that game is ending, fans can switch over and watch the Wild, who are in Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Doug Johnson is publisher of "Let's Play Hockey." He says this Wild team deserves to be in the playoffs.
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Friday, April 11, 2003 |
A look at the Senate DFL's tax plan
The Senate Democrats' budget plan includes a new income tax bracket for upper-income Minnesotans. Republicans immediately called the proposal class warfare, and said it would drive job creators out of the state. DFL leaders say they're simply asking wealthy Minnesotans to share the pain along with the rest of the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
U of M develops updated security plan
Officials at the University of Minnesota are updating their security procedures. A new Emergency Preparedness Plan will be presented today to the Board of Regents. It's part of a larger health and safety policy that's being updated to reflect concerns about possible terrorist incidents on American university campuses. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Mixed signals for regional air service
For most of the nation's major airlines, the events of Sept. 11 and the war in Iraq have brought nothing but bad news. Eagan-based Northwest Airlines has lost $1.2 billion in the past two years and laid off about 17,000 people. This week Minnesota's main regional airline, Mesaba, also announced plans for job cuts and a wage freeze. But travel from Minnesota's smaller airports is up, and there are signs Mesaba may emerge from the war in Iraq in better shape than its big brother, Northwest. Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Minnesota courting coveted biotech firm
Minnesota is in the running to attract a new, much-coveted biotech company from Cleveland, Ohio. The CEO of Athersys says the company needs up to $75 million in financing to stay in Cleveland. Officials there are reluctant to promise so much money. The attempt to lure Athersys to Minnesota is the subject of an article in this week's edition of The Business Journal. Mark Reilly, who wrote the article, says Athersys has great potential.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.
Word of Mouth Roundup
Get the scoop each week on the best of Minnesota's art scene, including theater, gallery shows, music, and spoken-word events.
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