Over the decades, MPR has presented the many different perspectives of Minnesota politics and politicians. This collection is home to a multitude speeches, interviews and debates on the issues of the day. Important topics of civil rights, environment, crime, budget, legislation, and campaigns are addressed.
Click on link to these well-known figures to see audio segments directly related to them: Michele Bachmann Arne Carlson Keith Ellison Hubert Humphrey Amy Klobuchar Eugene McCarthy Walter Mondale Tim Pawlenty R.T. Rybak Jesse Ventura Paul Wellstone
February 8, 2005 - MPR’s Brandt Williams report that St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly confirms that as far as he knows his aide Sia Lo is the target of a federal corruption investigation. The mayor made the announcement in response to a Star Tribune article that named Lo.
February 9, 2005 - Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports on a plan to build an interpretive center in the Big Bog State Recreation Area in northern Minnesota. The idea is making its way through the Legislature as the Senate has earmarked $1.4 million for the project. Supporters are hoping to get the project added to the House bonding bill in the coming weeks. The 9,000-acre Big Bog State Recreation Area was created by the Legislature five years ago.
February 9, 2005 - St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly has acknowledged that one of his staff members is under investigation by the FBI. Kelly says Hmong community liasion Sia Lo has been the target of a federal corruption probe for about 10 months. The mayor made the announcement today in response to a Star Tribune article that named Lo. The article includes an allegation made by an unnamed source that says Lo demanded a bribe from a businessman in exchange for help from the mayor's office. Lo told the paper the allegations were false. Kelly urged the media to give Lo a break.
February 16, 2005 - Governor Pawlenty today encouraged Congress to permit national expansion of a state program that allows Minnesota citizens and state employees to import drugs from Canadian mail order pharmacies at a discount. Testifying before a Senate subcommittee in Washington, Pawlenty said Minnesota's program has been safe and successful. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports on how many people are using the website and what Pawlenty would do if the federal government would shut such sites down.
February 17, 2005 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Bob Ingrassia, a reporter with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, about allegations against Sia Lo, a senior aide to St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. Lo is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly demanding a bribe from a local businessman. The allegations involve city approval for a new Hmong funeral home.
February 18, 2005 -
February 23, 2005 - Retired federal judge Miles Lord is asking Governor Pawlenty and the legislature to put a moratorium on new taconite projects on the Iron Range, until questions are answered about health concerns. Lord issued the landmark ruling in 1974, that forced Reserve Mining Company to stop dumping its waste rock into Lake Superior. Scientists had found asbestos-like fibers in the rock. Now Lord says the state hasn't done enough to find out whether those fibers are making miners sick. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
February 23, 2005 - Retired federal judge Miles Lord is asking Governor Pawlenty and the legislature to put a moratorium on new taconite projects on the Iron Range, until questions are answered about health concerns. Lord issued the landmark ruling in 1974, that forced Reserve Mining Company to stop dumping its waste rock into Lake Superior. Scientists had found asbestos-like fibers in the rock. Now Lord says the state hasn't done enough to find out whether those fibers are making miners sick.
February 23, 2005 - Retired federal judge Miles Lord says Minnesota should do more to protect the health of taconite miners -- before the going ahead with several new taconite projects on the Iron Range.
February 24, 2005 - Retired federal judge Miles Lord is calling on Governor Pawlenty and the legislature to do more to protect the health of taconite miners -- before they go ahead with several new taconite projects on the Iron Range. Lord issued the landmark ruling that forced Reserve Mining Company to stop dumping its waste rock into Lake Superior, because scientists had found asbestos-like fibers in the rock. Now he says those fibers could be making a lot of miners sick.