September 2, 2008 — Republican National Convention Day 2. Pres. George Bush addresses the RNC via satellite hookup.
August 5, 2008 — U.S. Senate candidates Norm Coleman and Al Franken gave similar views on key issues for rural voters on Tuesday, but offered different arguments for why they'd be better for the job. Coleman, the Republican incumbent, and Democrat Franken were joined at the annual FarmFest show by Independence Party candidates Dean Barkley and Steve Williams. All four talked up the importance of renewable fuel research and production on Minnesota's farms. Coleman and Franken, in their first joint appearance of the campaign, praised the recently passed farm bill, with both calling it a needed safety net for farmers. The forum's format didn't give candidates much chance to directly engage each other, putting the emphasis on discussion of issues.
July 17, 2008 — We've been talking with Trisha Dillion, a healthcare consultant in Rochester, Minnesota, Steve Piragis, who owns an outfitter in Ely, Minnesota... and Jon Zitur, who works for a large local lumber company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are among a group of people we've selected from around Minnesota to give us a first-hand perspective on the effects of the economic slowdown. We'll be checking in with them periodically over the coming months.
February 18, 2008 — President Barack Obama threw a $75 billionlifeline to millions of Americans on the brink of foreclosure Wednesday, declaring an urgent need for drastic action - not only to save their homes but to keep the housing crisis "from wreaking even greater havoc" on the broader national economy. The lending plan, a full $25 billion bigger than the administration had been suggesting, aims to prevent as many as 9million homeowners from being evicted and to stabilize housing markets that are at the center of the ever-worsening U.S. recession. Government support pledged to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is being doubled as well, to $400 billion, as part ofan effort to encourage them to refinance loans that are "under water" - those in which homes' market values have sunk below the amount the owners still owe. "All of us are paying a price for this home mortgage crisis, and all of us will pay an even steeper price if we allow thiscrisis to continue to deepen," Obama said. The new president, focusing closely on the economy, in his first month in office, rolled out the housing program one day after hewas in Denver to sign his $787 billion emergency stimulus plan to revive the rest of the economy. And his administration is just now going over fresh requests for multiple billions in bailout cash from ailing automakers.
February 1, 2008 — Governor Pawlenty is calling for repeal of Minnesota's moratorium on new nuclear power plants. It's part of his preliminary action plan on climate change. He also wants to reduce red tape for renewable energy projects. His proposals are included in a report sent to the legislature today. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
January 17, 2008 — Governor Pawlenty wants to make low-interest loans available to small businesses and homeowners, to install renewable energy systems. The governor announced the initiative at a news conference today (THURS). He also set up a collaborative group to oversee research and development on clean energy. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
January 11, 2008 — Nanci has posted some more resources for Parents of "emerging adults" on our website, Minnesota Public Radio.org. There you'll also find some video interviews with U of M students who talk about why they drink. There's also a discussion underway at a Gather.com...parents, and students are posting their thoughts about binge drinking. A link to that discussion is at Minnesota Public Radio dot org. Monday night at 7, Minnesota Public radio News hosts a Public Insight Forum on the topic of College Binge drinking. Kerry Miller hosts in the UBS Forum, here at our downtown St. Paul studios. Our special report, Death by Drinking, was edited by Mike Edgerly...it's all online, at Minnesota Public Radi-dot-org.
December 12, 2007 — Today is the one year anniversary of a federal immigration raid on the Swift meatpacking plant in Worthington. Officers arrested 239 illegal immigrants in the southwest Minnesota city. It was part of a nationwide action. Latinos in Worthington say they're still recovering from the raid. Other people say the raid didn't go far enough.
November 16, 2007 — A new report finds that 80 thousand Minnesota families are expected to fall behind in their mortgage payments this year. A quarter of those families could lose their homes altogether. Governor Pawlenty wants to reduce the rate of foreclosures by dedicating money to double the number of foreclosure counselors in Minnesota. But even that won't solve the problem. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
October 25, 2007 — MN Dot has announced some of the design details for the new 35W bridge. A wide-ranging group of residents, community leaders and elected officials voted on things like color, lighting and shape. MPR's Jess Mador has more.