November 28, 2000 - While political attention's being paid to the presidential race in Florida, one of Minnesota's congressional races still is in doubt. Democratic Congressman Dave Minge narrowly lost to challenger Mark Kennedy in the 2nd Congressional District. Minge is asking for a recount, because he lost by only about 150 votes. The Minge and Kennedy camps have been talking about how the recount should be carried out. And later today, they'll meet with Judge Bruce Douglas of Wright County to finalize plans for the recount. Joining us on the line is Tony Trimble, who's leading the recount effort for Mark Kennedy.
November 28, 2000 - The election results may be certified but the next president is still far from certain. Vice President Gore today brushed aside new polls showing most Americans believe he should concede and pushed ahead with his effort to include more ballots in the final count, while Governor Bush continued building his transition team. Both sides filed briefs with the Supreme Court in preparation for Friday's oral arguments. We asked Minnesota congressmen on both sides of the aisle for their thoughts on this year's unusual election process. Republican Gil Gutknecht thinks Vice President Gore should concede and he says he's not alone.
November 29, 2000 - Minnesotans can look forward to another tax rebate. The state has banked a 345-million dollar surplus since last July, and by law, that money along with any additional surplus projected for fiscal year 2000- must go to a tax rebate. Earlier this year, the state gave back 645-million dollars from the last fiscal year's surplus. That was only HALF of what the state had given back a year earlier. Tomorrow, state budget officials will release the state budget forcast that will project the surplus for the 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 fiscal years. Art Rolnick is Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. I asked him what the projected surplus says about the Minnesota economy:
November 29, 2000 - Minnesota's system of optical scan ballots is considered more reliable, and easier to accurately recount, than the punch-card ballots used in Florida. But the final legislative recount underway in Minnesota shows no system is perfect. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
November 29, 2000 - A panel of Twin Cities mayors says the way to build more affordable housing is to find more money, reform zoning codes, and reduce government red tape. The findings are part of a report released today by the Metropolitan Council. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. {Minneapolis mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, the co-chair of the affordable housing panel says an obvious, if freuquently overlooked need, is for public officials to tell people to pay more attention to the problem.
November 29, 2000 - Former Vice President Walter Mondale addressed a symposium on US-Japan relations. The event at Macalester College was one of a series of Mondale Lectures on Public Service, a look back at the former Vice President's 50-year career.
November 30, 2000 - The nation's largest study of adolescent health finds that one in four teenagers have used a weapon in the past and one in ten drink alcohol on a regular basis. Researchers at the University of Minnesota surveyed 10-thousand students ranging in age from twelve to seventeen. The research suggests that teenagers who engage in risky behavior have done poorly in school and have lots of unsupervised free time. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
November 30, 2000 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Lee Ronning, director of One Thousand Friends of Minnesota, about the fight against urban sprawl. Urban sprawl will be topic number one at the "Growing Smart in Minnesota" conference taking place later today in St. Paul. Jesse Ventura, governor of Minnesota; and Ted Mondale, Met Council chairman, are expected to attend. So are urban growth experts from other parts of the country. One Thousand Friends of Minnesota is sponsoring the conference.
November 30, 2000 - Independence party member James Gibson says he's considering a run for governor in 2002, even if the race would pit him against his party's most popular politician, Governor Jesse Ventura. Gibson, a software developer who failed in his bid for the U.S. Senate this year, says running against Ventura in the party primary would allow for a vigorous campaign including debates and other events to bring voters to the party. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
November 30, 2000 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Minnesota House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty, a Republican from Eagan, about his thoughts about state surplus and what should happen going forward. Pawlenty is concerned about Governor Ventura’s idea of lowering state sales tax, but raising in other areas.