January 6, 2004 - Representatives of the Twins, the Vikings, and the University of Minnesota Gophers football team were in St. Paul today (TUESDAY) to pitch their hopes for new stadiums. Governor Tim Pawlenty has commissioned a Stadium Screening Committee to sift through stadium proposals and offer possible recommendations next month for the Legislature to consider. The teams repeated familiar complaints that the Metrodome is no longer adequate to meet their needs -- and made their case for help from lawmakers. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo was present for the discussion and joins us now from the state Capitol. Michael, the stadium issue has surfaced numerous times at the Capitol. Has anything changed since the last debate in 2002? KHOO: Yes and no. The underlying arguments for new facilities hasn't changed much. For the Twins and the Vikings, they argue the Metrodome doesn't have the amenities, suites, club seating, or concession opportunties that their competitors enjoy in other, more recent ballparks. It's an economic argument, they say: without a new stadium, we can't survive in Minnesota. The Twins, particularly, however, went out of their way to stress that things HAVE changed in the enviroment since the last debate. They point to a new labor contract agreed to in 2002 that increased revenue sharing between teams and is helping to level the economic balances between large and small market teams. They say that's real progress towards reforming baseball and something that policymakers should take note of. Of course, on the other hand, opponents maintain that there's still no justification for using public funds to finance what is essentially a private enterprise -- whether or not baseball is reforming itself. GRETA: How does the University of Minnesota fit into the equation? KHOO: (paraphrased) They pop in and out -- at one point paired with Vikes, but that appears to be off the table. then they had T. Denny Sanford but he's apparently gone...they say they're still committed to having on-campus footba
January 7, 2004 -
January 7, 2004 - US Agriculture officials said yesterday that the cow diagnosed with the first US case of Mad Cow Disease was born in Canada. The American beef industry has been reeling since the December 23 announcement of the case of mad cow, the nation's first since its discovery in Great Britain in the mid-80s. The spector of Mad Cow has raised concerns in among US consumers about the safety of the beef supply. Dr. Jon Hallberg is medical director of the Primary Care Center at the University of Minnesota. He says that, although the disease is extremely rare in humans, it is 100-percent fatal.
January 9, 2004 -
January 9, 2004 - A survey of transplanted workers in Minnesota conducted on behalf of the Minnesota Employee Relocation Council finds that the state is not a very welcome place for newcomers. That's the subject of an article this week in The Business Journal. Reporter Mark Reilly wrote the article, and he's come by the studio this morning.
January 12, 2004 -
January 13, 2004 -
January 15, 2004 - Gov. Tim Pawlenty will propose a 760 million dollar bonding bill in the upcoming legislative session. Pawlenty announced the last of his bonding proposals yesterday (WEDNESDAY). The overall price was higher than what some of his former House Republican colleagues expected. But Pawlenty said he was aiming for a number between what the GOP-led House and the DFL-controlled Senate would propose. The bill focuses on a variety of areas, including construction at colleges and universities, state prison expansion and environmental projects. DFL Senator Keith Langseth is the bonding committee chair in the Senate That is DFLer Keith Langseth, who the is the bonding committee chair in the Minnesota Senate.
January 15, 2004 - Today (Thurs) the city of Saint Paul will apply to become the new home of the Minnesota Twins. City officials are submitting a proposal to the Governor's Stadium Steering Committee, which plans to make recommendations to Governor Pawlenty and the Legislature early next month. Yesterday city council members who had considered putting limits on Saint Paul's bid backed off that idea -- at least for the time being -- and ballpark backers celebrated the capital city's unanimous decision to move forward with a plan. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
January 15, 2004 - MPR’s Jeff Horwich reports the number of home sales in the Twin Cities soared in 2003, setting a new record and topping the previous year's sales by more than 10 percent. Minnesota is already the top home-owning state in the nation, and realtors are preparing for more big years ahead.