September 26, 2005 - Governor Pawlenty today (MON) challenged other states to boost their ethanol consumption. He told a meeting of the Governors' Ethanol Coalition that the corn-based fuel will reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. The group consists of 31 states and 5 countries that support ethanol. But unlike Minnesota, few of them mandate ethanol use. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
October 4, 2005 - Today (TUES) was the deadline for legislative leaders to respond to Governor Pawlenty's menu of special session options, and none of the four leaders returned the list. But that doesn't mean a special session won't happen. Pawlenty invited the leaders to his office on Thursday, and is still willing to call a special session if leaders can agree on the agenda. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
October 6, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on first mayoral debate between candidates Mayor R.T. Rybak and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin since the September 13th primary. The two candidates sparred over city spending, public transportation, and crime. The candidates also fielded questions from residents of the high rises along Cedar Avenue where the debate took place.
October 7, 2005 - A agreement for a special session of the Minnesota Legislature appears to be near, but stadium proposals for the Twins and Vikings may get left behind. Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders emerged from a meeting yesterday (Thursday) and said they'd only reached a consensus on the proposed $248 million University of Minnesota football stadium. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
October 10, 2005 - As part of the series “Polluted Waters - Costly Cleanup,” MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on federal Clean Water Act and the pressure for Minnesota to fulfill those testing and clean up requirements.
October 11, 2005 - As part of the series “Polluted Waters - Costly Cleanup,” MPR’s Tim Post reports on upcoming Minnesota Pollution Control Agency draft list of the state's polluted waters in the next few weeks and the needs to address cleanup.
October 11, 2005 - Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports Incorporated, visits Midday to discuss the team and elusive new stadium. Bell also answers listener call-in questions.
October 12, 2005 - As part of the series “Polluted Waters - Costly Cleanup,” MPR’s Mark Steil reports on ditch systems in Minnesota and their impact on water quality issues in the state.
October 28, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck summary report on MPR Minneapolis mayoral debate. With less than two weeks before the November 8th election, the two candidates running for mayor of Minneapolis are having some heated exchanges over who's better prepared to lead the city. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin sparred in a debate sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. They discussed issues of crime, city finances, and smoking bans.
October 31, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that a University of Minnesota poll shows Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak leading Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin by nine percentage points in the race for mayor of Minneapolis. Rybak's lead is greater than the poll's margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points. Rybak says the survey proves he's the best candidate to lead the city over the next four years. But McLaughlin says he's encouraged that the mayor has support from less than a majority of those polled.