February 24, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. This year's race for Governor is already shaping up as the most wide-open in years. It's a race without any clear favorites -- a fact Joanne Benson is well aware of. Benson may be Arne Carlson's Lieutenant Governor, but she's hardly his heir apparent. Minnesota Public Radio's Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has this profile of the candidates.
February 24, 1998 - Ted Mondale is currently running second to Skip Humphrey in a poll of likely Democratic primary voters. A Minnesota Public Radio/KARE 11/Pioneer Press/ poll finds 35-percent of likely voters favor Humphrey while Mondale has 11-percent, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman has nine-percent, Mark Dayton- seven, State Senator Doug Johnson --six, and State Senator John Marty --five. Twenty-seven percent of the voters are undecided. On the Republican side, 37-percent of likely primary voters favor St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, 14-percent favor Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson, eleven-percent back Allen Quist, and four-percent backed state Senator Roy Terwilliger who dropped out of the race today. Thirty-four percent of these voters are undecided. If the election were held today, Humphrey would edge out Coleman. The poll's margin of error is three-and-a-half percent. Democratic political consultant Pat Forciea says its a bit early to put much stock in the numbers.
February 25, 1998 - The first political advertisement in the governor's race aired today on Twin Cities television and radio stations. The thirty second spot by candidate Ted Mondale focuses on education.
February 26, 1998 - (Thursday 2/26 M.E.) A new era in statewide testing begins today at schools throughout Minnesota. Three weeks ago, all 8th grade students in public schools took the state's basic skills tests in reading and math. Now state officials are conducting first-time tests to see how well third and fifth grade students are doing. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... State education officials say the new tests for third and fifth grade students, called the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, should not be confused with the 8th grade basic skills tests. The 8th grade tests measure literacy and whether students have yet learned the min
February 26, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. State Senator Doug Johnson has not formally entered the race yet, but for all practical purposes, he's running. He's set up a campaign fund and he's lining up some of the DFL's savviest strategists to help him make up for his late start. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has this profile: Doug Johnson is a consummate insider -- he's served in the Legislature since 1970, and he's held one of the most powerful positions -- Senate Tax Committee chairman -- since 1980. But he's also an Iron Range political insider, which means he's always sure to keep a populist touch:
February 27, 1998 - MPR’s Cara Hetland reports on 25th anniversary of Wounded Knee, a 72 day stand-off between members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the tribal and federal governments. Some regard the incident at Wounded Knee in western South Dakota as the beginning of an era of increased Indian activism; others see it as the end to progress on the reservation.
February 27, 1998 - Next Tuesday night, Republicans and Democrats hold precinct caucuses to elect delegates to this summer's party conventions. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is profiling the candidates vying for their endorsement for Governor. This afternoon, political reporter Eric Jansen profiles a Republican candidate who has not held any political office before, Waverly businessman Dick Borrell. St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman is not the only GOP governors candidate w
March 1, 1998 - On this MPR Special Report, the American RadioWorks documentary “The World Turned Upside Down: An End to Inflation?” looks at inflation, deflation, and how the U.S. Federal Reserve keeps a watchful eye for BOTH.
March 3, 1998 - A history on the evolution in Minnesota's political system from University of Minnesota historian Hy Berman. The caucus and primary designs are detailed.
March 4, 1998 - Republican Party officials in Rochester- one of the party's strongholds in the state- were disappointed that turn out was light for party caucuses last night. They said people probably stayed home because there was no straw poll for Republican gubernatorial candidates and those candidates don't have differing views on divisive issues like abortion. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports on the caucus meeting of Rochester's largest Republican precinct.