December 5, 2003 - A new group seeks to turn music swappers into a political force. Click the Vote is a new grassroots group that hopes to make file swapping and copyright questions major issues in the 2004 elections. Founder John Parres says the group's goal is to legalize a file swapping system that provides financial compensation for artists.
December 5, 2003 - Six hospitals in Minnesota have signed up to participate in a pilot program with Medicare. Some experts say it could eventually change the entire health care marketplace. It's called the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project. Scott Smith is here to talk more on this program.
December 9, 2003 - Democrats blocked the Senate today of Minnesota's fifth district voted for the bill. Sabo says the bill was within the budget limits set by the Republican majority, and it contained much needed funding for projects. The House voted 242-176 Monday to approve the $820 billion dollar package -- which funds everything from foreign aid, farm, veterans, education, transportation and health programs to the State Department and FBI.
December 9, 2003 - Grand Forks officials today released details of the case against the man accused of kidnapping Dru Sjodin. Governors Pawlenty and Hoevan also met in Grand Forks to pledge support for further searches for the missing 22-year old student. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson is in Grand Forks and joins me on the line.
December 9, 2003 - South Dakota will hold a special election on June First to fill the seat of Congressman Bill Janklow. Janklow announced that he will resign his seat effective January 20th. That is the day he is scheduled to be sentenced for Second Degree Manslaughter. Yesterday, a jury found him guilty of that charge and three others in connection with a traffic accident that killed mototcyclist Randy Scott. Bill Richardson is the chair of the University of South Dakota Political Science department and he has followed Janklow's career.
December 9, 2003 - The University of Minnesota is moving forward with plans to build a new football stadium without the help of T. Denny Stanford. Stanford had pledged to contribute 35 million dollars of the cost, but negotiations with him fell apart. Meanwhile, Governor Tim Pawlenty's Stadium Steering Committee meets for the first time today. The governor formed the committee to evaluate stadium proposals for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. MPR Sports Commentator and Star Tribune writer Jay Weiner has followed the stadium debate for years and he joins us this morning with an update.
December 9, 2003 - Several advocates for the poor say some Minnesota pharmacies are violating federal law. They say the pharmacists are refusing to provide drugs to low income people who can't afford a new drug copay required by the state. Federal law says pharmacies are required to give medicine to people who say they can't afford it. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
December 9, 2003 - Bill Janklow has resigned. The South Dakota Congressman released a letter last night which he'll send to House Speaker Dennis Hastert today (Tuesday). Janklow's announcement came just hours after his conviction of felony manslaughter and three misdemeanors related to a fatal accident in August. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland has been covering the trial and has this report:
December 10, 2003 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak’s release of list containing six candidates to replace outgoing Police Chief Robert Olson. Rybak, a panel of community members and a Seattle-area search firm have narrowed the list from more than two-dozen applicants nationwide. The list includes three African American candidates; and two internal candidates, both women, who remain favorites among many city council members.
December 10, 2003 - Congress has passed its first SPAM bill. But one critic says when it becomes law ... we'll get MORE junk e-mail, not less. This is Future Tense for December 10th, 2003. I'm Jon Gordon.