May 26, 1998 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports on the fourth Citizen's Forum on the Governor's Race, held in four locations around the state on Friday, May 22, 1998. The subject of forum was crime. People from across the state gathered in Duluth, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Mankato to discuss and develop questions for the candidates running for Governor of Minnesota.
May 26, 1998 - Critics unleashed a new round of attacks today on Attorney General Skip Humphrey for letting private lawyers earn half a billion dollars from the state's tobacco lawsuit. Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen Quist says not only is the law firm's $566 Million dollar fee too big, it's also ILLEGAL under Minnesota statutes. But a non-partisan law professor says Quist does NOT have much of a case against Humphrey. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has the story: Allen Quist never liked Skip Humphrey's tobacco lawsuit. He thinks the lawsuit is the wrong way to fight youth smoking, and he doesn't like the state's contingency-fee arrangement with the private
May 27, 1998 - There's word today the federal transporation bill contains money to help build LRT along the Hiawatha corridor in Minneapolis. The prospect of a shiney new light rail line has stolen the transit spotlight the last few months. But the man credited with playing a key role in securing the LRT dollars told an audience at Minneapolis transit forum today buses must play a bigger role in Twin Cities transit. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. Dozens of North American cities have a head start over Minneapolis on light rail transit projects. But Congressman Martin Sabo says the effort to win federal funds for the Hiawatha avenue line is a turning point. He says it shows interest groups are once again thinking about the future. But Sabo cautions while Light rail is glamorous says bus
May 27, 1998 - The federal government has awarded more than $21 million dollars to the city of Minneapolis for housing and community development. Federal officials cite Minneapolis as an example of what they want cities to do to get federal housing money. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports: The Federal Housing and Urban Development Department made the public announcement via speaker-phone in a conversation with Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo told Sayles Belton Minneapolis is a great example of what HUD wants cities to do under a consolidated planning process started during President Clinton's first term:
May 28, 1998 - As part of our "Meet the Candidates" series, the DFL candidates for Attorney General, State Senator Ember Reichgott Junge; former Commerce Commissioner Mike Hatch, and former U.S. Attorney David Lillehaug, answer questions from listeners about various topics, including gun laws, HMOs, and death penalty. Program begins with a Minnesota attorney general report.
May 28, 1998 - Retired Admiral Eugene Carroll, Deputy Director of the Center for Defense Information in Washington, talks about the developments of India & Pakistan carrying out nuclear weapons tests. Carroll also answers listener questions. Program begins with report on the nuclear tests of both countries, and subsequent reactions.
May 28, 1998 - Former US Attorney David Lillehaug and state Senator Ember Reichgott Junge formally entered the campaign for Minnesota Attorney General yesterday. They join former state Commerce Commissioner Michael Hatch in the DFL race. The leading Republican candidate, state Representative Charlie Weaver, says he's content to watch the Democrats battle it out before the September primary. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
May 28, 1998 - Democratic Party Leaders are in the Twin Cities this week scrutinizing the Twin Cities's ability to host the Democratic National Convention in the year 2000. Minneapolis is one of seven cities under consideration as a site for the covention. The Democrats inspected the Minneapolis Target Center and Metrodome this morning, then lunched in St. Paul. They want to be sure not only convention delegates will be happy, but also news media from around the world. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports:
May 29, 1998 - [NOTE CORRECTED DCART NUMBER For Friday ATC] With three weeks to go before the Republican state convention, St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman says he's "optimistic" he's going to get the party's endorsement for Governor. But the Coleman campaign is careful not to declare victory too soon: campaign manager Chris Georgacas says he thinks the other two Republican front-runners, Joanne Benson and Allen Quist, may join forces. A socially-conservative, outstate coalition could be enough to stop the Coleman campaign in its tracks. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste takes a closer look at the race for the Republican endorsement: ((convention sfx, Coleman's voice in distance: "Hi, I'm N
May 29, 1998 - Vice President Al Gore and Retired General Colin Powell say Minnesota is at the forefront of an effort to improve the lives of at-risk young people. The two spoke to about fourteen-hundred Minnesota teens and adults at a statewide summit in Minneapolis yesterday. The event was part of the Minnesota Alliance With Youth - the state's follow-up to last year's presidents' summit in Philadelphia. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... A high-energy crowd of volunteers got pumped up for the vice-presidential visit with a performance by "Hip Deep" - a group of summit participants and professional entertainers. A member of Moore by Four led a Gore tribute... (bring up music - "Not a second banana, he's usually chipper, the reason we're told - he's married to Tipper...")