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.
February 4, 1997 - A Minnesota House higher education panel took its meeting on the road last night to the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus. Legislators were greeted by students, educators and community members pleading for more support. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports.
February 5, 1997 - A Senate panel today approved money to provide emergency food for the state's snow-bound deer population despite objections from the Department of Natural Resources. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.
February 7, 1997 - The Minnesota House has given preliminary approval to legislation meant to curb teen smoking. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.
February 7, 1997 - The Clinton administration wants to take over some TV frequencies but broadcasters warn that will be bad for the consumer. The proposal is part of the administration's new budget. Attorney General Janet Reno says the government wants to use the frequencies now assigned for broadcast channels 60 through 69. The president hasn't decided how to use most of the frequencies, but forty percent would be ded
February 7, 1997 - Supporters say the tobacco bill was weakened by an amendment from Rush City DFL'er Loren Jennings who proposed eliminating a provision that would ban shelf displays of cigarettes in stores and move cigarettes to behind the counter. That touched off a floor debate on how much access kids should have to cigarettes in stores. Here's an edited sample of some of the debate.
February 10, 1997 - Midday looks at drunk driving and the proposal to reduce the legal blood alcohol limit for driving to .08 with Steve Simon, University of Minnesota law professor and director of the MN Criminal Justice System DWI Task Force; and Lynn Goughler, public liaison and legislative chair of the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
February 10, 1997 - Minneapolis officials are considering opening up the city's private trash hauling contract to competitive bids for the first time in 25 years. At least one council member thinks the city could save several million dollars a year by seeking other bidders. The consortium of haulers that now handles the waste admits the city might be able to save some money -- but contends small haulers would likely go out of business in the process. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.
February 10, 1997 - Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life is planning a rally tomorrow at the state capitol to protest a medical procedure sometimes referred to as "partial-birth abortions." Banning the relatively rare abortion procedure is an MCCL priority this year, but some lawmakers say they're not as concerned about MCCL's priorities as they used to be. MCCL lost a powerful ally when House Speaker Irv Anderson was toppled last month, and that's translated into a loss of clout at the Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.