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May 19 - 23, 2003
[ Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday ]
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Monday, May 19, 2003 |
Lawmakers still working on the details
With less than 24 hours left in this year's regular legislative session, House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on only two of eight major budget bills. Late last night, they also resolved several contentious issues surrounding pay and job security for state workers. Negotiators wrapped up their work on bills funding higher education and environment, agriculture, and job development. That leaves six more budget measures to conclude later this week in an expected special session. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Political scientist discusses politics of legislative session
The broad agreement on the state budget over the weekend represents a retreat for the Senate DFLers. They backed off their plan to raise taxes to balance a $4.2 billion projected budget deficit. Gov. Tim Pawenty and House Republicans held fast to Pawlenty's pledge not to raise state taxes. DFLers say that when the next election rolls around, they'll try to take tap into the public's reaction to deep budget cuts. Professor Chris Gilbert is Chair of the Political Science Department at Gustavus Adolphus College. He says that Senate DFLers chose among bad alternatives.
Librarians concerned about PATRIOT Act
A month after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress passed the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act. It was designed to help federal authorities track down and stop potential terrorists. But librarians around the country are worried about how the PATRIOT Act might affect people who visit the library. Some say it's putting their privacy at risk. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
Air travel may pick up just as NWA asks for concessions
There are signs of better months ahead for the airline industry, just when Northwest says it needs painful sacrifices from workers. Northwest says it needs to save $950 million a year by cutting jobs, wages, and benefits. The pilots have said they are willing to discuss new cuts. Other unions have yet to formally respond but have angrily questioned the need for concessions. As Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports, winning givebacks from workers may be all the more difficult with air travel headed into the strong summer season.
Wild eliminated from Stanley Cup playoffs
Minnesota's wild hockey ride is finally over. The Minnesota Wild will watch the Stanley Cup Finals on television. Their playoff run came to an end over the weekend in Anaheim. But in looking back on the season, the Wild and their fans say it was a remarkable year that bodes well for the team's future. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has more.
North Dakota officials hold meth summit
Methamphetamine, or meth, is a growing problem in our region. North Dakota is taking a look at the issue this week at a summit for law enforcement officers, addiction counselors, teachers, and prosecutors. 275 meth labs were seized in North Dakota last year, more than triple the number found the year before. North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is one of the officials who planned this week's summit, and he joins us now.
Lawmakers resolving remaining issues at state Capitol
Lawmakers at the state Capitol worked overtime over the weekend but still won't finish their work by the time the session ends at midnight tonight. Conference committees met until early this morning in an effort to get as much work done as possible. Joining on the line this morning is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2003 |
Bitterness marks end of legislative session
Minnesota lawmakers ended the 2003 session at midnight Monday, after passing just a small portion of the state budget. The House and Senate sent two budget bills to the governor, repealed the state's Profile of Learning graduation standards and passed a 2 a.m. bar closing bill. But the final hours of the session were marked by a bitter fight on the Senate floor which prevented a Prairie Island bill from a vote. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Much work remains at Capitol
Lawmakers still have significant work to do today as they head into a special session. Conference committee members are still negotiating their differences on several budget bills, but legislative leaders say time may be running out. They say they'll intervene by the end of the day if the two sides can't compromise on the remaining bills. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Filibuster stalls Prairie Island nuke bill
The Minnesota Legislature's regular session came to a close with a filibuster that blocked final action on expanding nuclear waste storage at Xcel Energy's Prairie Island plant. The power company is seeking to increase waste storage in order to keep the plant operating through the end of its current federal license in 2014. But a handful of Senate Democrats managed to stall action on a measure that they criticized as environmentally unsound. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
State lawmakers overwhelmingly strike Profile of Learning
State lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to strike the Profile of Learning graduation standards from state law. The House and Senate passed compromise legislation Monday night to repeal the controversial show-what-you-know system. The bill also establishes new statewide academic standards for public schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Bonding bill still in the works
Lawmakers at the state Capitol ran out of time in the regular session to finish all their work, including a bonding bill. Senate DFLers wanted the bill this year, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty agreed to it when DFLers gave up on their fight to raise some state taxes to limit deep spending cuts. The two sides agreed on a $175 million bonding bill but have yet to develop a plan on what construction projects to include. DFLers hope they can use some of that money for projects former Gov. Jesse Ventura cut from last year's bonding bill. Joining us on the line is DFL Sen. Keith Langseth, chair of the Senate Capitol Investment Committee.
Gov. Pawlenty to call special session Tuesday morning
Minnesota lawmakers will return to the Capitol later this morning for a special session, after failing to finish their work by yesterday's midnight deadline. We've heard from the lawmakers. Joining us now is Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
North Dakota officials hold meth summit
About 500 people from around the region are in Fargo this week to learn more about combating the drug methamphetamine. Meth is increasingly popular across the midwest. Experts say the highly addictive drug is straining law enforcement and drug treatment resources. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
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Wednesday, May 21, 2003 |
Slow going in Legislature's special session
State lawmakers have made only incremental progress towards completing a $4.2 billion deficit-reduction package. Legislators returned to the Capitol on Tuesday to begin a special session meant to resolve business left undone when the regular session ran out the clock Monday night. A state government finance bill is now on its way to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's desk, but at least six other funding measures await final legislative action. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
Cost of public college likely to go up this fall
The cost of going to a public college in Minnesota will likely go up hundreds of dollars this fall. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is expected to sign a higher education funding bill that cuts $196 million from each of the state's public university systems. The bill that passed at the end of the regular session provides $10 million more than Pawlenty had proposed. Still, critics say the cuts are short-sighted and will lead to an erosion of quality at the state's colleges. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
Minneapolis breaks ground on new downtown library
After more than a decade of planning and a $110 million referendum, Minneapolis officials celebrated the start of construction on a new downtown library yesterday. Only two months ago the project's future was in question because of tight state and city government budgets. But city and library leaders decided the new building would cost less than operating in some other rented space. Now, supporters turn their full attention to raising the additional money needed to complete construction. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
Lawmakers still negotiating health and human services bill
Minnesota lawmakers will be back at the Capitol this morning for day two of the special session. Conference committees are working out the details of the next two-year budget, but five of the nine major spending bills are still unfinished. One of those is the contentious Health and Human Services bill, which provides funding for a wide variety of social programs, including health care and childcare subsidies. Joining us now are two lawmakers, Republican Rep. Fran Bradley, who is chair of the Health and Human Services Committee in the House and DFL Sen. Linda Berglin, who chairs the same committee in the Senate.
Lobbyists at the Capitol working to get their voices heard
Lawmakers will be back at the Capitol this morning in special session after failing to finish their work by the end of the regular session Monday night. Lawmakers aren't the only ones putting in long hours. There are about 1300 registered lobbyists at the Capitol -- and they, too, are staying up late these days. John Knapp is a longtime lobbyist for groups including the Minnesota Business Partnership and the Mayo Clinic. He's come by the studio this morning.
Healthier eggs a new niche for farmers
When the American Heart Association told consumers eggs were high in cholesterol, consumption plummeted. But now, there's a new egg on the market. An egg enhanced with Omega Three fatty acid can actually help reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol. Minnesota has nearly 11 million hens. It's the 8th highest egg-producing state in the country. Farmers who got out of the egg business now may see a reason to get back in. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
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Thursday, May 22, 2003 |
Special session pace is slowing
After two days of a special session, lawmakers have sent just two budget bills to Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The pace is slower than legislative leaders had hoped - and the largest spending bills are still unresolved. One key lawmaker indicated the session could drag on past the self imposed deadline of the end of the week. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Transportation spending bill still at stalemate
Minnesota lawmakers will be back at the Capitol this morning for the third day of the special session. They still need to finish four of the nine major spending bills, including the transportation package. In recent years, lawmakers have repeatedly failed to agree on a comprehensive transportation plan. Joining us now are the chairs of the Senate and House transportation committees, DFL Senator Dean Johnson and Republican Representative Bill Kuisle.
Federal mediation in Minneapolis restarts
The long-delayed mediation talks between the Minneapolis police and members of the community are expected to begin today. Federal mediator Patricia Campbell Glenn is coming to town for the first meeting. The push for the talks began early last year after several incidents, including the police shooting of a Somali man who walked down the street waving a machete. Minneapolis City Council Member Paul Zerby is getting much of the credit for getting the talks going this time. He says he hopes the two sides will make good progress.
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Friday, May 23, 2003 |
Lawmakers pass a K-12 spending bill
Three days into their special session, state lawmakers have passed half of the state budget bills. The House and Senate passed a bill last night that funds education from pre-school through grade 12, as well as some adult education programs. The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Supporters say they did their best to continue funding the classroom. Opponents say the bill makes significant cuts to early childhood education, special education funding and english as a second language. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Deal made on 2 a.m. bar closing time
The Legislature has reached a deal that would permit cities to extend bar closing to 2 a.m. Businesses that take advantage of the option would have to pay a fee between $200 and $600 dollars, and that money would be used to hire more state patrol officers. Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said he will sign the bill. The Warehouse District in Minneapolis is one of the hot spots the change will affect. Joining us on the line is Inspector Rob Allen, Minneapolis police commander for precinct one, which includes the Warehouse District.
Progress on Prairie Island nuclear waste bill
The session-long debate over the future of Minnesota's nuclear power could be resolved later today. Late last night, House members used the special legislative session to revive a plan that expands nuclear waste storage at Xcel Energy's Prairie Island facility in order to keep the plant functioning through 2014. The House passed the package 81-48. The bill now heads to the Senate floor, were a similar plan was defeated earlier this week in a filibuster that ended the regular legislative session. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Many schools fall short of federal standards
State education officials say if the new "No Child Left Behind" accountability standards were used to assess Minnesota schools today, around 40 percent of those schools would need improvement. Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke says the list of 426 schools is not final and is based on a computer simulation. However, the numbers indicate that so far, 90 percent of schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul are failing to meet the new federal standards. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
Report: State should plan now for climate change
Minnesota needs to begin planning now for the effects of global climate change, according to scientists who met yesterday at the University of Minnesota. The first step may be better monitoring of the subtle changes that are already occuring due to warmer temperatures. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
Shell lake flooding is frustrating local residents
People living around Shell Lake in northwest Wisconsin are getting frustrated. The town has always been a popular vacation area, and now many people are turning their cabins into year-round homes. But the lake has flooded. Several families have been forced to move. Others are depending on sand bags and pumps to protect them from the high water. A drainage system that is supposed to solve the problem, does not work. And there's no solution in sight. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
Meteorologist Mark Seeley's weather commentary
University of Minnesota meteorologist Mark Seeley's weekly weather commentary. This week, he discusses frost in May in Minnesota.
Marketing Minnesota's business climate
State leaders are pushing to improve Minnesota's image with business executives nationwide. They want the state to be seen as the home of innovative companies, rather than a place with high taxes and low wind chills. But marketing budgets are not likely to get any bigger given the state's financial situation. Mark Reilly covers the issue in this week's edition of The Business Journal. He says Minnesota spends just $1.8 million dollars a year to promote itself as a good place to do business, and the state is being outspent by some of its neighbors.
38 year old "rookie" joins Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx kick off their fifth WNBA season at home tomorrow night against the Sacramento Monarchs. The Lynx have seen a large drop in season tickets sales since they began in 1999. But they're hoping to win more and draw bigger crowds this year, with a new coach and some new players, including Olympian Teresa Edwards. 38-year-old Edwards is one of the pioneers of woman's basketball. She is the only American basketball player, male or female, to compete in five Olympic Games. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer visited Edwards before practice this week, and asked why she's playing with the WNBA now, after all she's done.
Word of Mouth Arts round up.
The weekly Word of Mouth Arts roundup.
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