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May 17 - 21, 2004
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Monday, May 17, 2004 |
Lawmakers adjourn without finishing work
Lawmakers have returned to their homes for the year with little to show for the 2004 legislative session. The gavel came down yesterday morning with most of the major issues unresolved and no word yet on whether Gov. Tim Pawlenty will give legislators a second chance in a special session. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has a wrap-up of what was accomplished and what wasn't.
Yecke is ousted as state education commissioner
One of the few actions the Legislature did take was to reject the confirmation of Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke. The Senate put her out of office with a vote in the waning hours of the session. Yecke says she's convinced she lost her job because of partisan politics, not her performance. She spoke to reporters about her 15 months in office yesterday afternoon at her home in Blaine. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Minnesotans reflect on impact of Brown decision
Ceremonies are planned Monday at the state Capitol to mark the anniversary of the official end of segregation in America's public schools. Fifty years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Many African-American Minnesotans witnessed dramatic changes brought by the ruling. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Legislative session ends, but not much gets done
This was supposed to be the last day of 2004 legislative session, but instead lawmakers wrapped things up early Sunday morning without much to show for their work. Laura McCallum joins us now to look back at what happened and why.
Timberwolves lose to Sacramento
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings will play one more time to decide their best-of-seven playoff series. The Kings beat the Wolves 104-98 yesterday in Sacramento to tie the Western Conference semi-finals at three games apiece. The decisive seventh game will be played Wednesday night at the Target Center. Brit Robson covers the Wolves for City Pages and he joins us now.
Monday Markets
Minnesota Public Radio's Chief Economics Correspondent, Chris Farrell, discusses the latest economic news.
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Tuesday, May 18, 2004 |
Pawlenty unilaterally balances state budget
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is taking unilateral action to erase a projected $160 million deficit. Lawmakers adjourned over the weekend without breaking an impasse over how to balance the budget. Pawlenty says that left him no choice but to cover the shortfall through executive action. But he says his options as governor are more limited than the choices that were open to legislators. The governor squarely blamed Senate DFLers for this year's gridlock -- only to find the finger pointing back at him. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
Health care advocates worry about budget balancing plan
Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he will balance the state's budget deficit by using a mix of spending cuts and by taking money from a fund that pays for the state's subsidized health insurance program: MinnesotaCare. 70 percent of Pawlenty's budget balancing plan will involve withholding payments to the Health Care Access Fund. The governor says the shift will not cause any problems for MinnesotaCare enrollees in the near term. But critics say they are worried the governor's action could lead to significant cuts to the program in the future. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
Stopping omnibus bills at the Capitol
A newly formed group plans to file a lawsuit to stop Minnesota lawmakers from passing omnibus bills. Lawmakers sometimes pass large bills that fund a wide variety of projects. But the group says two bills passed in the 2003 legislative session violate the state Constitution, which says no law shall embrace more than one subject. Randy Thompson is the attorney for the group called the Coalition for Accountable Government, which took out ads in the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press yesterday explaining their plans to file suit. Mr. Thompson joins us now.
Marshall hospital to merge with regional system
The Weiner Memorial Hospital in Marshall will announce today that it is merging with a regional health care system. For the last year the board has struggled between independence and the desire to grow. Officials have decided the benefits of joining with a larger system outweigh the loss of autonomy. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports.
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Wednesday, May 19, 2004 |
Minnesota unemployment crunch easing
Minnesota's job market improved dramatically in April. The state's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent. The decline was the largest ever. The state's economy added more than 12,000 jobs, the most in several years. But job seekers say there's still a lot of competition for work. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
Search is on for Yecke replacement
The search is on for a new state education commissioner to replace Cheri Pierson Yecke. The DFL-controlled Minnesota Senate put Yecke out of work during the closing hours of the legislative session by voting down her confirmation. The Republican governor, Tim Pawlenty, has promised he'll pick someone with the same strong views on school reform. That political shoving match is prompting some lawmakers to call for a change in the selection process. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
Legislative session is over, but nobody got a stadium
When the Minnesota Legislature adjourned earlier this week, it went home without a budget fix, a bonding bill, or a stadium deal. The Twins, the Vikings, and the University of Minnesota were all hoping that lawmakers would agree on a plan to get a stadium built for each team. Aron Kahn covers the business of sports for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and followed the stadium issue at the Legislature all session. He joins us now.
Bald eagle to be removed from endangered species list
The Bush Administration plans to take the bald eagle off the threatened species list this year, saying it's time to focus on more needy species. Officials in the Interior Department will outline their plans this summer after taking public comment on how to protect the birds' habitat. There are now more than 7000 breeding pairs of bald eagles in the continental United States, up from less than 500 in the early 1960s. The bird has made a remarkable recovery in Minnesota as well. Joining us now is MaryBeth Garrigan, director of the National Eagle Center in Wabasha.
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Thursday, May 20, 2004 |
Missed buzzer-beater sends Timberwolves to playoff win
The Minnesota Timberwolves have advanced to the Western Conference Finals after beating the Sacramento Kings 83-80 at the Target Center last night. Like in many of the other games during the seven-game series, no lead was safe. Despite a strong performance by league MVP Kevin Garnett, the game came down to a missed, last-second shot by Sacramento. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt williams reports.
Going to college is getting more expensive in Minnesota
The price of a college education in Minnesota is going up again this fall. The University of Minnesota and the state's two and four year colleges are raising tuition by double digits. Despite consecutive years of big tuition hikes at the U of M and MnSCU, enrollments have grown to record levels at these institutions. Higher education officials say while most students are coming up with the extra cash for college, the trend toward higher tuition is not sustainable in the long run. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
John Harrington to lead St. Paul Police Department
St. Paul has chosen a new police chief. 48-year-old John Harrington was confirmed unanimously by the city council yesterday afternoon, and will take over when Chief William Finney retires in July. Harrington is a native of Chicago and joined the force in 1977. He will oversee about 560 officers and manage a budget of almost 57 million dollars. Commander Harrington joins us now.
Pharmacy says low-cost formula means low prices for uninsured
Government-types have had lots of ideas lately on the cost of prescription drugs, including revamping Medicare, drug discount cards, and a website from the governor pointing people to Canada. One Twin Cities pharmacist looks at the situation and sees a business opportunity. He thinks the idea could have appeal for just about anyone with a big drug bill. But the customers he's going after are the very ones most neglected by the current system. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
Public defender system could make deep cuts
Minnesota's chief public defender says he's optimistic that state leaders will settle their differences and avoid a constitutional crisis in Minnesota's court system. John Stuart says he'll cut 15 percent out of the state public defender system budget if leaders don't come back in a special session and plug a $7.6 million hole. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
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Friday, May 21, 2004 |
Timberwolves host Lakers in NBA playoffs
The Minnesota Timberwolves begin a best-of-seven playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at the Target Center. The winner will play in the NBA Finals. This is a rematch of last year's first round series which the Lakers won four games to two. Since that series both teams have made key personnel changes. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer previews the series with Brit Robson who covers the Timberwolves for City Pages.
Former Minneapolis Laker George Mikan
The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at the Target Center in the first game of the NBA Western Conference Finals. Wolves fans will be in the odd position, as they walk in the arena, of passing a statue of a player wearing the uniform of the the opposing team. A life size bronze statue of George Mikan sits in the Target Center lobby. Mikan led the Lakers to five championships when the team played in Minneapolis in the 1940s and '50s. He is recognized as the game's first dominant big man and is considered the best basketball player of the first half of the 20th century. John Rabe of KPCC in Los Angeles spoke with Mikan a couple of years ago when the Lakers were putting up a banner to honor Mikan, Vern Mikkleson and other stars from the Minneapolis era. Mikan remembers how the team got its name which was not changed despite the move to Los Angeles in 1960.
Artist chronicles Hmong migration
Five-thousand years of Hmong history unfold in an exhibit opening today at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. "The Hmong Migration" is a series of fifty oil paintings by St. Paul artist Cy Thao. Thao, who is also a DFL state representative, says he hopes the exhibit helps people understand the story of the Hmong people. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
Professor checks on literacy program in Africa
Summer break does not mean vacation for Professor Ettien Koffi at St Cloud State. He is a linguistics professor who hails from the Ivory Coast, in West Africa. Koffi's a member of the Anyi tribe. And he has spent many summers translating the tribe's oral tradition into written language. Now he has gone a step further to develop a literacy program back in the village where he grew up. Today, Koffi flies to the Ivory Coast to see how the program is progressing. Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter visited with him before his trip.
Signs point to higher organic food sales
The grocery delivery company SimonDelivers is hearing from more and more consumers who want organic foods, and the company is responding. Company officials estimate 20 to 25 percent of the produce they sell will soon be organic. And they are not alone. More and more Minnesota grocery stores are carrying increased supplies of organic products, as demand for the those products continues to grow. Nicole Garrison-Sprenger covered the story for this week's edition of The Business Journal. She's come by the studio this morning.
Mark Seeley's weather comments
University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley discusses the wet week we have had in Minnesota. And, while it has been colder than usual here, the weather in parts of Asia is warmer than usual.
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