June 13, 2001 - A feasibility study for a new commuter rail line from St. Paul to Hastings is complete. Yesterday Helms reports.
June 13, 2001 - House and Senate negotiators today (WEDNESDAY) made budget offers during a public meeting of the tax working group. The two proposals, however, exposed the wide differences separating the two caucuses. But all sides say they're encouraged to have the discussions back in the public eye. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
June 14, 2001 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has approved a request from Minnesota that allows the state to participate in a federal program that helps cover uninsured children. For the past 3 years, Governor Ventura and officials with the state's Department of Human Services have been lobbying the federal government to approve the funding. Ventura said the federal government was penalizing Minnesota for establishing a program for uninsured children before Congress created its own program in 1997. State officials say the new money will help insure more Minnesotans, but some lawmakers in the state Legislature don't have the same expectations. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
June 20, 2001 - Much of the push for property tax reform at the Capitol is coming from Minnesota businesses. Business leaders say to remain competitive Minnesota MUST continue cutting taxes. Critics of the plan say it would shift the burden of paying property taxes from businesses to homeowners. They say homeowners pay enough already and there are good reasons for commercial and industrial properties to pay a higher rate. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
June 21, 2001 - The Minnesota Department of Transportation advised road construction contractors today to start preparing to suspend work. The Department is overseeing about 142 projects around the state. Every one will be put on hold July 1st if the Legislature fails to pass a budget. Department of Transportation commissoner Elwin Tinklenberg says the Highway 100 project will be one of the most difficult to delay:
June 21, 2001 - (CONTAINS DATED REFERENCE IN LAST GRAPH) State agencies today (THURSDAY) will take their first concrete steps towards mothballing non-essential services in the event state government funding runs dry next month. Road construction and maintenance crews are expected to stop their work and begin securing construction zones in preparation for a potentially wider shutdown. Budget talks at the state Capitol continue to yield no breakthroughs in a tax-and-spending debate that has dragged on for more than a month -- and some lawmakers are again considering fallback plans in case the impasse lasts through the weekend. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
June 21, 2001 - Reducing the booking time is one of the most important features of the new Hennepin County jail. There are 330 beds in this new jail. The cells are 6 feet x 8 feet. The way people are treated in the jail would be called direct supervision, a jail guard will watch multiple rooms at once and the rooms are in pods. There are televisions, desks, and other things that will help reduce the tension about being locked up.
June 21, 2001 - Democrats introduce a new bill at the capitol called Lights On. It would fund government at current levels and a 3% inflation increase. The bill is not accepted by all politicians.
June 22, 2001 - The Lights On bill introduced in the senate would fund the government at current levels and a 3% inflation increase. Governor Ventura will not support the bill because it does not include tax cuts.
June 25, 2001 - The Independence Party of Minnesota is now under new management. The Party is trying to pick itself up, after falling into debt, and failing to elect any candidates for the legislature last year. All of that despite electing Governor Jesse Ventura 3 years ago on what was then called the Reform Party Ticket. The Governor and his allies split away from the Reform Party last year... and re-named themselves the Independence Party which held its state convention over the weekend. That's where they chose Jack Uldrich as its new chairman. He joins us on the line now.