December 19, 2001 - The State Department of Human Services predicts 2,700 families are going to be affected by the cut next July. Democrats want to suspend the cut for three years.
December 20, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on a legislative commission vote on the divisive issue of same-sex domestic partner benefits. The panel voted 7-to-5 to let the House and Senate decide for themselves whether to provide coverage for the same-sex partners of legislators and their staffs. The discussion foreshadows a larger debate in the upcoming session, with some lawmakers saying they'll vote to reject two union contracts that include the coverage.
December 20, 2001 - Saint Paul City Council members have approved a 2002 budget that does not cut services or raise property taxes. But to do that, the council had to dip into Saint Paul's reserve fund -- and that's causing some apprehension about how painful the budget process might be a year from now. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
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.
December 21, 2001 - Two Minnesota Congressmen have heard new details of how terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui raised suspicions at the Pan Am International flight Academy in Eagan. Congressmen Jim Oberstar and Martin Sabo met with representatives from the flight school in their Washington offices earlier this month. The flight school instructor who first called the FBI said he told agents he was concerned Moussaoui might want to use a jet as a weapon. Congressman Sabo says there were a number of things about Moussaoui that seemed out of the ordinary:
December 24, 2001 - Traditional foods like turkey, oyster stew, ham and virtually all kinds of potatoes, be they scalloped, baked or mashed, tend to dominate most holiday tables. But City Pages Eater's Digest columnist Dara Moskowitz says that can get a little boring after awhile. She suggests jazzing up this year's holiday feast with an old farm classic that's suddenly become quite chic -- BEETS.
December 24, 2001 - MPR’s Mark Steil reports that wind turbines are becoming a more popular scene in the country because farmers are harvesting the wind for electricity. Steil interviews numerous individuals about this creative use of farmland.
December 26, 2001 - MPR's Mark Zdechlik reports that Governor Jesse Ventura says Minnesotans will likely be more open to major governmental reform with the state facing a projected budget deficit of nearly two billion dollars. Ventura says he'll use his State of the State speech a week from tomorrow as something of a “Government 101” course to help Minnesotans learn how state taxes are spent.
December 26, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Lavelle Neal, who covers the Twins for the Star Tribune about the status of the Minnesota Twins as 2001 closes. The team being sold, potential Major League Baseball contraction, and a looming player contract dispute are all threats to organization.
December 26, 2001 - There's a good chance the DFL candidate for governor in 2002 will be a woman. Others may still enter the race, but for now, the DFL race is between two women - state Auditor Judi Dutcher and state Senator Becky Lourey. While women candidates may not seem unusual in the year 2002, it's worth noting that a woman has never been on the ballot for governor in Minnesota. The presence of Dutcher and Lourey in the race has many political observers, especially women, saying it's about time. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum has more...