July 16, 2003 -
July 17, 2003 - About 25-hundred people attended the funeral yesterday (Weds) of former Archbishop John Roach. Roach, who retired in 1995, died last Friday from heart failure at the Little Sisters of the Poor in St. Paul at the age of 81. He's the first Minnesota native to serve as archbishop of the Minneapolis and St. Paul Archdiocese. He's best remembered for his work on interfaith relations, social justice and his ability to reconcile different viewpoints in the Catholic church. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
July 17, 2003 - A spokesman for Governor Tim Pawlenty says the governor would be willing to amend a compaign disclosure report to reflect payments he recieved from a telephone company partially owned by his longtime friend and Republican activist Elam Baer. Pawlenty revealed the payments this week, but said they were made to a corporation he formed, and that he believes they didn't need to be reported as income. But some campaign finance reform advocates say Pawlenty was taking advantage of a loophole in the law, and that candidates should be required to reveal much more about their outside income. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
July 17, 2003 -
July 18, 2003 - A retired military officer now living in western Wisconsin is asking farmers across the Upper Midwest to donate used farm equipment for shipment to Iraq. Peter Strzok (STRUCK) already has at least fifteen tractors and tillers on hand that he expects to ship to Iraqi farmers in the northern part of the country. They'll use the equipment to improve production of two main crops: wheat and barley. Stzrok (STRUCK) is doing the work as head of a non-profit group called the Agency to Facilitate the Growth of Rural Organizations. He says he was inspired by Iraqis he met 10 years ago while working in the country.
July 18, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty today (FRIDAY) sought to defuse some of the criticisms directed at his business history. On his weekly radio program and during a Minneapolis speech, the governor deflected questions about his ties to a telecommunications firm that's been penalized in three states. But Pawlenty's political opponents says the governor's answers outline a pattern of playing loose with the rules. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
July 21, 2003 - New Access Communications has drawn customer complaints from Minnesotans similar to complaints in other states which led to regulatory fines. Governor Tim Pawlenty had connections to the Minneapolis-based telephone company while he served in the Legislature. New Access officials say the vast majority of their customers are satisfied despite consumer protection settlements in three states and an ongoing investigation in Minnesota by Attorney General Mike Hatch. But critics say New Access misled customers about pricing and... in some cases... took over people's telephone service without their permission, a process called "slamming." Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
July 22, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty has filed a new statement of economic interest with the state Campaign Finance board. He's also registered a now-defunct consulting business with the state's legal practices board. The new filings came yesterday and are an attempt to dispel controversies surrounding his use BAMCO, his one-man consulting business, to accept payments from a pay-phone company. Former governor Arne Carlson is a fellow republican who believes the issue is far from settled. He says Pawlenty is likely to face tough questions when a legislative committee begins to look at the issue next month.
July 22, 2003 -
July 22, 2003 - The 30-year-old Stillwater bridge controversy is drawing the attention of Congress and the Bush administration. They want the environmental stalemate solved. Traffic tie-ups at the old, two lane bridge are growing. One reason is the explosive growth in Wisconsin's St. Croix County. The Sierra Club says the congestion can be remedied in part by funnelling more Wisconsin drivers to the nearby I-94 bridge. Supporters of a new Stillwater bridge say the Sierra Club plan doesn't deal with population growth in western Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.