May 17, 2001 - The state Legislature appears one step closer to a special session. The House, the Senate, and Governor Jesse Ventura were unable to reach agreement last night on a budget deal for major tax and spending bills. With only five days left before the Constitutional deadline for adjournment, all three sides say reaching agreement could prove elusive. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
May 18, 2001 - (NOTE: THIS IS A NEW VERSION OF YESTERDAY'S ATC PIECE. IT HAS NOT BEEN RE-EDITED). Prospects for an orderly resolution to this year's legislative session have grown dimmer. Yesterday (THURSDAY), Governor Jesse Ventura warned lawmakers he has no intention of calling a special session if they're unable to pass major spending bills by Monday's adjournment deadline. But after a second late night of negotiations, House and Senate leaders failed to reach agreement. And House Republicans say they're skeptical about a Senate contingency plan to avert a government shutdown if a deal isn't forthcoming. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
May 18, 2001 - Nurses at 12 of 13 Twin Cities hospitals have rejected a contract proposal and say they'll strike when their contract runs out on May 31st. Nurses at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale ratified their contract after hospital management broke ranks with the other hospitals by offering better terms. The union says the vote allows 7700 nurses to strike on June first. They say a voter turnout of more than 80 percent should send a strong message to the hospitals that nurses are prepared to mount the metro area's first major nursing strike since 1984 unless they get a better deal. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 18, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that another day of budget negotiations passed at the Capitol with no deal. Legislative leaders have been meeting on and off with aides to Governor Ventura to try to break a logjam over major tax and spending issues. With less than four days left until Monday's adjournment deadline, a special session seems inevitable, and there's plenty of finger-pointing going on.
May 18, 2001 - President Bush will be in Pennsylvania today promoting his energy agenda. The President unveiled his policy yesterday in St. Paul, saying the nation needs to increase energy production for economic and national security reasons. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports....
May 18, 2001 - The benefits of putting security cameras in local places and helping out with minor traffic crimes. Minorities are pressuring the government to take the cameras down.
May 21, 2001 -
May 24, 2001 - Negotiators with the Minnesota Nurses Assocation and 12 Twin Cities hospitals will resume talks today (thursday) about a new contract. 7,700 nurses have notified the hospitals that they'll strike if they don't get the contract they want by June first. Both sides are optimistic they can avert a strike if negotiations go well over the next two days. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 25, 2001 - INTRO: A federal judge has handed Minnesota's light-rail line, that will run through Minneapolis, a victory over Excel Energy. The energy company had sued to keep from having to pay to move their utility lines which is estimated to cost abou 18 million dollars. U-S District Judge John Tunheim ordered the cmpany to relocate their lines downtown. Excel said they had an agreement in place with the city that called for advance payment for relocations as a result of state projects like light-rail. Joining us on the line is Elwyn Tinklenberg, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. -- What did the ruling say ? -- What was the law that he ruled under? -- Why should the utility have to move the lines? -- Who will end up paying for it? Why should the utility pay? -- Do you expect an appeal? -- Will the costs just be passed on to consumers? -- What ramificatyions are there for the phone company Qwest?
May 25, 2001 - A Memorial Day special Voices of Minnesota featuring the stories of two war survivors. Dan Olson interviews World War II war prisoner and bomber pilot Richard Carroll from Eagan, and Sabina Zimering, the Polish Jew now living in St. Louis Park who evaded the Nazis with a false identity.