January 14, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty today (WEDNESDAY) released a bonding package totaling 760-million dollars. The size of the proposal surprised some House Republicans who favor a leaner package of public works projects, while some Senate DFLers called it skimpy. The bill would fund construction at colleges, universities and state buildings, prison expansion, roads, rail and environmental projects. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
January 15, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty just wrapped up a week of press conferences highlighting projects in his bonding proposal. After cutting budgets last year, the bonding proposal gave the governor the chance to dish out some spending around Minnesota. The statewide media blitz was typical for a high-energy governor who has proven adept at dealing with the press. Pawlenty has released a flurry of initiatives in recent weeks, and some Democrats believe the activity level is designed to deflect criticism of his administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
January 15, 2004 - Gov. Tim Pawlenty will propose a 760 million dollar bonding bill in the upcoming legislative session. Pawlenty announced the last of his bonding proposals yesterday (WEDNESDAY). The overall price was higher than what some of his former House Republican colleagues expected. But Pawlenty said he was aiming for a number between what the GOP-led House and the DFL-controlled Senate would propose. The bill focuses on a variety of areas, including construction at colleges and universities, state prison expansion and environmental projects. DFL Senator Keith Langseth is the bonding committee chair in the Senate That is DFLer Keith Langseth, who the is the bonding committee chair in the Minnesota Senate.
January 15, 2004 - Today (Thurs) the city of Saint Paul will apply to become the new home of the Minnesota Twins. City officials are submitting a proposal to the Governor's Stadium Steering Committee, which plans to make recommendations to Governor Pawlenty and the Legislature early next month. Yesterday city council members who had considered putting limits on Saint Paul's bid backed off that idea -- at least for the time being -- and ballpark backers celebrated the capital city's unanimous decision to move forward with a plan. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
January 15, 2004 - MPR’s Jeff Horwich reports the number of home sales in the Twin Cities soared in 2003, setting a new record and topping the previous year's sales by more than 10 percent. Minnesota is already the top home-owning state in the nation, and realtors are preparing for more big years ahead.
January 16, 2004 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports on vying proposals in the Twin Cities regarding a new ballpark. As policymakers and state officials pore over the details of 26 stadium ideas submitted, one thread emerges bright and clear…aside from the plans that call for new gambling revenues, all the major proposals rely heavily on increased tax dollars to build new homes for the Twins and Vikings.
January 16, 2004 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on stadium discussions in the Twin Cities. More than two dozen cities, counties, and private citizens have pitched their ballpark solutions to Governor Tim Pawlenty's Stadium Screening Committee. The governor solicited outside input to help him decide what role, if any, the state might play in financing new facilities for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. The plans cover a range of sites sprinkled across the metropolitan area and offer funding options from local taxes to state dollars to casino revenues.
January 20, 2004 - Later this week, the U.S. Senate could take up the 820-billion dollar spending bill the House passed last month. The measure combines seven spending bills, including packages for education, health, agriculture, and transportation. Critics say the one-thousand-plus page bill contains millions of dollars in wasteful porkbarrel spending. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the process, and what's in the bill for Minnesota...
January 21, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio’s Cara Hetland presents “That's Just Janklow," a documentary on Bill Janklow, one of the most powerful figures in South Dakota history. The one time juvenile delinquent went on to become a 4-term governor, and then a Congressman. It all ended in a car crash.
January 21, 2004 - MPR’s Toni Randolph reports that local and state officials, refugee agencies, and Hmong community organizations have been trying to figure out how many refugees could end up in the Twin Cities. The Thai government says more than 15,000 refugees are living in the camp surrounding a Buddhist temple. They'll be eligible for the resettlement program, which is scheduled to begin screening refugees in mid-March of 2004.