July 28, 2006 - What would it cost to cover Minnesota's approximately 383-thousand uninsured people? On the low end, about $663 million dollars a year, state officials say. On the high end, the bill could jump to more than $850 million. The estimates come from a new background paper issued by the Minnesota Department of Health. The Governor's Healthcare Cabinet requested the numbers as it considers ways to develop healthcare coverage in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
August 23, 2006 - American RadioWorks and Marketplace present the documentary “Rebuilding Biloxi: One Year after Katrina.” Hurricane Katrina devastated the lives of thousands of Mississippi Gulf Coast residents. Rebuilding Biloxi tells the stories of several families in the coastal community of Biloxi, Miss., and their struggle to survive and then recover from the storm.
September 21, 2006 - Amy Klobuchar's U.S. Senate campaign is looking for a new communications director after firing chief spokeswoman Tara McGuinness earlier this week. The DFLer's campaign issued a statement yesterday saying McGuinness was let go after she viewed an unreleased TV ad for Republican candidate Mark Kennedy that she may have accessed illegally. Kennedy's campaign has responded with questions, but not accusations. MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on situation, interviews blogger, and gets commentary from members of tech industry.
November 1, 2006 - In less than a week, voters in Minnesota's 5th district will elect a new representative to Congress for the first time in nearly three decades. MPR's Brandt Williams checks out all four campaigns.
November 14, 2006 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Ilean Her, executive director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, about a new census report that shows that while some minority groups are struggling economically, the Hmong community in Minnesota has made significant gains. Their per capita income jumped up fifty percent over the last five years.
November 14, 2006 - A new magazine in the Twin Cities is trying to put minority business owners in touch with each other to improve their chances for business success. The publication, called Business Nation, launched in September. The magazine's founders say they're catering to the Twin Cities large number of entrepreneurs of color. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter reports.
November 15, 2006 - Governor Pawlenty says he wants to extend health insurance coverage to all Minnesota children. He made the announcement yesterday during a speech to a group of health care and policy experts in Minneapolis. Pawlenty's remarks come just one week after he narrowly won re-election and now faces a Legislature that is controlled by Democrats. Several groups were surprised by the announcement. While they applaud the move, they want to hear more specifics before signing on. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
December 4, 2006 - The Latino population in Minnesota is growing rapidly, and the money immigrants send to Latin America from Minnesota is growing even faster. A recent report estimates a doubling in the amount of money transfers over the last two years. Minnesota Public Radio's Ambar Espinoza reports.
December 12, 2006 - Federal agents raided a southwest Minnesota meatpacking plant today searching for illegal immigrants involved in an identity theft ring. The action at the Swift and Company plant in Worthington was part of a nationwide investigation. Federal officials also searched five other Swift plants in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and Utah. There's no word yet on how many people were arrested. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
December 13, 2006 - Residents of Worthington spent today reacting to Tuesday's immigration raid at the Swift packing plant in the community. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security say 230 Worthington workers believed to be illegal immigrants were arrested. Lawyers for detained workers charge that some U.S. citizens were detained in the roundup. The day after the dragnet found many Swift workers scared and confused about their future, and that of their friends and relatives. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.