April 18, 2003 -
April 21, 2003 - State lawmakers return to St. Paul from the Easter recess tomorrow . They'll spend most of the next month focusing on addressing Minnesota's $4.2 BILLION dollar budget shortfall. Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty is adamant the budget should be balanced WITHOUT raising taxes. Pawlenty campaigned heavily on a no new tax pledge...a pledge originally promoted by an organization called the Taxpayers League of Minnesota. In just a few years, Taxpayers League has become a major force in Minnesota politics.
April 21, 2003 - The Minnesota House is expected to debate a bill later this week that would allow almost any Minnesotan over the age of 21 without a criminal background to carry a handgun. Officials at schools around the state say they're concerned the bill would allow more guns at or near schools and colleges. They say if lawmakers pass the bill they should make it clear that even people with handgun permits should keep guns away from schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
April 22, 2003 -
April 23, 2003 - The Minnesota House has voted in favor of a bill that would change Minnesota's hand gun permitting process. House leadership used a parliamentary maneuver to force the Senate to vote on the bill. Supporters want to make changes to current law because they say local law enforcement has too much discretion over who receives a permit to carry a handgun. Opponents say the bill would allow almost any Minnesotan over the age of 21 to carry a firearm and would make the state more dangerous. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
April 23, 2003 - Over the next few weeks some of America's war heros will return home. The B-52 bomber crews from Minot, North Dakota will be back at their home base. And B-1B bomber crews from South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base will come back from Iraq. Heros from past wars are launching a national program to talk to school kids. The program was founded by former South Dakota Governor Joe Foss. The inaugural presentation was today (Wednesday) in Sioux Falls. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports:
April 24, 2003 -
April 25, 2003 -
April 25, 2003 - Opponents of a bill that would change the state's handgun permitting laws have conceded they can't stop permits from becoming easier to get. Supporters of the bill have been lobbying to change current law for seven years because they say local law enforcement has too much authority in denying permits. The Senate will take up the House version of the bill on Monday, after opponents failed yesterday (Thurs) to bring up a version of the measure they could modify. Because of parliamentary maneuvering by the House, the Senate will only be allowed to vote up or down on the bill without making changes. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
April 25, 2003 - The Minnesota House has passed a bill that would allow Canterbury Park horse track in Shakopee to add two thousand slot machines to the facility. The House voted 71 to 60 in favor of the bill. Lawmakers did make one significant change to the bill. The so-called Racino would not be built if Native American tribes agree to give a portion of gross gambling receipts to the state and agree not to expand gambling. Opponents say the bill will create more social problems and take casino jobs away from rural Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...