April 24, 2002 - The voters understood that the school district was projected to grow immensely within the next few years. Lakeville voters voted on four separate questions. One of the projects will be to build a new high school that will open in 2005.
April 24, 2002 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that Governor Ventura says he does not want to close the governor's mansion on Summit Avenue. He had considered closing the mansion since he has chosen not to move in there and the costs to keep it open were problematic due to legislative budget cuts.
April 24, 2002 - Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz says a statewide child protection reform project has been successful in its first year. The Children's Justice Initiative is designed to get abused and neglected kids into permanent homes faster. 12 Minnesota counties took part in the program this year... by 2006, all 87 counties in the state will be included. Justice Blatz says the state's child protection system needs a lot of work:
April 24, 2002 - President George Bush talked policy and politics in South Dakota today. In a short while the President will appear at a fundraiser for congressional candidate John Thune. He began the day talking to farmers at an ethanol plant near Wentworth. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil was there and joins us now. 1) Host: What kind of reception did the president receive?
April 24, 2002 - It looks like there might be some progress toward on a budget deal up at the capitol. For the first time in weeks, legislative leaders say they're significantly closer to agreement. In a preliminary deal, Senate Democrats would give up their call for raising the cigarette tax, while House Republicans would accept a hike in the gasoline tax. Of course, the House and Senate still have plenty of other work to do-- namely, they need a deal on a bonding bill, a transportation funding package, and an anti-terrorism bill. Joining us now are two newspaper editors who have been watching developments at the capitol... Bill Hanna from the Mesabi Daily News in Virginia... and Deb Flemming, from The Free Press in Mankato.
April 24, 2002 - President George Bush visits Sioux Falls today (Wednesday) . He'll make a major agricultural address and attend a public rally for seven thousand people. But the real reason for his visit is to raise money for South Dakota Congressman John Thune. Thune, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson. It's a race that's bringing out the nations biggest political guns. It's a race the Bush administration wants to win badly. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland has this report on South Dakota's U.S. Senate race.
April 24, 2002 - There was a significant degree of stereotyping of minorities in Minnesota media. There was also a strong acceptance of the stereotyping. Minnesota media played a strong role in giving information to Minnesotan citizens.
April 25, 2002 - Yesterday's visit by President George Bush to South Dakota had a clear and definite purpose, to raise money for Congressman John Thune. Thune is challenging incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson for the United States Senate. President Bush held a a private round table discussion with farmers. He also addressed a public rally for seven thousand people during his seven hour visit to Sioux Falls. Many saw the visit for what it was, a Republican president campaigning for a Republican senate hopeful. Still others saw the president's visit as a missed opportunity to talk about issues. We have two reports - the first from Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland:
April 25, 2002 - MPR’s Tasha Rosenfeld interviews Paul Ostrow, president of Minneapolis City Council, on lack of support on council to buy out of police chief’s contract. Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson will keep his job for now. City Council President Paul Ostrow says there isn't enough support on the council to buy out the two years remaining on the chief's contract. Last week, Mayor R.T. Rybak said he had lost confidence in Olson. Now, he says he will work with the chief if he needs to. Ostrow says dozens of Minneapolis residents have called the city to voice support for the chief. Ostrow also states that cost of buying out the contract was a big issue.
April 25, 2002 - The president touched on several agricultural issues during his half day in South Dakota. He traveled about 35 northwest of Sioux Falls to the small town of Wentworth to visit an ethanol fuel plant. Dakota Ethanol