July 11, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that Ford Bell has dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate. Bell intended to challenge Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in a September primary. But he says difficulty raising money led to his withdrawal. Bell's announcement now clears the way for Klobuchar, the DFL endorsed candidate for Senate, to face Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy.
July 21, 2006 - Tensions are growing in the Horn of Africa, today, as Ethiopian troops entered Somalia and started moving towards the country's capital. Somalia's top Islamic leader called for a holy war against Ethiopia to drive the troops out. The "Coalition of Islamic Courts" is Somalia's most powerful military group and it is credited for bringing stability to parts of the country formerly dominated by warlords. But the Islamic courts are at odds with Somalia's internationally-recognized transitional government, which has less military power but a close relationship with Ethiopia. Minnesota has the largest population of Somalis in the United States, so the effects are felt here.
July 24, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on the four DFLers seeking to replace retiring fifth district Congressman Martin Sabo. Keith Ellison, State Representative; Ember Reichgott Junge, former state senator; Mike Erlandson, former DFL Party chair; and Paul Ostrow, Minneapolis City Council member, appeared at an event hosted by KFAI Radio and Insight News. With less than two months before the September primary, the four DFLers agreed on several major national issues but tried to differentiate themselves based on their experience. The debate included topics of the war in Iraq, health care and poverty issues.
July 25, 2006 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports on the television ads of two candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy hit the airwaves today with a minute-long ad touting his background. His DFL opponent, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, focuses her ads more on her experience as a prosecutor.
July 27, 2006 - East African immigrants are organizing a gathering in St. Paul today. They hope to air concerns and insights that will improve the plight of their people still living in Ethiopia. The conference focuses mainly on human rights violations by the government against the Oromo people. Minnesota is believed to be home to the largest concentration of Oromos in the United States. They have established a base camp of sorts to speak out against abuses in a way they can't in their homeland. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
July 28, 2006 - What would it cost to cover Minnesota's approximately 383-thousand uninsured people? On the low end, about $663 million dollars a year, state officials say. On the high end, the bill could jump to more than $850 million. The estimates come from a new background paper issued by the Minnesota Department of Health. The Governor's Healthcare Cabinet requested the numbers as it considers ways to develop healthcare coverage in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
August 1, 2006 - Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan, a Republican, is endorsing former DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson for Congress. Erlandson is one of seven DFLers running in Minnesota's Fifth District, which includes Minneapolis and several suburbs. McGowan says he's backing Erlandson because he's the best candidate on public safety issues. He says he's not endorsing Republican Alan Fine because he doesn't think anyone but a Democrat can win in the heavily DFL district. McGowan also criticized Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate, for not doing enough on public safety during his time in the state Legislature.
August 1, 2006 - Comments from Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate, regarding Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan’s endorsement of Ellison’s congressional candidate opponent, Mike Erlandson.
August 2, 2006 - It's no secret that incumbency gives politicians certain advantages that many of their challengers can't match. Sometimes it's simply a higher public profile. But where to draw the line on using the advantages of office has become an issue in the Minnesota gubernatorial race, which includes two state officeholders - Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Attorney General Mike Hatch. The Republican Party today (Weds) asked for an investigation into Hatch's use of state letterhead on campaign materials, as well as his campaign's use of reports produced by the attorney general's office. Hatch says Republicans are trying to cover up Governor Tim Pawlenty's attempts to use his office for political gain. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
August 4, 2006 - The Republican-endorsed candidate for Minnesota's U.S. Senate race stepped up his criticism of his chief opponent. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy said DFLer Amy Klobuchar has not taken a clear stance regarding the war in Iraq. Kennedy also questioned the way Klobuchar is portraying herself in the campaign and called her another liberal lawyer. Kennedy, who is trailing in the polls, said Minnesota's Senate race could determine which party controls the Senate next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck presents report, including political commentary.