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April 28 - May 2, 2003
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Monday, April 28, 2003 |
Pawlenty's 100 days
Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he doesn't want his term to be defined by the state's financial crisis. Pawlenty recently completed his first 100 days in office. He says despite the deficit, he's laid out a reform agenda focusing on education, economic development and transportation. But critics say Pawlenty's budget proposal contains little reform, and the governor's no-tax-increase pledge will reverse the gains Minnesota has made in recent years. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Minneapolis couple fights to put "t" word on the table
As the Legislature heads into the closing days of the debate over how to eliminate the budget deficit, a Minneapolis couple has entered the fray. They've started a Web site and a lawn-sign campaign and are calling on lawmakers to keep tax increases on the negotiating table. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Many Minnesota banks to require fingerprints
Minnesotans will soon begin seeing more fingerprinting at banks. Hundreds of financial institutions across the state are expected to start requiring new account applicants to provide them with thumb prints. Banks hope fingerprinting will help law enforcement fight the growing problem of identity theft. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
Many votes expected at the state Capitol this week
The state Senate could vote as early as today on a bill that would change Minnesota's hand gun permitting process and make it easier to get a gun. The House has already passed the measure, and Gov. Pawlenty has said he will sign it if it reaches his desk. The Minnesota House and Senate are also expected to pass all of their budget bills this week. The two chambers are likely to approve significantly different budget plans, and will then have to resolve their differences in the next couple of weeks. Joining us now for a look at the week ahead is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum.
Wolves stumble; Lakers tie series
The series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers is now tied at two games apiece after the Lakers beat the Wolves 102-97 yesterday afternoon in Los Angeles. The series resumes tomorrow night at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Joining us on the line is Brit Robson, who covers the Wolves for City Pages.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, April 29, 2003 |
Concealed carry bill on handguns now law
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has signed into law a bill the Minnesota Senate passed Monday requiring county sheriffs to issue a handgun permit to almost any law abiding Minnesotan over the age of 21. The bill passed 37-30 after what several observers say was the longest Senate floor debate in recent memory. The House passed the measure last week. Supporters say current law is unfair because local law enforcement has too much discretion when it comes to issuing permits. Opponents say the bill would make the state more dangerous. They also said the Minnesota House was dictating the Senate's agenda by forcing the Senate to vote up or down on the issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
House passes transportation and judiciary bills
The Minnesota House has approved a transportation funding bill that injects more than a billion dollars in new money for road projects over the next five years. The plan passed on a vote of 80-53, and it closely mirrors the proposal favored by Governor Tim Pawlenty. But critics say it offers too little new cash. The body also approved, by a 78-56 vote, spending reductions in the courts and criminal justice system. The two budget bills are the first to pass the House this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Senate passes K-12 education spending plan
The Minnesota Senate is expected to take action this week on a $12 billion funding measure for elementary and secondary schools. The DFL-backed K-12 finance bill preserves many of the provisions trimmed by Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Republican House. If approved as written, the bill also sets up a battle with the House over new academic standards for public schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Lawmakers debate speed limits on state highways
The Minnesota Legislature is considering a plan to raise speed limits on many of the state's highways. Rural lawmakers are pushing a bill that would increase the daytime speed limit to 65 miles per hour on many two-lane state highways. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin reports from Duluth.
Pilots are key to Northwest labor cuts
Leaders of the pilots' union at Northwest Airlines meet today in Brainerd to discuss how to respond to a cost reduction proposal from the airline. Northwest wants to cut pilots' wages and benefits by about 37 percent to save about $2.7 billion in the years to come. The airline says it needs to cut labor costs because of a permanent decline in the industry's revenues following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the success of low-cost carriers like Southwest Airlines. John Budd is an Industrial Relations professor at the University of Minnesota. He's on the line to talk about the intricacies of upcoming contract talks between the pilots and the airline.
Former Minneapolis Laker enjoys Wolves' series
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Timberwolves tip off tonight at Target Center for game five of their NBA playoff series. Vern Mickelson is a former Minneapolis Laker. He won four championships with the team before they left for L.A. in 1960.
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Wednesday, April 30, 2003 |
Governor lays out his plans for nuclear waste
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has laid out what he wants in a nuclear waste storage bill. The governor says any plan that allows more storage at Xcel's Prairie Island plant should include a commitment to renewable energy and conservation. The governor says the approach currently favored by Xcel and House Republicans is inadequate. Xcel officials say they need to take a closer look at what the governor wants--but environmental groups say they're happy. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Minneapolis mayor makes State of the City speech
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says despite bleak economic times, he remains optimistic. The mayor delivered his State of the City address yesterday. In a message to those living outside the city limits, he says Minneapolis can only help the state if the state helps Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Macalester rape sparks talk of more security
Officials at Macalester College in St. Paul are considering ways to tighten security after a on-campus rape last Friday. A task force met last night to talk over options. No arrests have been made in the case, in which investigators say a man with a gun broke into a residence hall around 4:30 a.m. and raped a prospective student who was staying at the college. Laurie Hamre is the Vice President for Student Affairs at Macalester and was at last night's task force meeting. She's on the line now.
Some farmers rethinking their business
Markets are critical to farmers. For years, the approach has been to grow large quantities of a cash crop. Then farmers pray for good weather and hope there's a market for their crop in the fall. But some farmers are changing their thinking. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
Wild lose to Canucks in game 3 of their series
The Minnesota Wild now trail the Vancouver Canucks two games to one in their Stanley Cup playoff series. The Canucks regained the series lead by beating the Wild 3-2 in Saint Paul last night. In spite of the five goals, Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports the game was a defensive contest.
Lakers crush Wolves in NBA playoffs
While the hockey fans at the Xcel Energy Center at least had a close game to the end, a 3-2 Wild loss, basketball fans at the Target Center weren't so lucky. The Los Angeles Lakers crushed the Minnesota Timberwolves last night 120-90 to take a three games to two lead in their best-of-seven series. Minnesota Public Radio's Jim Bickal reports.
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Thursday, May 1, 2003 |
House passes education funding bill
The Minnesota House has passed its largest budget bill, a nearly $12 billion education funding package. House Republican leaders say the bill aims to hold education harmless in the face of a projected $4.2 billion deficit. DFL lawmakers voted against the bill, calling it a "leave every child behind" education plan. As the House was debating the bill, the issue took an unusual turn in the Senate, where DFL leaders moved $12.5 billion in education spending into the Senate tax bill. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Pawlenty tries for "politics-free" aid distribution
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has released new guidelines for distributing aid payments to cities across Minnesota. Administration officials say the new local government aid formula eliminates historical inequities in state assistance and focuses exclusively on a city's needs and resources. But city representatives say the formula isn't the point. While the distribution of aid may change, they argue the governor is also slashing the total amount of aid across the board, leaving municipal officials with few options. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
NWA pilots union says it will take cuts
Northwest Airlines' powerful pilots union says the group is willing to negotiate cost reductions but says there's no rush. With the airline industry awash in red ink, Northwest is asking its four biggest unions for pay and other cost cuts averaging $870 million a year. The pilots' share would be more than half. As Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports, the pilots' response is an important step, even if it's not a surprise.
Duluth church holds conference on homosexuality
This weekend St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Duluth will host the third annual "Opening Our Doors" conference. It's an attempt help faith organizations in the region become more welcoming to gay, lesbian, bigender and transgender people. The conference will explore what the bible says about homosexuality and how different churches have varying levels of acceptance. Joining us now is one the organizers of the event, Karen Bauman, who is a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Duluth and she joins us now.
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Friday, May 2, 2003 |
House passes 'tough but fair' human services budget
The Minnesota House has passed on a 74-59 vote a $7.1 billion budget bill that funds health and human services programs. The bill cuts the state's subsidized health insurance, child care and programs for the elderly. House Republicans say they're providing a nine percent increase to the services. But the bill makes cuts because higher health care costs and increased demand has driven the state's projected costs to over 20 percent. Opponents say the bill unfairly targets the lower income and the poor. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Two men charged in Long Prairie, Minneapolis murders
Police Thursday said there are connections between two recent brutal crimes in Minnesota. Authorities in Long Prairie say they have two suspects in custody in Monday's killing of a mother and her two teenage children. Meanwhile, police in Minneapolis say the same two men are suspects in a double murder two weeks ago in northeast Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
First horse of the year gets West Nile
Experts say it's unusual, but it appears that a horse near Brainerd is the first case of West Nile virus in Minnesota this year. State officials say the early emergence of the disease doesn't necessarily mean Minnesota will see a big spike in West Nile cases. West Nile arrived in Minnesota for the first time last year. Nearly 1,000 horses tested positive for the virus, and about 38 percent of them died. New research from the University of Minnesota indicates many of the surviving horses seem to have residual effects, even six months after being diagnosed. Julie Wilson is a veterinarian at the U of M. She says she was surprised by the number of horses still having trouble.
U of M School of Music celebrates 100 years
The University of Minnesota's School of Music is marking 100 years of developing many of the region's foremost music teachers, performers and composers. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Weather with Mark Seeley
University of Minnesota Meteorologist Mark Seeley discusses Minnesota weather history and looks ahead to the weekend forecast.
Word of Mouth
Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts provides 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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