September 5, 2001 - The six leading candidates in Saint Paul's mayoral race gathered at Concordia University last night (Tuesday) for their last debate before Tuesday's primary. The six are competing for the city hall office Norm Coleman is vacating after two terms. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has this report on the debate...
September 5, 2001 - Minnesota's Structural Balance Law complicates how teachers can negotiate contracts.
September 5, 2001 - Tonight at 7:00 o'clock, the four leading candidates for mayor of Minneapolis will participate in a live debate right here on Minnesota Public Radio. There are 18 other names on the ballot and here on Morning Edition, we've been giving you a chance to hear from them. Today, an interview with Mark Koscielski (ka-SAUL-ski), who calls himself an Independent Fiscal Conservative. He owns the only gun shop in Minneapolis. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Eugene Cha that his experience clashing with government officials in the past has taught him some valuable lessons.
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September 6, 2001 - Republican State House majority leader Tim Pawlenty is running for governor. He made the announcement yesterday at the Croatian Hall in South St. Paul. He is now one of a growing number of candidates in a what could be a very unusual campaign. Governor Jesse Ventura says he wont announce whether he's running for reelection until next July. If he does run, the Democrats and Republicans will face the challenge of positioning themselves in a three-way race against an unconventional incumbant. At his campaign announcement yesterday Pawlenty set the tone for his candidacy. Joining us on the line with his perspective on the race is DFL political consultant Pat Forciea (for-SEE-ah).
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September 6, 2001 - PERRY At 11:00 o'clock this morning, Midday will air last night's debate with the four leading candidates for mayor of Minneapolis. But the voters who go to the polls for the September 11th primary will see many other names on the ballot. Here on Morning Edition, we've been giving you a chance to hear from many of those candidates. This morning, we'll hear from Steve Houdek (HOE-dack), who lives in the Nokomis neighborhood. He's a social worker for disabled adults. Houdek (HOE-dack) told Minnesota Public Radio's Julie Siple that he likes the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, or N-R-P. Funding for it was reduced by the state legislature, just as it completes it's first 10-year phase. Houdek (HOE-dack) says, as mayor, he would make N-R-P his top priority.
September 7, 2001 - INTRO: Lush parks, lake access and an expansive recreational trail system are a definite plus for city residents; traffic congestion is one of the downsides. One way to ease traffic flow on freeways could come in the form of a bicycle. In the last in our four-part series "Pedaling Minnesota", Minnesota Public Radio's Kaomi Goetz looks at metro trails and the growing number of non-recreational users. HOST BACKANNOUNCE: For more information on Minnesota's recreational trails, check out our website at www.minnesotapublicradio.org.
September 7, 2001 - New board members for both Allina's Hospitals and Clinics and the Medica HMO say they're shocked at the spending practices of the companies' out-going management. Attorney General Mike Hatch has released another portion of his audit of Allina, this part covering travel and entertainment expenses. Hatch has been investigating the company since last year and says executives spent millions of dollars unrelated to health care. However, some former board members say many of the health care expenditures were warranted. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
September 10, 2001 - Norm Coleman is not seeking a third term as mayor of Saint Paul, but his imprint is visible on this year's race, nonetheless. The relationships of the major mayoral candidates to Coleman and his legacy are among the political angles at play in Tuesday's mayoral primary. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...