July 23, 2003 - A Wisconsin Army reservist was buried today Wednesday in his home town of Spooner, Wisconsin. Sergeant First Class Dan Gabrielson died when his truck was hit by a rocket propelled grenade on July 9th while travelling in a convoy about 120 miles north of Baghdad. His nephew - also a reservist in the same platoon - accompanied Gabrielson's remains home to Spooner for the funeral. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
July 24, 2003 - China and the U.S. are likely to hold talks with North Korea on its nuclear program in early September, but Pyongyang must agree to immediately include Japan and South Korea for the negotiations to proceed, Kyodo news agency reported on Thursday. We discuss the North Korean nuclear threat and the broader consequences for Asia and the world with Roy Grow, Carleton College International Relations professor.
July 24, 2003 -
July 25, 2003 - The decision to show graphic images of Saddam Hussein's dead sons was criticized today by European commentators and human rights groups. Yesterday Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he ordered the photos to be released in hopes of convincing Iraqis that Saddam's reign was truly over. The media display of the corpses angered many Muslims who said the U.S. treatment of the bodies violated Islam's rules for dealing with the dead. University of Minnesota Professor Mark Pedelty says the decision to show the photos raises a number of ethical concerns.
July 25, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty's relationship to a pay phone company may get a closer look from the state's top campaign finance officials. The chairman of the Minnesota DFL party today filed a complaint against Pawlenty with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. The complaint says Pawlenty may have knowingly falsified campaign finance information in order to hide his income from New Access Communications. Pawlenty has said he made an honest filing mistake, and there was nothing shady about his work for New Access. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich reports.
July 28, 2003 - When Voyageurs National Park was created in 1975, there were still thousands of acres of private land within park boundaries. Voyaguers is in far nothern Minnesota nestled along some of the largest border lakes. The federal government immediately began buying up the privately held land. Home and cabin owners were forced to sell. But they were given a choice. Some sold their property outright. Many more purchased 25-year leases so they could stay longer. About 50 of those leases end this year. One of them is held by Norbert and Etta Jean Goulet. The elderly couple has been living alone on a small island on Rainy Lake for 40 years. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson talked to the Goulets as they prepare to leave behind their pioneer island lifestyle.
July 28, 2003 - The Minnesota Health Department says health care costs increased 16 percent in 2002 for people enrolled in private health insurance plans. It's the largest increase since the Health Department started collecting the data in the mid-nineties. The report also says employee premiums increased 10 percent, the fourth straight year of double digit increases. Business leaders say the increases are causing them headaches and are encouraging the Legislature to make changes to the system. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
July 29, 2003 - Cuts in the state's budget took affect July first. Minnesotans who receive aid are starting to feel the difference. People who need state assistance for child care got a case of sticker shock this month. Lawmakers increased fees and co-payments along with cuts in some services to balance the state's budget. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
July 29, 2003 - Officials in the Bush administration are urging area churches and other religious groups to seek out federal money for their local charities. The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives hosted a daylong conference today Tuesday in Minneapolis on how to compete for billions of dollars in available funds, including money earmarked for public schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
July 29, 2003 - All Things Considered’s Greta Cunningham talks with Lee Pao Xiong, a local leader in the Hmong community, about housing issues in Twin Cities. Xiong states housing is the foundation for everything.