July 11, 2003 - The death of Dan Gabrielson highlights the fact that reservists range widely in age and backgrounds. Staff Sgt. Roland ROE-land Ward is an Army Reserve Recruiter in the Coon Rapids office. He says the Army Reserve troops currently in Iraq are in charge of combat service support.
July 14, 2003 - Funeral services will be held this week in Shakopee for Edward James Herrgott HER-got, the first Minnesotan to die in the war with Iraq. Herrgott, a member of the 1st armored division, fell victim to sniper fire while on patrol in Baghdad a week and a half ago July 3rd. His family and friends want him remembered as a regular kid who was working to hard to build a future for himself. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
July 14, 2003 - Minnesota's governor, auditor and other prominent Republicans are being tied to a Minneapolis-based telephone company accused of cheating consumers in Wisconsin and six other states. The St. Paul Pioneer Press says Governor Pawlenty was a director and an investor in NewTel Holdings when its New Access Communications subsidiary was accused of overcharging some customers and tricking others into switching phone services. New Access has paid 222-thousand dollars to settle charges that it violated consumer protection laws in Washington, Oregon and Indiana. The company also faces complaints in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Montana and is being investigated by the Minnesota attorney general's office. Pawlenty says he wasn't invloved in the day to day operations of New Access and was not aware of the complaints against of the company. State Auditor Pat Awada and Pawlenty's campaign manager Tim Commers also have connections to NewTel Holdings. DFLer Steve Kelley is the chair of the telecommunications subcommittee of the Senate Commerce and Utilities Committee. He expects that the Legislature will be investigating the charges.
July 14, 2003 -
July 15, 2003 - The former clinical director of the state's sexual offenders program told state lawmakers last night (Mon) she quit her job earlier this year because of plans to release some of the sexual psychopaths in the program. Her testimony, however, conflicted with that of the state human services commissioner. Kevin Goodno told the joint legislative committee that there are no plans to release committed sexual offenders and called such allegations "outrageous." Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
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July 15, 2003 - The state of Minnesota is directing 375-thousand dollars from a federal housing fund to help the town of Buffalo Lake rebuild. A tornado swept through the south-central Minnesota community last month, destroying homes and several businesses. When announcing the funding yesterday, Governor Tim Pawlenty said the tornado caused an estimated 12 million dollars in damages in Buffalo Lake. Greg Gowan is the town's police chief, and he's on the line now.
July 16, 2003 - Leaders of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system voted today Weds to sharply increase tuition over the next two years. Students will pay an average of 400 dollars a year more to attend one of MnSCU's 33 institutions. Officials say state budget cuts to higher education forced the increases. Many students are disappointed by the increase. They also say the board's decision to set increases two years in advance will price many students out of an education. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
July 16, 2003 -
July 16, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty has acknowledged deeper ties to a Republican businessman who oversaw several telecommunications firms -- one of which has been charged with defrauding customers in at least seven states. Pawlenty made his comments during a two-hour press conference yesterday (TUESDAY) that was meant to clarify Pawlenty's role in the controversy, which he maintains was minimal. At the same time, House Democrats say the governor's voting record as a state representative favored phone companies over consumers. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.