December 18, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty flew around the state today (Thursday) to announce the locations for Minnesota's Job Opportunity Building Zones. Governor Pawlenty developed the program, known as JOB-Z, as an economic development tool. It offers businesses incentives to relocate, expand or start up in the designated areas. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha has the first of two reports.
December 18, 2003 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Mee Moua, a Minnesota state senator, about the potential of new Hmong refugees to the Twin Cities. The U.S. State Department has reached an agreement with the government of Thailand which could bring thousands of new Hmong refugees to the United States. 14,000 Hmong people are living in the last refugee camp of its kind in Thailand.
December 19, 2003 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak’s picks for new police chief. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak is expected to announce his pick for police chief tomorrow. Rybak is confident in his nomination, even though the final two candidates face considerable opposition by the city council, which ultimately acts on the selection. Report includes comments from mayor and city council members.
December 19, 2003 - Developers have unveiled plans for a $600 million development project to be built along the Hiawatha Light Rail line near the Mall of America. Bloomington Central Station will include office space, residential housing and a 700 room hotel and resort that will feature a 60 thousand square foot water park. Planners say the 45 acre parcel of land will be transformed into the state's first transit-oriented development and a national model. However, some opponents of light rail, say the development would make sense even without its connection to the Hiawatha line. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
December 19, 2003 - Minneapolis school district officials say mid-year budget cuts will result in the loss of 17 jobs, including as many as five teachers. Administrators will present a detailed plan for their $4.5 million districtwide budget fix today during a special school board meeting. The schools themselves will absorb about a quarter of the cuts. But principals say after three years of budget reductions, they have no fat left to cut. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
December 19, 2003 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Barbara Johnson, Minneapolis city council member about prospective candidates for new Minneapolis police chief. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has officially narrowed his list of candidates for the next police chief to Charles Moose, the former chief in Maryland's Montgomery County, and William McManus, Dayton, Ohio police chief. The decision cut from consideration two respected deputy chiefs currently in the department, Lucy Gerold and Sharon Lubinski. While the mayor has supporters for the finalists, there are signals that the outsiders will be a tough and divisive sell. Johnson, who represents the city's 4th Ward, says she's disappointed that Gerold and Lubinski did not make the final cut.
December 22, 2003 - Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson bid farewell in a City Hall sendoff today. Olson's term expires just after the new year, but today was the day set aside for looking back on his nine years on the job. Meanwhile, Mayor R.T. Rybak officially moved to replace Olson with Dayton, Ohio Police Chief William McManus. However, the mayor still has to convince a majority of the City Council to confirm McManus' nomination. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
December 22, 2003 - Thirty years ago, Minnesota's timber industry was booming. But today, the industry is floundering. Recent mill closures and cutbacks in the industry have cost Minnesota more than a thousand jobs. Some say that's partly because prices for Minnesota trees are among the highest in the country. Industry officials say the state could ease the cost crunch. They want Minnesota and the federal government to open up more of their forests to logging. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports.
December 22, 2003 - Some of the biggest political speculation in Minnesota has nothing to do with the 2004 election. Instead, it's looking ahead to 2006 when DFL incumbent US Senator Mark Dayton is up for reelection. One of the names most often mentioned as a Republican who might challenge Dayton is 6th District Congressman Mark Kennedy, who was first elected to the House in 2000. Kennedy says he's proud of his accomplishments in Washington. He says voters appreciate GOP efforts to cut taxes, increase foreign trade and streamline government. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik sat down recently in Washington with Congressman Mark Kennedy to talk about his work in Washington and about his philosophy of government.
December 22, 2003 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Eddie Roth, an editorial writer for the Dayton Daily News, about his take on Dayton Police Chief William McManus. At a committee meeting today, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak is expected to officially nominate Dayton, Ohio Police Chief William McManus as his pick to be the city's next police chief. McManus will need to be confirmed by the Minneapolis City Council. Eddie Roth discusses impact of McManus’s two year tenure in Dayton.