October 2, 2001 - INTRO: The state worker strike is in its second day and many state agencies are coping with the loss of workers. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension labs have scientists who are members of the Minnesota Association of Profession Employees, which is one of the unions on strike. The scientists typically run tests on evidence gathered at crime scenes. David Peterson is an assistant lab director at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He says, at this point, the strike hasn't affected the labs yet.
October 2, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with reporter Tom Scheck about Governor Ventura’s visit to New York City to meet with bond officials and pay respects at the World Trade Center site, where Ventura and wife Terry delivered 9,000 cards from Minnesota to the relief workers at the World Trade Center.
October 2, 2001 - State lawmakers today heard testimony from airline executives and government officials about the state's troubled aviation industry. Meeting in Eagan's city council chambers, legislators from two House committees began considering ways the state could help locally-based airlines through a time of crisis. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
October 3, 2001 - In the days before the September 11th attack, FBI authorities in Minneapolis tried --and failed-- to get a warrant to search the computer of suspected terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui (Moo-SOW-ee). Moussaoui was taken into custody in Minnesota after raising suspicions at a Twin Cities flight school. After his arrest, officials asked FBI headquarters in Washington for permission to search Moussaoui's hard drive, but were told they didn't have enough evidence to justify a surveillance. Daniel Klaidman (KLIDE-man) is Washington Bureau Chief for Newsweek and one of the reporters who broke the story in the most recent issue of the magazine. He says the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA (FIZE-uh), provides specific critieria for getting a warrant on a foreign national.
October 3, 2001 - Contract talks between the government and the two largest unions (AFSCME and MAPE) broke down over both wages and health insurance, but for many employees, they are focused on benefits.
October 3, 2001 - In Washington, the House of Representatives is expected to begin debate this week on a new farm bill. The bill contains a dramatic increase in funding for a program that helps livestock farmers cut pollution. But critics say most of the money would go to big, factory-style farms. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
October 3, 2001 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on Governor Ventura’s visit to New York City to show Americans can come to New York after the September 11th attacks. During his visit, Ventura met with a bond rating agency and toured the area of the World Trade Center disaster, where he handed out memorial cards written by Minnesotans to relief workers.
October 3, 2001 - Governor Ventura and his wife Terry appeared on Good Morning America. He went to deliver cards from Minnesotans and to see the World Trade Center site. Rumors that ABC also paid for his trip to have exclusive access to the site is not verified. Because of the accusation, Ventura now will no longer give interviews to the Minnesota press.
October 4, 2001 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on Minnesota Supreme considering fairness of jurors asking questions during trial. Typically, attorneys question witnesses during trials in Minnesota. But in Blue Earth County two years ago, a Mankato judge invited jurors to question the witnesses and even the man on trial. The State Supreme Court heard arguments about whether allowing jurors to ask questions violates a defendant's right to a fair trial.
October 4, 2001 - The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments last night (Wednesday) on whether Prior Lake officials violated the state's open meeting law when they met privately to discuss a potential lawsuit. The newspaper, The Prior Lake American sued the officials arguing that the council and mayor used a meeting with their attorney as a pretext to keep the public out of a discussion on a controversial issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: {Open government is a cornerstone principle of the United States; government activities can only be closed to the public under rare circumstances. One such circumstance can occur when officials must discuss legal strategies with attorneys. Prior Lake officials argued they had such a circumstance. Ryan Construction Company applied for a permit to operate a gravel pit and said if the council denied the permit or ordered an environmental assessment, it might seek legal action.