January 7, 2005 - Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports that Governor Tim Pawlenty and leaders of three northern Minnesota Indian tribes say they were pleased with an historic meeting on the White Earth Reservation. Much of the discussion centered on the governor's push to change the landscape of casino gambling in the state.
January 8, 2005 - {It's Weekend America on MPR--I'm GC...The last match-up of these teams threatened to disrupt Christmas Eve church services and family holiday meals. Yes, the fabled rivalry between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers continues during tomorrow's {sun} wild card game on Lambeau Field. The governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin have a wager going on the game. If the Vikings win, Governor Tim Pawlenty will dine on sausage and cheese. And if the Packers win, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle will enjoy a feast of walleye Wellington and wild rice soup. We have to admit two of our colleagues in the Minnesota Public Radio Newsroom have a history of waging their own bets. It usually involves the wearing of a spongy team hat! Midday Host Gary Eichten is a Minnesota Viking fan and has been known to sport a "cheese-head" hat when his team loses. Our Web Editor Melanie Sommer is a Packer Backer. She is the owner of the afore-mentioned cheese head hat--and has, on occasion, been forced by Mr. Eichten to wear a Vikings Helga hat complete with horns and braids. }
January 11, 2005 - The gambling landscape is shifting at the legislature, too. A coalition of anti-gambling groups has re-emerged in response to Governor Tim Pawlenty's recent overtures to Native Americans seeking a new Twin Cities casino. Citizens Against Gambling Expansion -- or CAGE -- includes religious leaders and conservative think-tanks who oppose increasing the availability of casino gambling. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
January 11, 2005 - Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter reports that the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe is holding firm on its stand not to share casino revenues with the state. Mille Lacs' tribal chair Melanie Benjamin gave her "State of the Band" address and praised the band for protecting its 'economic livelihood' from Governor Pawlenty and the Legislature…but Benjamin made another announcement that still keeps the Band involved in the casino profit sharing debate.
January 15, 2005 - {The Minnesota Vikings are getting ready to face the Philadelphia Eagles in tomorrow's {sun} divisional playoff game. Last week on Weekend America you may recall we spoke to Vikings fan and Midday host Gary Eichten and Green Bay Packer Backer and web editor Melanie Sommer. They talked about their friendly rivalry. This weekend we go back to the Minnesota Public Radio newsroom for an even more intense rivalry. Producer Colleen Scheck is a Vikings fan and her husband--Reporter Tom Scheck is an Eagles fan. The two are SUCH devoted football fans that they even included a line in their wedding vows about team loyalty. }
January 16, 2005 - Gov. Tim Pawlenty gives State of State address in Rochester, MN. Transcript attached.
January 19, 2005 - Officials and students with the state's public colleges and universities are criticizing Governor Tim Pawlenty's proposal to change the way Minnesota funds higher education. In his state of the state speech yesterday Helms reports.
January 19, 2005 - (FOR WEDNESDAY 1/19 M.E.) If Governor Tim Pawlenty has his way, the city of Rochester could be in for a building boom. Pawlenty delivered his annual State of the State address from Rochester yesterday (TUESDAY) -- and outlined a list of projects for the city and the region. Chief among them would be a new, four-year university. Political observers say the attention on Rochester could be an attempt to shore up Republican support in what's long been considered GOP territory. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.
January 20, 2005 - Highlights of the Bush inauguration ceremony events. This program aired 9pm on 1/20, not repeated on next day Midday.
January 20, 2005 - The budget season is getting underway at the state Capital. And as lawmakers try to close a $700 million dollar deficit, the leaders of the state's two largest religious denominations are urging a different approach to funding human services. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph reports. (Much of the recent talk about human services has been about cost. But yesterday, Catholic Archbishop Harry Flynn and Lutheran Bishop Peter Rogness say the talk is starting in the wrong place. They want lawmakers to see the human side of human services, rather than just the money. Rogness says it's simple