February 15, 2002 - Complaints against nursing homes in Minnesota increased 35 percent last year. The = office of the Ombudsman for Older Minnesotans says the agency settled 24-hundred complaints in 2001. The Ombudsman program was started under federal law in 1978 to be an advocate for nursing-home residents. Ombudsman Sharon Zoesch says most complaints involve residents' rights and quality of care:
February 15, 2002 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports that the ballpark debate has returned to the state Capitol on two fronts and lawmakers seem more receptive to stadium plans than in past years. A Senate committee gave the green light to a proposal for a St. Paul Twins ballpark and House lawmakers introduced legislation to construct a joint Vikings and University of Minnesota football facility. But opposition hasn't faded entirely.
February 15, 2002 - **For Fri 2/15 M.E.** The Minnesota Commerce Department has accused Qwest Telecommunications of violating federal and state law by making secret agreements with some of its competitors. Denver-based Qwest is the dominant local phone company in 14 states from Minnesota to Washington. The Minnesota Commerce Department filed a formal complaint with the Public Utilities Commission yesterday (Thursday). Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
February 18, 2002 -
February 18, 2002 - A House Committee has defeated a bill that would have built a new football stadium for the Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota. Both teams have been seeking a new stadium because they say the Metrodome is outdated and they say they can't make enough money in it. However, lawmakers are cool to the idea of building a new stadium when the state is facing budget problems and the Vikings are under lease until 2011. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
February 18, 2002 - The contributions of African-Americans in the railroad industry will be the topic of a forum later today commemorating Black History Month. African-American labor helped build the railroads that were key to the development of the United States and the Upper Midwest. That work sparked the black labor movement. It also inspired many black inventors who's ideas helped the industry grow. Joining us on the line is Brian Clark, an electrical engineer with Minneapolis' light rail project, and one of the keynote speakers at today's forum.
February 19, 2002 - MPR's Tim Pugmire reports that hours after a Minnesota House committee rejected legislation to build a football stadium for Vikings and Gophers, another panel approved two bills Monday to build a new home for the Twins. Both bills would help build a major league ballpark in St. Paul, but they include different approaches to financing the projects. Lawmakers also want to give St. Paul voters the ultimate approval.
February 19, 2002 - *For Tues M.E. 2/19* The Minnesota State Bar Association has asked the state Supreme Court to allow attorneys to partner with other professions such as accountants. Multi-disciplinary practices, or MDP's as they're called, have been controversial. Critics have argued such partnerships would compromise the independence of the legal profession because they'd intermingle different codes of ethics. The request takes on even greater significance given the concern over Arthur Andersen's roles as both accountant and consultant at Enron. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
February 19, 2002 - Hennepin County is entering the Twins stadium debate in an attempt to keep the baseball team in Minneapolis. County Commissioners today (Tuesday) approved a $370-million dollar plan that would raise a variety of taxes and user fees and utilize both private and public money. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
February 19, 2002 - Friday is the first committee deadline at the Minnesota Legislature. That means most bills will have to clear policy committees in at least one house by the end of the week to stay alive. Joining us with a look at what's happening at the capitol this week is Minnesota Public Radio's Capitol Bureau Chief, Laura McCallum. That's MPR's Capitol Bureau Chief Laura McCallum. Now, anytime that you want to know where things stand at the Legislature you can go to our web site, Minnesota Public Radio dot org, and click on the Session 2002 link. There's also information on the candidates for Governor and Senator. It's the best place on the Internet to get comprehensive coverage of politics in Minnesota and it's another reason to click and join today, Minnesota Public Radio dot org.