December 19, 2003 - Children and their parents complain about school Internet access. Billions of our tax dollars have gone to wire public schools for the Internet. But a new survey reveals strong dissatisfaction about going online in the classroom. The Children, Families and the Internet report from research and consulting firm Grunwald Associates surveyed thousands of children and parents. Two major complaints emerged, according to Peter Grunwald
December 29, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio’s Chris Julin reports from Duluth, about the Woodland Hills treatment program and the efforts of incorporating ballet to help kids untangle themselves from drugs and crime.
January 1, 2004 - The Gophers open their Big Ten season tonight against Michigan at 7 p.m. in Williams Arena. Minnesota Public Radio's Julie Siple reports.
January 1, 2004 - A last minute field goal and an interception allowed the University of Minnesota football team to pull out a thirty-one to thirty victory over Oregon in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, yesterday. The Gophers now have back-to-back bowl wins, having claimed the 2002 Music City Bowl in Nashville. Today, college football serves up its main course of bowls with five games on the schedule, and the college bowl season will finally wrap up on Sunday night with the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. For some die-hard football fans, it's the best week of the year. But for others, the abundance of bowl games has just made the college game more confusing. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
January 5, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty is proposing more legislative initiatives aimed at improving Minnesota's public schools. The Republican governor unveiled another wish list today (Monday) that includes plans for restructuring low-performing school districts, expanding the number of charter schools and reducing disparities among regions in Internet availability. DFL lawmakers claim the proposals are rehashed ideas that will bring little improvement. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
January 21, 2004 - MPR’s Toni Randolph reports that local and state officials, refugee agencies, and Hmong community organizations have been trying to figure out how many refugees could end up in the Twin Cities. The Thai government says more than 15,000 refugees are living in the camp surrounding a Buddhist temple. They'll be eligible for the resettlement program, which is scheduled to begin screening refugees in mid-March of 2004.
February 9, 2004 - Minnesota residents talk a lot about the great quality of life they have. The state has enjoyed a national reputation for good schools and supportive children's programs…but that image has taken a hit lately. Funding for low income daycare has been chopped and lawmakers will struggle again in 2004 to make up a deficit that could total $500 million dollars. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports that it's a situation that may leave some families, scrambling to pay the daycare bill.
March 8, 2004 - It used to be that all a student needed to do to make the football squad or debate team was to pass a tryout. These days, it also takes cold hard cash. Because of budget cuts at many Minnesota schools, a growing number are requiring fees for extracurricular activities. And it's more than a few bucks. In the Anoka-Hennepin school district, for instance, hitting the gridiron runs $290, joining the debate team $230, and playing basketball a hefty $332. Anoka Hennepin found in a recent survey that the high price tags were actually driving students away.
March 16, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty's task force on education finance reform wants to give local school officials more discretion over how to spend state aid, as long as their students are succeeding in the classroom. Panel members are recommending the state provide block grants to school districts that would come with fewer strings attached than the current system. The task force held its final meeting Monday, completing a proposal that's been seven months in the making. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
March 23, 2004 - The University of Minnesota women's basketball team faces Kansas State tonight for the chance to go to the NCAA's Sweet Sixteen next weekend. Win or lose, it will be the final Williams Arena appearance by the Gophers' seniors --- including All-American guard Lindsay Whalen of Hutchinson. Whalen has been the glue that held her team together under three coaches in four years. With her teammates, including senior Kadidja was there on Sunday. He says the performance was remarkable.