April 11, 2005 - (Bianca Vazquez Toness = bee AHN ka BAHS kess TOH ness) The April fifteenth- deadline to file taxes causes most Americans stress and anguish. But for the millions of people living and working illegally in the United States, filing taxes can be an advantage. It's an opportunity to prove their economic contribution and document their residence here. The I-R-S allows them to file using a special number. But some immigration critics don't like the idea of a federal agency accommodating illegal immigrants. Minnesota Public Radio's Bianca Vazquez Toness has the story.
April 25, 2005 - MPR's Brandt Williams reports that the Minnesota Twins and Hennepin County have agreed to a funding plan for a new baseball stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The plan for the $360 million facility will include private funding from Twins owner Carl Pohlad and public money from the county in the form of a sales tax increase.
April 27, 2005 -
May 3, 2005 - With less than three weeks to go before the end of the Legislative session, a number of spending bills are making their way through both the House and Senate -- but the two chambers are far apart on how to balance the state budget in the face of a projected deficit. Joining us now to talk about the budget and other Legislative issues is Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. That is Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. For all the latest Capitol news, go to the Session 2005 page of our website at Minnesota Public Radio dot org.
May 5, 2005 - Governor Tim Pawlenty today (THURS) blasted a Senate DFL plan to raise taxes on upper-income Minnesotans. The Senate tax bill would create a temporary eleven percent top income tax rate. Senate Democrats who support the plan say it asks Minnesotans who benefitted from the economic boom of the 90s to help balance the budget. But not all Senate Democrats back the plan, as Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 6, 2005 - Representative John Lesch says a few words in rememberance of slain St. Paul Police officer Gerry Vick, followed by a moment of silence.
May 6, 2005 - Senator McGinn says a few words to remember slain St. Paul Police office Gerry Vick, followed by a moment of silence.
May 12, 2005 - Despite pressure from party leaders, a handful of House Republicans who broke party ranks on the gas tax late last night held firm today (Thu) when the plan came up for final approval. The gas tax would go up ten cents a gallon under the transportation bill the Minnesota House passed on a 72 to 61 vote. The move is in open defiance of Governor Pawlenty's "no new taxes pledge." Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 12, 2005 - (NOTE FROM KHOO: As of 10:30pm last night, the governor and Sviggum were planning to reconvene budget talks at 10am Thursday. It's not clear whether Johnson will attend or will continue with his fly-around. The governor's office says Johnson has been invited to attend the meeting, but they haven't heard yet whether he'll accept. Johnson himself and his staff had left by the time the meeting broke up last night, so he wasn't able to answer the question directly. I point all of this out because this story indicates Johnson WILL stick to the tour, and that may no longer be accurate.) With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, Governor Pawlenty is urging legislative leaders to reach a budget deal. The call came as the House was passing a vastly different tax bill than the one that passed the Senate last week. And taxes aren't the only issue on which the House and Senate are far apart. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 15, 2005 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on Minneapolis DFL convention results. A 12-hour convention for the Minneapolis DFL party over the weekend failed to produce an endorsement for either Mayor R.T. Rybak or challenger Peter McLaughlin. After five ballots, McLaughlin was leading 53 percent to Rybak's 45 percent before the delegates voted to award no endorsement. The two candidates now head for the primary.