January 19, 2005 - Officials and students with the state's public colleges and universities are criticizing Governor Tim Pawlenty's proposal to change the way Minnesota funds higher education. In his state of the state speech yesterday Helms reports.
January 19, 2005 - (FOR WEDNESDAY 1/19 M.E.) If Governor Tim Pawlenty has his way, the city of Rochester could be in for a building boom. Pawlenty delivered his annual State of the State address from Rochester yesterday (TUESDAY) -- and outlined a list of projects for the city and the region. Chief among them would be a new, four-year university. Political observers say the attention on Rochester could be an attempt to shore up Republican support in what's long been considered GOP territory. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
January 19, 2005 - Author Tobias Wolff will open the second-half of the Talking Volumes season later this month. You may remember his memoir, This Boy's Life, which was made into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Now Wolff is out with his first novel, "Old School." He says the story gave him the "ideal lens" through which to write about themes like class and ambition and ethics.
January 21, 2005 - Bill Catlin reports on Minnesota Public Radio’s announcement of its third service in the Twin Cities, with launch of 89.3 The Current on Monday, January 24th, 2005.
January 21, 2005 - On this State of the Arts, MPR’s Marianne Combs talks with poet Donald Hall tabout how he came to be a poet, why he writes, and culture. Segment includes Hall reading his poems.
January 24, 2005 - Minnesota Public Radio's new radio service KCMP launched this morning January 24, 2005. Nicknamed "The Current," the station's format features an eclectic array of music, including local bands that may have received limited airplay on commercial and other Twin Cities public radio stations.
January 25, 2005 - <
January 25, 2005 - Governor Tim Pawlenty released a proposed two-year budget today (TUESDAY) that depends on money from a new casino to help erase a projected 700-million dollar deficit. Pawlenty's budget wouldn't raise state taxes, but relies on a mix of spending cuts and revenue increases to balance the budget. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
January 25, 2005 - MPR’s Jeff Horwich talks with classical music host Brian Newhouse about Osmo Vanska and the Lhatki Symphony Orchestra, which is performing at Orchestra Hall. Vanska pulls off a musical feat, as he is both music director for the Minnesota Orchestra and Lhatki’s chief conductor.
January 26, 2005 - In the weeks leading up to his budget announcement, Governor Pawlenty spoke often of his desire to rein in spending on health care programs. And in doing so, he started referring to the state's subsidized health insurance programs as "welfare health care." In the plan released yesterday (tues), Pawlenty recommended limiting eligibility for MinnesotaCare, a state subsidized health insurance program for the working poor. Those who are on the program and advocate on behalf of people with low incomes call Pawlenty's "welfare" characterization unfortunate and wrong. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...