September 8, 2000 - An estimated seven million dollars has already been spent on ads in Minnesota's D-F-L Senate primary race, and the candidates are increasing their presence in the final days of the campaign. The three big spenders - Mike Ciresi, Mark Dayton and Rebecca Yanisch - are running new television spots touting their various endorsements, but the ads of all three contain some misleading elements, according to an ad analyst. In the latest in our series of Ad Watches, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
September 11, 2000 - Legislators and school district leaders are reacting cautiously to Governor Ventura's latest tax proposal. Ventura wants the state to take on a bigger share of public school funding, at the same time reducing the burden now placed on local property taxpayers. But the plan is raising questions about the source of the state funding and the potential loss of local control of schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
September 11, 2000 - Governor Ventura wants to change Minnesota's tax system dramatically so the state would pay all costs of basic education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The state now pays 70 percent of those costs and the school districts cover the rest through local property taxes. Ventura says his proposal is intended to simplify the tax system. Joining us now with his reaction to the proposal is Minnesota Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum.
September 11, 2000 - {For Mon. 9/11 M.E.} A group of national experts hired to review the state's Profile of Learning graduation standards will soon release its findings. The nonprofit organization Achieve Incorporated has been studying Minnesota's standards for several months and comparing them to other states. The report could lead to further changes to Minnesota's controversial show-what-you-know system in the next legislative session. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
September 13, 2000 - A New Ulm school board candidate says his conviction for a sex offense sixteen years ago should not prevent him from running for office. Small business owner Ben Thompson is one of twelve candidates for four school board positions in New Ulm. A recent Minnesota law bans convicted sex offenders from running for school board. The law was written by a New Ulm legislator after Thompson ran and lost in a 1998 school board race. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports. {Ben Thompson says he's a responsible citizen of New Ulm concerned about the state of his local school district. The 55-year-old proprietor of a lawn care and snow removal business says he served his time for two counts of sexual abuse and the state has returned his right to vote and hold public office.
September 14, 2000 - This summer the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled new safety requirements for meat distributed through the nation's school lunch program. Additional regulations that target salmonella and ecoli have caused meat packers to revolt and beef prices to soar. While some school districts will save money by limiting the days beef is on the lunch menu, two states have decided to forgo their share of beef from the school lunch program altogether. Wisconsin is one those of rebel states that has opted instead to purchase all of the meat for the current school year on the open market. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this mainstreet report.
September 14, 2000 - Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeye says the wording of the St. Paul schools referedum ballot question violates state law. In a non-binding opinion, she said the referendum's title is illegal because it advocates for its passage. The St. Paul Schools are looking into amending the wording, which now reads St. Paul Schools Referendum for Student Achievement. David Magleby is a political science professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. I asked him what he thought of the referendum's title.
September 14, 2000 - MPR’s Annie Feidt reports that the University of Minnesota men's swimming team will be well represented at the summer Olympics. No U of M swimmers made the United States Olympic team, but five members of the gopher's squad from four nations will represent their home countries in the pool in Sydney.
September 19, 2000 - A Texas education reform organization is offering Minnesota legislators help in setting up a school accountability system. The House K-12 Finance Committee held a hearing yesterday on the work of the nonprofit foundation "Just for the Kids." Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
September 20, 2000 -