November 19, 2001 - Thirty years ago the fight to improve the lives of the nation's children looked much as it does today, according to child welfare advocates. Former Vice-President Walter Mondale and a panel of experts reflected on the failed Child and Family Services Act of 1971.
November 20, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews John Wodele, communications director for Governor Ventura, about projected state budget shortfall. Finance Commissioner Pam Wheelock says the projected budget shortfall could be as high as one billion dollars when the revenue forecast is announced. The Ventura administration is asking state agencies to plan for budget cuts of up to 10%.
November 21, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Peter Hutchinson, the former finance commissioner under DFL Governor Rudy Perpich, about the fact that for the first time in years, budget cuts are likely for the state government. The Ventura administration is telling state department heads and others agencies to find spending cuts of up to 10% in their budgets.
November 21, 2001 - Governor Ventura says that Minnesota is well-prepared for a terrorist, but after reviewing its policies after September 11th, a few changes are recommended. Ventura says that there are three things that terrorists need in order to be successful: money, identification, and information.
November 22, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews DFL State Senator Linda Berglin, chair of the Health, Human Services, and Corrections Budget committee, about the Ventura administration unveiling its plan for fighting terrorism. It includes more wiretap authority for the government, limits on public access to sensitive information, and broader authority to quarantine citizens in the event of a bioterrorist incident.
November 28, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with Steven Wagner, one of three St. Cloud professors who released results from a St. Cloud State University poll that shows Governor Ventura's approval rating has dropped sharply. 44% of respondents rated Ventura's overall performance as "excellent" or "pretty good." That's down from 63% the year prior.
November 29, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that while it is too soon to tell if extending taxes to services will be a major component to Ventura's financial recommendations, he may revive his plan. The response to the idea from Legislature has not been favorable and they are being vocal about it.
December 10, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with Minnesota explorer Ann Bancroft. At this time a year ago explorer Ann Bancroft was on the polar plateau of Antarctica, pulling a 250-pound sled with teammate Liv Arneson. The pair became the first women in history to cross the continent on skis.
December 18, 2001 - MPR’s Tasya Rosenfeld talks with David Fey about affordable housing in Minneapolis. Mayor-elect R.T. Rybak today introduced his 90-day plan to increase affordable housing in Minneapolis. Rybak says he wants to change development codes and regulations to encourage renovation. He also hopes to use four million dollars of Neighborhood Redevelopment funds to pay for more housing. Rybak has chosen David Fey, a long-time affordable housing advocate to be his deputy mayor. Fey was the vice chairman of a task force which recommended in 1999 that the city council spend fifty million dollars to create more affordable housing. Fey says one of Rybak's approaches to the housing crisis is to reduce the existing sea of red tape.
December 21, 2001 - Outgoing Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton talks with Midday’s Gary Eichten about her work in the city, tenure as mayor, and the state of Minneapolis at the end of 2001. Sayles Belton also answers listener questions.