March 26, 2002 - The Senate has given preliminary approval to a budget balancing bill that erases the state's debt for the current biennium and tackles a portion of the debt in the next two-year budget. The bill uses accounting shifts and several tax increases to cover the projected $439 million remaining in the deficit. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 28, 2002 - Minnesota lawmakers are heading home today for the beginning of the Easter-Passover holiday. They won't return to work until Tuesday. House and Senate leaders had actually hoped to finish their work by yesterday afternoon, but now say it will be a struggle to wrap up anytime soon. They have yet to agree on some major bills, including the budget, bonding, and transportation funding packages. We called two local editorial page writers for their perspectives on developments the capitol... Steve Dornfeld from the Pioneer Press and Lori Sturdevant (STURR-dah-vint) from the Star Tribune. Sturdevant says that while the session began at a fast pace, lawmakers have now returned to a more normal speed.
March 29, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews students on who will be meeting with R.T. Rybak about community issues. A group of students from South High School in Minneapolis want to solve the social problems they see around them, and they'll get a chance to share their ideas with mayor R.T. Rybak. The students were asked what they'd like to change about their community. Ryan Peterson and Nora Williams are two students who will meet with the mayor. Peterson says the students first identified the issues that affected their community the most. One planned topic of discussion is police profiling.
March 29, 2002 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Kurt Badenhausen, a senior editor at Forbes Magazine, who estimates the Minnesota Twins are worth $127 million…up from $99 million in the previous year. The jump in value was the second largest in major league baseball. Still, the Twins rank 29th out of 30 teams, ahead of only the Montreal Expos.
March 29, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that Governor Ventura has renewed his threats to veto any proposed tax increases by the Minnesota Legislature and hinted he may call lawmakers back for a special session. Ventura said he was unhappy that only a few lawmakers are negotiating their budget balancing, transportation, and bonding proposals behind closed doors.
April 1, 2002 - American RadioWorks’ John Biewen presents “Corrections, Inc.,” a documentary that examines the business and financial aspects of imprisonment, and how some of those with vested interests help to shape who gets locked up and for how long.
April 1, 2002 - MPR’s Bob Reha interviews Mike Quast of Moorhead who is convinced that Bigfoot is living in Minnesota. He's been researching reported sightings of the apelike creatures for years.
April 1, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minnesota Public Radio has announced plans to expand its programming by creating a third statewide network to compliment its existing news and music channels. The new network will be all silent…and in stereo!
April 1, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer presents audio clips of various commentary from listeners calling in about a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. Some were supportive, but most were critical.
April 1, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Star Tribune’s LaVelle Neal to get his thoughts on the Minnesota Twins chances at success as the 2002 MLB season begins. The Twins take on the Kansas City Royals before a sold-out crowd in their season opener.