January 9, 1997 - Midday looks at the proposal for a new Twins ballpark and the surrounding financial details with guests Gene Merriam, Minnesota Senate Finance Committee Chairman; and MPR reporter Bill Wareham. Program also includes short interviews with key individuals on proposal and listener call-in questions.
January 13, 1997 - As part of a series on poverty, MPR’s John Biewen reports that while the Minnesota legislature passed regulations in 1996 designed to control interest rates so pawn customers wouldn't have to pay ten or fifteen times the rates charged for credit card loans, some of the state's pawnshops are using a loophole in the law to charge more than 200%.
January 16, 1997 - Midday features live coverage of Governor Arne Carlson's State of the State address. He speaks in the Minnesota House Chamber well over an hour. Highlights of speech include a state disaster fund, property tax reform, crime control, welfare reform, arts funding, and Twins stadium.
January 22, 1997 - Many state lawmakers spent a day away from the capitol to gain a closer look at the new federal welfare law and learn the effect on Minnesotans. State Welfare reform is the next step and as Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, lawmakers, policy analysts and local officials are beginning to see just how far-reaching the changes will be.
January 23, 1997 - Midday looks at education funding in Minnesota. Studio guests are DFL Representative Becky Kelso of Shakopee, who is chair of the K-12 Budget Committee in the House; and Republican State Senator Gen Olson of Minnetrista, who is a member of the Senate K-12 Budget Division. Kelso and Olson share their views on funding and also answer listener questions.
January 27, 1997 - Failed State Senate candidate John Derus asked a Senate panel today (Mon) for a second chance. Derus says the Star Tribune purposefully maligned his reputation during the Senate primary last fall, and he wants the election should be re-run. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: John Derus says when the Star Tribune printed his photo as part of an unrelated story about charity fraud on primary day last September, he assumed it was just a mistake. Now he believes it was an intentional act by what he calls a "rogue organization".
January 27, 1997 - VOICES OF MINNESOTA interview with Rick Stafford for Monday, Jan 27, l997. Stafford says he is a political peon - willing to take on any task for his party. His willingness won him the job of chair of the DFL party in l993 - a job he held for over two years. The openly gay Stafford has the AIDS virus and health problems caused him to leave the job in l995. Today on our Voices of Minnesota interview we will will hear from the 44-year-old political activist. Stafford grew up in the southern Minnesota town of New Richland, and graduated from Mankato State University. For ten years he owned the West Concord newspaper. Stafford told Minnesota Public Radio's Karen Louise Boothe a childhood physical disability and the death of his father when Stafford was six taught him lifelong lessons.
January 28, 1997 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports that the battle lines that marked the fight over passage of Minnesota’s Human Rights Bill have not gone away. Roberts interviews numerous individuals on the law’s effect.
January 31, 1997 - Lawmakers will be lobbied on the bus this morning by mayors from several Twin Cities communities who want more money for transit and cleaning up polluted ground. The bus tour grows out of discussions among central city and suburban mayors who want a united front in lobbying for some of their interests. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. Lawmakers will board the bus at the state capitol for a relatively short ride to one of the first sites - several acres of St. Paul land dominated by a huge mound of polluted soil. St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman says a priority among several cities is money to help clean up sites which can be used for development.
February 4, 1997 - This session, Congress is expected to tackle the thorny issue of reforming Medicare. Many seniors are worried the reform effort will ultimately translate into fewer benefits. But in Minnesota, seniors are actually hopeful they might come out ahead. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.