December 17, 1998 - THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTANS HAVE CALLED OR WRITTEN TO THEIR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES IN RECENT WEEKS TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHETHER PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD BE IMPEACHED. SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS ON CAPITOL HILL SAY THE IMPEACHMENT QUESTION HAS GENERATED A STRONGER CONSTITUENT RESPONSE THAN ANY OTHER ISSUE IN RECENT YEARS. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN HAS THIS REPORT... THIRD DISTRICT REPUBLICAN JIM RAMSTAD IS THE ONLY MINNESOTA REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS NOT YET DECLARED HOW HE INTENDS TO VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT. BUT RAMSTAD'S INDECISION IS NOT FOR A LACK OF ADVICE. HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, DEAN PETERSON, SAYS STAFF MEMBERS ARE GETTING AN EARFUL...
December 21, 1998 - Sober and somber. That's how members of Minnesota's congressional delegation described the historic impeachment vote against President Clinton over the weekend. The delegation split along party lines as the House voted to impeach the president for his actions in the Monica Lewinsky affair. Emily Harris reports from Washington: Sun 28-MAY 07:28:26 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
December 23, 1998 - It's a word that makes many lawmakers cringe, but talk of stadiums will be back before the legislature in 1999 session. A task force appointed by Governor Carlson is asking lawmakers to create a new commission to fund sports stadiums and arts venues. Legislative leaders and the Governor-elect are skeptical.
December 23, 1998 - Everybody seems to be on the move at the state capitol these days: in the House, the new Republican majority is swapping offices with the Democrats... while Arne Carlson's staff members are cleaning out their desks to make way for Jesse Ventura. The calm spot is the Senate, where DFL Majority Leader Roger Moe continues to run things as he has for almost two decades. As Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports, Moe's experience puts him in a unique -- and potentially very powerful -- position. If things had gone according to DFL plans, Roger Moe would be getting ready to move into the Lieutenant Governor's office about now. Instead, the Humphrey-Moe gubernatorial ticket came in third, and Moe is looking forward to his 19th consecutive year as Senate Majority Leader. What's surprising is how upbeat he sounds about the prospect:
December 24, 1998 - Despite a court order barring them from the site... Earth First !and Mdewaketan-Sioux protesters chained themselves to trees today at the site of the proposed re-routing of highway 55. The group is asking for a restraining order to prevent authorities from clearing trees, the group says are sacred, from the site. So far, police have not arrested the protestors. On Sunday authorities arrested 33 people who had occuppied government-owned homes on the site. Protester Bob Greenberg says he does not know what the authorities plan to do about this latest occupation, but he says the group will continue its protest despite the cold weather.
December 24, 1998 - Foreign medical students in the U-S face a unique visa restriction requiring that they return to their home country for two years after their training. Immigration officials say the restriction helps improve health care around the world by returning highly-skilled physicians to their native countries. But one Rochester woman says the rigid rules will force her family---with two U-S citizens--to live abroad. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
December 24, 1998 - Minnesota's older teenagers are supposed to be hitting the books, at least if they want to legally ride a snowmobile. A new law requires all teenagers to pass a safety course before operating a snowmobile on public land. But few of the older teens have signed up for training, and public safety officials fear many are unaware of the law, or intend to ignore it. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports ..... The snowmobile season got off to a slow start this winter.... SFX: (vroom - ratta tat ratta tatta tatta - vroom) For two days in November at the annual Snowcross races just outside Duluth
December 28, 1998 - As Governor-elect Jesse Ventura’s administration prepares to begin, MPR's Mike Mulcahy has a look back at the Arne Carlson’s years as Minnesota governor. Carlson will be remembered for the record number of bills he vetoed, his love of the Gophers' basketball team, and for his flamboyant ex-wife…but the Carlson legacy will be also be marked by the record budget surpluses that piled up during his watch.
December 29, 1998 - Walter Mondale, former vice-president, and his son Ted Mondale, former state senator and gubernatorial candidate, talk about politics and politicians...then and now. Topics include leadership, trust, and necessity of genuine debate. The Mondale’s also answer listener questions.
December 29, 1998 - Molnau = MOLE now The two new transporation leaders in the Minnesota House of Represenatives share the view that Twin Cities suburbs need more roads. Representatives Carol Molnau (MOLE now) from Chaska and Tom Workman from Chanhassen say the additional lanes are needed because traffic congestion in the suburbs is a problem. Minnesota Public Radio Radio's Dan Olson reports. Republican Representative Carol Molnau, a farmer from Chaska, says when she moved there nearly three decades ago, only 20 vehicles a day used the road by her place. Since then, she says, the road has been paved but not widened and Molnau says the traffic count has risen to 16,000 vehicles each day. She says the suburbs need more lanes.