Digitization made possible by the State of Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, approved by voters in 2008.
January 23, 2001 - And while the governor is preparing his budget, he's also getting ready for another job. Ventura will be the color commentator for the XFL, which gets underway in early February. The Extreme Football League is a new concept in football that is the brainchild of pro-wrestling businessman Vince McMahon. And Ventura isn't Minnesota's ONLY connection to the league. Alex Hass (h-ASS) is from St. Peter, and went to the University of Minnesota. He's trying out for the Birmingham Bolts as a tight end-- and he says he was immediately interested when he heard about the XFL.
January 24, 2001 - A Minnesota man is enjoying his first free days in eleven years thanks to a last-minute commutation from President Clinton. Kim Allen Willis was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine in 1990 for a small role he played in the notorious Plukey Duke drug ring. Under mandatory minimum drug sentencing laws, U.S. district judge David Doty was forced to sentence Willis to 15 and 1/2 years in prison. In a letter to President Clinton petitioning for Willis' release, Doty wrote "before I pronounced Mr. Willis' sentence, I told him that he did not deserve the sentence I was going to impose on him, but I had no other choice except to do what the law required." Willis says he got the news of his commutation when he called a friend on Saturday morning:
January 24, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews John Brandl, dean of the Humphrey Institute, about his take on Governor Ventura's two year budget plan. It has been drawing mixed reaction from citizens and lawmakers. Many Democrats are concerned about Ventura's minimal spending increase, and some Republicans have echoed similar concerns. Brandl says Ventura's desire to hold the line on spending is flawed.
January 24, 2001 - The Commissioner of the state Health Department says Governor Jesse Ventura's budget is the most comprehensive health agenda in years. Ventura has allocated 14 million dollars for eliminating racial health disparities in the state and 22 million to discourage teen pregnancies. But some health advocates are disappointed Ventura didn't go farther in providing greater benefits for long term care and children's health insurance. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
January 24, 2001 - MPR’s Brandt Williams reports that the likeness of one of Minnesota's most notable former citizens has been immortalized by the United States Postal Service. The USPS Roy Wilkins Black Heritage stamp was unveiled on the campus of the University of Minnesota, Wilkins' alma mater. Williams summarizes the celebration, which included speeches and performances.
January 24, 2001 - This is a special day for Minnesota stamp collectors. That's because postal service officials are in Minneapolis to issue the Roy Wilkins stamp. Wilkins grew up in St. Paul, and was known as the father of civil rights. He headed the N-DOUBLE-A-C-P for over twenty years from the mid 50's to the late 70's. For stamp collectors, it's a rare opportunity to get the stamp on the first day of issuance, which increases the stamp's value. Joining us now is Bill Anderson, president of the Minnesota Federation of Stamp Clubs.
January 24, 2001 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on reaction to Governor Ventura’s released budget plan which tightens the fiscal reins. When Governor Jesse Ventura took his first stab at the budgeting process two years ago, he acknowledged many of his proposals were based on former-Governor Arne Carlson's work, but Ventura is describing his latest effort as entirely his own. The plan calls for more than a billion dollars in tax relief and holds spending to about the level of inflation.
January 24, 2001 - Later today, the St. Paul City Council will meet with St. Paul police chief William Finney to discuss racial profiling. Two weeks ago, the police department released preliminary data on who officers stop on the streets. The data showed that African-Americans and Latinos were more likely to be stopped, AND more likely to be searched, than whites. Joining us on the line is St. Paul City Council member Jerry Blakey, who represents Ward One, just to the west of downtown St. Paul.
January 24, 2001 - MPR's Patty Marsicano reports that Governor Ventura's proposed budget for higher education has stunned the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Systems. They say they won't even be able to keep up with inflation, let alone proceed with their plans for vital growth.
January 24, 2001 -