April 6, 1998 - House Speaker Phil Carruthers discusses the ending of the legislative session. Topics include tax rebate, St. Paul arena, education, and Health and Human Services bill. Carruthers also answers listener questions.
April 6, 1998 - Midday presents a broadcast of Grand Forks Mayor Pat Owens speaking to St. Peter residents at First Lutheran Church. Owens empathizes with St. Peter’s tornado disaster by reflecting on the devastating flooding that impacted Grand Forks the prior year. Program then turns to Vincent Harding speech on Martin Luther King, presented as part of coverage on 30th anniversary of King’s assassination, and his legacy.
April 6, 1998 - (For Monday M.E. 4/6) *REVISED* Tobacco attorneys hope the U-S supreme court will block the release of nearly 40-thousand secret industry documents today (Monday). The tobacco industry will have to release those files to the state by 4 pm unless the high court intervenes. The state of minnesota and blue cross blue shield want the files for use in the state's lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Minnesota public radio's elizabeth stawicki reports: The tobacco companies had asked Justice Scalia to delay indefinately an order they turn over the secret files. Scalia then turned the matter over to the full court. those files are expected to include industry research relating to smoking and health, underage smokers, and tobacco companies' pr
April 6, 1998 - Minnesota's House of Representatives has approved more than $27 million dollars worth of tornado relief aid to communities in south central counties. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the state capitol: Representatives acted swiftly and unanimously today in appropriating $27.6 million to help communities in south central Minnesota rebuild from tornado damage sustained 8 days ago. $8 million of that aid package will qualify five counties to draw approximately $24 million more from the federal government. St. Peter Representative Ruth Johnson says that although residents are carrying on the Minnesota tradition of doing what needs to be done, there is a lot of work ahead:
April 7, 1998 - Ken Morris, president of the State Board of Education, discusses education and state's "Profile of Learning" graduation standards. Morris also answers listener questions.
April 7, 1998 - On this Midday, a broadcast of Theodore Shaw, associate director and counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund speaking at Annual National Conference of Education Writers Association, held in San Francisco. Shaw states the anti-affirmative action movement has misrepresented Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.
April 7, 1998 - Feedlots have been among the most contentious issues at the legislature this session, and lawmakers say they need more information before deciding whether to pass a moratorium on new ones. They've asked the legislative auditor to review the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's oversight of feedlots. News reports have raised questions about the make-up of the MPCA, as well as the number of permits that have been granted. Roger Brooks is with the legislative auditor's office. He says of all the issues the legislature works on, only a handful sift to the top and merit this kind of investigation: Roger Brooks is with the legislative auditor's office.
April 7, 1998 - Tobacco companies have reluctantly turned over a much fought-over cache of documents the State says shows the industry's deepest, darkest secrets. Now the files are in the hands of State and Blue Cross Blue Shield attorneys who plan to use them as ammunition in Minnesota's lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Tobacco company staff wheeled more than 100 boxes of confidential files into the state's minneapolis lawfirm to an audience of onlookers, lawyers and reporters. (sfx...squeaky wheels, boxes being thrown down etc) The tobacco industry fought hard to keep these files secret; they climbed a ladder of appeals to the U-S Supreme Court--and lost. Right now, these files are subject to protective order and aren't
April 7, 1998 - Light rail transit advocates are closer to winning legislative approval for an LRT line in Minneapolis. Lawmakers trying to iron out Minnesota House and Senate spending differences are being told the operating cost of bus and rail service along Hiawatha Avenue are about the same. Advocates say answering the operating cost question is a big step toward convincing lawmakers and the governor that LRT from downtown Minneapolis to the airport is feasible. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. The agreement reached in a legislative conference committee gets at the long running controversy over what is cheaper to operate - bus or LRT. Minnesota Department of Transporation director of intergovernmental policy Bill Schrieber says his agency and the Metro
April 8, 1998 - Joseph Daly, law professor at Hamline University, discusses progression of the tobacco trial in Minnesota. Daly outlines lawsuit that the State of Minnesota and Blue Cross have filed against the tobacco industry. Daly also answers listener questions.