February 13, 2001 - A new poll shows half of Minnesotans support Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone's decision to seek a third term next year. In the first poll since Wellstone announced his re-election plans, Wellstone's job approval is the highest it's been since he took office, but Republicans say he's still vulnerable.
February 15, 2001 - The Twin Cities' airport is one of the region's most vital economic assets. Yet the public officials charged with planning its future have never known with much confidence just how important it is. The Twin Cities Airports Task Force has released a report which goes some distance toward gauging the contributions of the airport to the regional economy. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
February 15, 2001 - AIDS Activists spent the day at the Capitol today (thursday) lobbying the state legislature to increase funding for HIV and AIDS prevention. Officials with the Minnesota AIDS Project want the state to spend an additional 2 million dollars to improve education efforts regarding HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The group says it's disappointed with Governor Ventura's budget because it cuts HIV prevention spending for the first time since the epidemic began. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
February 15, 2001 - The Minnesota Nurses Association, the state chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons and long-term care facilities want the legislature to limit how much temporary nurses agencies can charge nursing homes. The groups say the so-called "nursing pools" are taking unfair advantage of the state's worker shortage by charging exhorbitant rates for workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
February 15, 2001 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton kicked off her re-election campaign with a bus tour designed to highlight the successes of her administration and her plans for a third term.
February 15, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with DFL State Representative Betty Folliard, a supporter of Displaced Homemaker Program, which a Senate committee has unanimously approved a bill that would continue funding. The 23-year-old program is designed to help stay-at-home moms who are widowed, divorced, or abandoned and Folliard says the program is still necessary.
February 16, 2001 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports from downtown St. Peter, where Governor Ventura was visiting business owners and residents to pitch his budget proposals and tax reform agenda. Ventura’s plan includes cutting income and property taxes, but raising the sales tax.
February 16, 2001 - A legislative effort to make the fourth "Driving While Intoxicated" charge in ten years a felony cleared a major hurdle today. The Senate Crime Prevention Committee approved the bill sending it on to the finance committee. The same committee also heard testimony for AND AGAINST a proposed tax on alcohol sales in Minnesota to help pay for alcoholism treatment and for enforcement of alcohol related laws. Even the author of the new tax admits the measure has little chance for approval. DFL Senator John Marty says he's hopeful discussion NOW will lead to a so-called alcohol "user" fee in the future. Minnesota Pubic Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports..
February 16, 2001 - A new poll finds most Minnesotans support stiffer penalties for drunk drivers. The Minnesota Public Radio/St Paul Pioneer Press Poll finds more than half of respondents want to lower the legal blood alcohol level to .08. and also support raising the penalty for multiple DWI's to a felony. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
February 19, 2001 -