December 12, 2003 - The Governor, Xcel Energy and two environmental groups say a Billion dollar settlement to modernize three Twin Cities-area energy plants will mean dramatically cleaner air in Minnesota. Under the settlement announced yesterday (Thurs), Xcel will convert the Minneapolis Riverside plant and St. Paul High Bridge plant to natural gas; and also install new pollution control equipment at the Allen King plant on the St Croix river south of Stillwater. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
December 12, 2003 - Terry Smith recently retired from his job as special agent in charge of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Bemidji office. While with the BCA, he helped lead the searches for Katie Poirier and Julie Holmquist. That is Terry Smith who recently retired from his job as special agent in charge of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Bemidji office.
December 12, 2003 - National Guard troops join law enforcement officers today (starting about 7:30am) in the ongoing search for 22-year old Dru Sjodin. The University of North Dakota College student was allegedly kidnapped from a mall parking lot nearly three weeks ago. Convicted sex offender Alfonso Rodriguez Junior is accused of committing the crime. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
December 12, 2003 - The lead Republican negtiator on the Energy Bill currently stalled in the US Senate predicts Congress will pass the bill early next year.
December 15, 2003 - In Iraq, the news of Saddam Hussein's capture was greeted with celebration by some and protests by others. Minnesotans we talked to today had equally mixed opinions about the capture of the former Iraqi president. Those reactions to the capture of Saddam Hussein were gathered today by Brandt Williams in the Twin Cities and Stephanie Hemphill in Duluth.
December 15, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty is in Sarajevo, Bosnia this evening, having wrapped up a two-day visit with Minnesota National Guard troops serving as peace-keepers in that country. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has been with the governor for most of his trip and joins us now by phone from Tuzla, Bosnia. Michael, the governor's trip was meant in part to boost the morale of soldiers away from home during the holidays. I'm sure the news of Saddam Hussein's capture made his job even easier.
December 15, 2003 - An Iraqi-born professor at St. Cloud State University says he initially felt a sense of joy and relief to see Saddam Hussein in custody. But Abbas Mehdi (AH'-bus MEH'-dee) says he now has mixed feelings about the capture of the former Iraqi president. Mehdi (MEH'-dee) talked to Minnesota Public Radio's Mike Mulcahy (mull KAY hee) on this morning's Midday program.
December 15, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty's trip to Bosnia continues today (MONDAY) with a stop in Srebrenica (shreb-ruh-NEETZ-uh), site of a 1995 massacre of Bosnian Muslims by Serbian nationalists. Pawlenty is visiting the country to meet with Minnesota National Guard troops stationed there to enforce the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords that brought an end to the Bosnian civil war. Pawlenty's first day in Bosnia coincided with news of Saddam Hussein's capture in Iraq. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo is in Bosnia and filed this report.
December 16, 2003 - With the next legislative session less than two months away, state legislators have begun stepping forward with bills addressing everything from cell phone contracts to the death penalty. One group says Minnesotans will have a hard time determining if their legislators are serving the constituents -- or themselves. The Center for Public Integrity in Washington D.C. ranked Minnesota among the bottom states when it comes to how much information lawmakers must disclose about potential conflicts of interest. Leah Rush helped conduct the study. She says one of the biggest loopholes in the state's public disclosure policy involves the declaration of spousal information. Rush says Minnesota legislators are required to report almost nothing about their significant others.
December 16, 2003 - The final 2004 Hennepin County budget is more than 50-million dollars less than this year's spending plan, but residents will still see a slight increase in taxes. The county Board of Commissioners narrowly approved the budget today (TUES), with commissioners disagreeing over whether to buffer residents from state cuts. The vote follows calls from the Minneapolis City Council members yesterday to look toward lowering taxes there next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.