March 28, 2001 - Four hours of committee debate resulted in killing Profile of Learning. School districts need to decide what standards they each want. A new bill would require local testing in third, fifth, and tenth grades in the core subject areas.
March 28, 2001 - Just days before the first legislative committee deadline, abortion bills are gaining strength at the Capitol. Bills to require a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could get an abortion, and to create a special "Choose Life" license plate, passed their first legislative hurdles on Tuesday. But Governor Ventura says he'll veto both bills if they land on his desk. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
March 29, 2001 - The census numbers will be used to redraw the state's Congressional and Legislative districts. State Planning Commissioner Dean Barkley is the chair of the Governor's Redistricting Commission. He says one of the governor's goals is to make more of the districts balanced between democrats and republicans. State Planning Commisioner Dean Barkley.
March 29, 2001 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports that the move to build a new Twins stadium with partial state funding cleared a crucial legislative committee. The favorable vote comes just one day before the first deadline for committee action, but the legislation still faces significant obstacles. A number of lawmakers and citizens' groups remain staunchly opposed to public funding for a new ballpark.
March 29, 2001 - MPR's Marisa Helms reports that there's a big test for the Minnesota Twins stadium proposal at the State Capitol, with the final chance for the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee to vote on the bill before the Legislature's first deadline.
March 30, 2001 - Attorney General Mike Hatch and Allina CEO Gordon Sprenger announced a deal to renew an audit of the health provider's business practices. Last week, Hatch questioned Allina's administrative costs and the company's spending on executive perks. Hatch also claimed the non-profit was delaying the release of important documents. Both sides say the new agreement should expedite the review. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
March 30, 2001 - (NOTE: THIS HAS NOT BEEN EDITED) Today is the first deadline for committee action on most policy bills at the state legislature. Last night (THURDAY) lawmakers worked to move legislation before the deadline expires. A notable casualty was an effort to allow the sale of wine in supermarkets and grocery stores. Other measures on handgun laws, seatbelt use, and a new football stadium fared better. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has this wrap-up.
March 30, 2001 -
March 30, 2001 - Tests on two North Carolina pigs supsected of having Foot and Mouth Disease came up negative today. Minnesota State Veternarian Tom Hagerty says chances are very low that a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak could occur in the U-S. Hagerty is just back from a meeting with other state veternarians and U-S agriculture officials in Washington D.C. He says the meeting was helpful for establishing a federal strategy for containing any U-S cases of Foot and Mouth:
April 2, 2001 - There is a lack of balance between the Senate and the GOP and Governor regarding the spending of the surplus.