June 25, 2001 - 1,350 nurses from Fairview Riverside in Minneapolis and Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina will vote on a proposed contract today. The Minnesota Nurses Association and the two hospitals reached a tentative contract agreement early Saturday morning after negotiating for 14 hours on Friday. The nurses have been striking for 23 days and hope the union reached a deal that will make them want to go back to work. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
June 25, 2001 -
June 26, 2001 - Saint Paul city council member and mayoral candidate Jerry Blakey switched from the DFL to the Republican party today. Blakey joins Devin Miller as the second candidate in a month to join the Republican party. Party officials say the GOP is gaining momentum in a city where it's traditionally had a low profile. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
June 26, 2001 -
June 26, 2001 - The Minnesota Nurses Association says the 13 hundred and fifty nurses at Fairview Southdale in Edina and Fairview Riverside in Minneapolis will go back to work on Friday morning after ratifying a new contract yesterday (Mon). The ratification vote ends a 23-day strike by the nurses and puts an end to bitter negotiations between the union and 13 Twin Cities hospitals. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
June 27, 2001 - Patient groups, right to life advocates and researchers at the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic are anxiously waiting for a decision by President Bush regarding the public funding of embryonic stem cell research. The controversial procedure has been hailed by scientists as a way of curing diseases like diabetes and parkinsons. Opponents say the procedure is immoral and unethical because scientists need to destroy a fertilized egg to isolate the precious cells. They say a similar procedure taking similar cells from adults will be just as useful. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
June 27, 2001 - For a closer look at what's included in the new tax bill, we called Dan Salomone, executive director of the Minnesota Taxpayers Association. He says the bill represents historic reform and is a victory for Governor Ventura:
June 27, 2001 - A White House spokesman says President Bush is ready to compromise but wants some limits on the right of patients to sue. President Bush is meeting with House Republicans this afternoon. South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle says the Senate's version of the Patient Bill of Rights is five years of compromise and he's determined to pass the legislation before adjourning for summer recess. Daschle is using his new authority as Senate majority leader to acknowledge his home state roots, while adding an intense layer of political arm twisting to his national constituency. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland attended a round table discussion between South Dakota doctors and the state's most powerful leader.
June 27, 2001 -
June 27, 2001 - State lawmakers edged closer today to finishing work on a new two-year budget. The Senate passed two funding bills today, and the House is expected to consider at least one this evening. The long-debated tax bill, however, will have to wait until tomorrow. Negotiators finished work on the bill, but not in enough time to get it to the House floor for this evening session. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has been following events and is on the line with us now.