December 31, 2003 - The new year is scheduled to bring completion of Minnesota's largest public works project. The $750 million Hiawatha line rail line from Minneapolis to Bloomington opens for full service next December. Partial service begins in April. A range of issues remain before riders get on board. One is educating drivers and pedestrians how to co-exist safely with light rail. Another is finding money for a downtown Minneapolis shuttle bus to move rail passengers around. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
January 5, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty is proposing more legislative initiatives aimed at improving Minnesota's public schools. The Republican governor unveiled another wish list today (Monday) that includes plans for restructuring low-performing school districts, expanding the number of charter schools and reducing disparities among regions in Internet availability. DFL lawmakers claim the proposals are rehashed ideas that will bring little improvement. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
January 6, 2004 - Representatives of the Twins, the Vikings, and the University of Minnesota Gophers football team were in St. Paul today (TUESDAY) to pitch their hopes for new stadiums. Governor Tim Pawlenty has commissioned a Stadium Screening Committee to sift through stadium proposals and offer possible recommendations next month for the Legislature to consider. The teams repeated familiar complaints that the Metrodome is no longer adequate to meet their needs -- and made their case for help from lawmakers. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo was present for the discussion and joins us now from the state Capitol. Michael, the stadium issue has surfaced numerous times at the Capitol. Has anything changed since the last debate in 2002? KHOO: Yes and no. The underlying arguments for new facilities hasn't changed much. For the Twins and the Vikings, they argue the Metrodome doesn't have the amenities, suites, club seating, or concession opportunties that their competitors enjoy in other, more recent ballparks. It's an economic argument, they say: without a new stadium, we can't survive in Minnesota. The Twins, particularly, however, went out of their way to stress that things HAVE changed in the enviroment since the last debate. They point to a new labor contract agreed to in 2002 that increased revenue sharing between teams and is helping to level the economic balances between large and small market teams. They say that's real progress towards reforming baseball and something that policymakers should take note of. Of course, on the other hand, opponents maintain that there's still no justification for using public funds to finance what is essentially a private enterprise -- whether or not baseball is reforming itself. GRETA: How does the University of Minnesota fit into the equation? KHOO: (paraphrased) They pop in and out -- at one point paired with Vikes, but that appears to be off the table. then they had T. Denny Sanford but he's apparently gone...they say they're still committed to having on-campus footba
January 7, 2004 -
January 7, 2004 -
January 7, 2004 - Mayor R.T. Rybak's pick for police chief, William McManus, met with residents at a south Minneapolis community center last night. The mayor's office organized the meeting in anticipation of two key council actions today. With the full council vote a week and a half away, Rybak is applying pressure on those council members who are still not supporting McManus.
January 8, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty is proposing to keep the state's most dangerous sex offenders in jail for life without a chance for parole. In a crime package released today (Thurs), the governor also calls for tougher sentences for sex crimes in general, increased monitoring for sex offenders who have been released from jail and more money to add prison space. Pawlenty is also asking the state Legislature to require the attorney general's office to work with county attorneys and the Corrections Department to seek civil commitments of any level three offenders who are scheduled for release. The governor says his proposal will strengthen the state's laws against sex offenders but others argue it doesn't get to the immediate problem. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports
January 9, 2004 -
January 12, 2004 -
January 13, 2004 -