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.
November 2, 2005 - The Steelworkers Union will support Attorney General Mike Hatch in his race for governor, and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in her run for U.S. Senate. Both candidates were in Duluth to accept the endorsements. Amy Klobuchar's family is from the Iron Range; her grandfather worked in the mines. She says the Steelworkers' endorsement carries weight throughout the state.
November 2, 2005 - The Steelworkers Union is backing Attorney General Mike Hatch in his race for governor, and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in her run for U.S. Senate.
November 2, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on political spending in last week of Minneapolis mayoral race. With less than a week to go before voters elect the next mayor of Minneapolis, incumbent Mayor R.T. Rybak is leading Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin in fundraising. Rybak has raised nearly three hundred & thirty thousand dollars, thirty-six thousand more than his challenger. McLaughlin... who's also trailing in the polls... is spending his money on television ads that will run between now and election day.
November 7, 2005 - Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has been covering the Minneapolis mayor's race and has been talking to citizens for a couple of months about the city's future. We asked him to open up his reporter's notebook and give us a sense of what some of the voters have been saying about their city. Here's his report.
November 7, 2005 - Governor Pawlenty will leave for China, on a trade mission designed to help Minnesota companies take advantage of China's growing economy. More than 200 people will accompany the governor to the world's most populous nation. That's a much larger state delegation than the one Govenor Ventura spearheaded to China a few years ago. In fact, state officials say the majority of those companies on the six-day trip have had no experience in China, but hope to establish relations. Right now, China is Minnesota's 4th largest trading partner. One of the people making the trip with the governor is Charlie Cole, director of International Sales for American Polywater Corporation, which is based in Stillwater. He joins us now.
November 9, 2005 - The citizens of Minnesota's two largest cities cast resounding votes in their mayoral elections, sweeping Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak to a second term and choosing Chris Coleman as the next St. Paul Mayor over incumbent Randy Kelly. What will the election mean for the Twin Cities?
November 9, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak’s re-election. He's gearing up for a second term after voters in the state's biggest city re-elected him yesterday. Rybak defeated Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County Commissioner, 61 to 37 percent. Rybak says the voters want a mayor who has a positive vision for the city and is independent of special interests.
November 9, 2005 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports on current mayor of Minneapolis and the future mayor of Saint Paul meeting for lunch at local Italian restaurant to congratulate one another on their respective victories in yesterday's elections. Mayor R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis; and Chris Coleman, Mayor-elect of Saint Paul say they expect to replace the two cities' rivalry with a new era of cooperation on issues that affect both Twin Cities.
November 10, 2005 - More than 200 people will leave for China tomorrow (FRI), as part of Governor Pawlenty's trade mission. Representatives of some of the state's premiere industries are going - medical devices... agriculture.... high technology.... and a bakery. A bakery? That's right, a Minneapolis bakery. Lynn Gordon from the French Meadow Bakery says she's considering expanding to Shanghai, and she's going on the trip to find out the best way to do it. But she also admits she's going for the experience. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum talked with Gordon and has this report.