September 5, 1997 - Midday presents a report by Dan Olson about the prospects for a Light Rail Transit line in the Twin Cities, followed by a discussion of the transit issue with guests Nacho Diaz, Transportation Planning Director for the Metropolitan Coucil, and Ken Stevens, Director of the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority. Listeners call in with questions. (program ends early due to special coverage)
September 5, 1997 - Here's today's news quiz. What costs nearly as much as a new baseball stadium and goes ding-ding? Times up. It's LRT, of course - light rail transit. Just when you thought it's safe to consign LRT to the attic of public policy debate, out it comes. On the drawing board is a Hiawatha Avenue 'transit way'. LRT boosters want to build a line from the University of Minnesota, run it by a new ball park, past the existing Metrodome, through downtown Minneapolis, then out to the airport and the Mall of America along Hiawatha AVenue. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. tape . . . bus Buses - you remember buses - those big vehicles seldom seen anymore because of all the route cutbacks - buses, at the ver
September 10, 1997 - Midday guests St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman and his challenger State Senator Sandy Pappas visit the Minnesota Public Radio studios to talk about issues facing the city and to answer questions from MPR listeners. Topics include partisanship, city development, housing, and downtown revitalization.
September 10, 1997 - St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman and his DFL-endorsed challenger, State Senator Sandy Pappas, are moving into the next phase of the mayor's race today. Pappas and Coleman easily defeated five other candidates in yesterday's primary. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports.
September 10, 1997 - Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton will face Barbara Carlson, a former city council member, in the city's mayoral election in November. In city council primary outcomes, incumbents advanced easily. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.
September 17, 1997 - President Clinton today called for sweeping changes in the proposed national tobacco settlement, including industry penalties of up to a $1.50 per pack if teen-age smoking fails to fall sharply over 10 years. In making his first detailed comment on the $368-billion tobacco settlement reached in June, Clinton effectively refused to endorse the agreement, outlining so many changes that it was certain to serve as little more than a starting point for any legislation that Congress may ultimately fashion. Minnesota's lawsuit against the industry is set to go to court in January. State Attorney General Skip Humphrey, who has been highly critical of the tobacco companies and the settlement, says the original settlement is dead. It's not, he says, just a bargaining tactic by the President.
September 17, 1997 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports on a persistent rumor suggesting North Carolina-based NationsBank might be interested in buying the Minnesota Twins and moving team to Charlotte. Kaste looks at how it could impact legislative action at the Minnesota Capitol regarding a stadium bill.
September 19, 1997 - capitol for Morning Edition/ATC Friday Die Hard Republican party activists will gather in Bemidji tomorrow (saturday) for an off-year state convention. few voters are as interested in the gubernatorial campaign as THESE delegates are, but their straw poll on the race CAN either add some energy to, OR deflate a candidate's campaign. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: Party leaders project a low turnout even among the most fervent party loyalists. Among some 21-hundred republican delegates statewide...between 700 and 800 are expected. And if the old adage "politics belongs to those who show up" is TRUE, which candidate belongs to the delegates? Republican political analyist, Tom Horner says among the FOUR candidates in the race so far...Alan Quist could very well have his day in the sun again. Somethi
September 22, 1997 - bemidji for monday m.e. State Republican delegates gathered for their state convention in Bemidji over the weekend. Their straw polls on candidates for Governor and Attorney General resulted in a surprise upset by ONE candidate...and a predictable victory for another. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe was there, and has this report: Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson beat former state Representative Allen Quist in the straw poll for gubernatorial candidates. Benson garnered 37 percent of the votes compared with Quist's 30-percent. Benson says the results should discourage OTHERS, such as St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, from entering the field. She ALSO believes she;s the most ELECTABLE: BITE:ever since i've been in politics when people have needed an urban vote or rural
September 23, 1997 - There are conflicting versions of events that led to gunfire after a Minneapolis mayoral debate this morning. Minneapolis police say an officer who is the mayor's body guard was hit by a car and fired at the driver after the candidate debate. The driver was arrested later at his home. The driver's wife says her husband was trying to save her from a beating. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.