February 3, 1998 - Governor Arne Carlson delivers his 8th and final State of the State address tomorrow (Wednesday). He has touched on a lot of themes in those speeches.... but perhaps the most constant theme has been education This year Carlson is proposing 252-million dollars for construction at the University of Minnesota and 168-million for the state colleges and universities system. He's expected to dwell on how Minnesota's colleges and universities can help prepare students to fill gaps in the states workforce, and on his proposal for boarding schools to help troubled youth. Some observers say it's the Republican Governor's last effort to leave an education legacy... But for many, that legacy is already in place. Carlson's big education battles are behind him, and the state's public education system has changed substancially since 1991. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
February 3, 1998 - Midday previews the State of the State address and looks back in history to previous addresses. Guests Al Quie, former Republican governor; and Bob Vanasek, former DFL Speaker of the House share their reflections and listeners call in with questions.
February 5, 1998 - An expert witness in Minnesota's tobacco trial told jurors at least one cigarette company genetically altered tobacco plants so they'd produce twice the amount of nicotine. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
February 6, 1998 - A new state report to be released this morning says all the studies of Twin Cities transit options done so far do not make a convincing case for the expensive proposals before lawmakers this session. The report from the Legislative Auditor raises questions about the predictions of car congestion on Twin Cities roadways. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. The Legislative Auditor's report won't be public until it's released to lawmakers. State officials who've seen the document say the report finds that for all the analysis over the past 30 years, especially of light rail transit, crucial information has not been looked at. The report says there's no analysis of what taxpayers will get in the way of
February 6, 1998 - use this edited version Republican gubernatorial candidates made their pitch for the environmentalist vote last night (THURS). State Senator Roy Terwilliger and former State Representative Allen Quist took questions from the League of Conservation Voters, a group that's trying to get all the candidates on the record on issues ranging from nuclear waste storage to wetlands. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: If last night's League of Conservation Voters forum is any indication, urban sprawl and the transportation problems that go with it has become a top-priority issue for Minnesota environmentalists. The audience peppered the candidates with questions about land use planning, mass transit and gridlock -- and the two Republicans offered some surprising
February 9, 1998 - Minnesota's tobacco trial enters its third week today, with more questioning of a spokesman for the tobacco industry's trade association. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
February 9, 1998 - House Republicans today (MON) announced they want to use the money generated by the state's tobacco lawsuit for state-wide tax relief. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin kaste reports the lawmakers aren't waiting to see how the trial ends to consider how to spend the money the state MIGHT win.
February 11, 1998 - Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson today (WED) made official her intention to succeed Governor Carlson. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has the story: The Joanne Benson campaign has been up and running for more than a year, but Benson saved the official announcement for a propitious moment. With St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman expected to announce on Sunday, that moment seems to have come -- ((I will seek and expect to win the endorsement of the republican party, and THEN seek the endorsement of the people of MN. (applause).)) -- Benson is hoping she's beat Coleman to the punch on more than just announcements. While the media has been fixated on Coleman's Hamlet act -- to run or not to run? -- the Benson campaign has been bus
February 11, 1998 - Governor Carlson's 12-million dollar bonding proposal to fund boarding schools gets another hearing at the capitol today. (wed) The schools would serve at-risk juveniles who have had no major criminal problems. The proposal for Minnesota may be modelled after the Milton-Hershey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe travelled there to take a closer look. She reports on what SOME experts say is a new view of an old concept.
February 13, 1998 - State Representative Tim Pawlenty (pah-LEHN-tee) bowed out of the Governor's race today. The Republican Representative from Eagan says he's giving up in the face of the momentum of Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson's campaign, combined with St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman's likely entry into the race. Coleman says he'll announce this Sunday whether he'll run for Governor. Political commentators Bob Meek, a Democrat, and Tom Horner, a Republican, say it's very likely he'll run. Horner says Coleman would join an already strong field of Republican candidates: Republican political commentator Tom Horner, and Democrat Bob Meek.