January 22, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Laura McCallum, MPR’s capitol bureau chief. McCallum previews Governor Ventura’s budget address and probable abortion topic in legislature.
January 23, 2001 -
January 23, 2001 - Seventh district D-F-L Congressman Colin Peterson was among a group of democratic and republican lawmakers who met with President Bush this afternoon. Peterson says the new administration invited lawmakers it views as policy-minded rather than partisan-minded for a get-to-know-you session. He says he came away from today's meeting with a good feeling about Bush.
January 23, 2001 - Mary Jo Copeland will have to keep looking for a place to build the state's largest children's home. The Brooklyn Park city council voted 5-to-1 last night NOT to re-zone a former golf course to build the facility. Copeland is the founder of Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis, and she says the home would be geared for children whose parents are unable or unfit to care for them. The project has been controversial, and encountered a similar obstacle in Brooklyn Center. Grace Arbogast (are bih GAST) is the mayor of Brooklyn Park, and she's on the line now.
January 23, 2001 -
January 24, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews John Brandl, dean of the Humphrey Institute, about his take on Governor Ventura's two year budget plan. It has been drawing mixed reaction from citizens and lawmakers. Many Democrats are concerned about Ventura's minimal spending increase, and some Republicans have echoed similar concerns. Brandl says Ventura's desire to hold the line on spending is flawed.
January 24, 2001 - The Commissioner of the state Health Department says Governor Jesse Ventura's budget is the most comprehensive health agenda in years. Ventura has allocated 14 million dollars for eliminating racial health disparities in the state and 22 million to discourage teen pregnancies. But some health advocates are disappointed Ventura didn't go farther in providing greater benefits for long term care and children's health insurance. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
January 24, 2001 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on reaction to Governor Ventura’s released budget plan which tightens the fiscal reins. When Governor Jesse Ventura took his first stab at the budgeting process two years ago, he acknowledged many of his proposals were based on former-Governor Arne Carlson's work, but Ventura is describing his latest effort as entirely his own. The plan calls for more than a billion dollars in tax relief and holds spending to about the level of inflation.
January 24, 2001 - Later today, the St. Paul City Council will meet with St. Paul police chief William Finney to discuss racial profiling. Two weeks ago, the police department released preliminary data on who officers stop on the streets. The data showed that African-Americans and Latinos were more likely to be stopped, AND more likely to be searched, than whites. Joining us on the line is St. Paul City Council member Jerry Blakey, who represents Ward One, just to the west of downtown St. Paul.
January 24, 2001 - MPR's Patty Marsicano reports that Governor Ventura's proposed budget for higher education has stunned the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Systems. They say they won't even be able to keep up with inflation, let alone proceed with their plans for vital growth.