August 12, 2003 - The Republican landslide in November's election left Democrats with little leverage at the state Capitol. Only the Senate remained in DFL control, and by the slimmest DFL margin since the state began partisan elections in the early 70s. The result was predictable -- although they managed to blunt the impact of some of the proposed Republican budget cuts, no major DFL initiatives succeeded in the last session. In part four of our Right Turn series, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the challenges facing DFL leadership in the Legislature.
August 12, 2003 - A new study finds some Web sites advertising products containing Ephedra fail to disclose potential adverse effects of the supplement, and some make misleading statements about its safety and efficacy. The study is published in the August issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Millions of Americans use dietary supplements containing ephedra to lose weight, build muscle and boost energy. It has been linked to some well-publicized cases, including the death of a 23-year-old Baltimore Orioles pitcher who died this year after taking an over-the-counter drug that contains ephedra as its primary ingredient. Dr. Bimal Ashar is a physician and assistant professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He's the senior author of the study, and he joins us on the line now.
August 13, 2003 - Minnesota's new budget has been law for barely a month, too soon for nonprofits, local government officials and health care professionals to know its full impact. In May, led by Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Republican-controlled House, the Legislature passed a two year budget that erased a $4.2 billion deficit without raising taxes. Critics warned that approach would threaten Minnesota's high quality of life. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports the impact on the state's quality of life may not be known for some time.
August 14, 2003 - The two largest state employees unions are recommending that their members reject a new contract proposal that state officials say is their best offer. Talks broke off early this morning when the state and union negotiators failed to find agreement on how to structure health benefits. Union leaders say the plan will drive up out-of-pocket health care expenses. State officials say the increases will be modest given rising costs and the state's budget pinch. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
August 14, 2003 - Four members of the Bush Administration were in St. Paul today to urge Congress to pass a Medicare prescription drug package. Administration officials, including the U.S. Surgeon General and the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are touring the nation to put pressure on the House and Senate to reconcile their differences. Critics say both bills are flawed and will do little to address the rising cost of prescription drugs. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
August 15, 2003 - Dear all, I included two items for consideration tomorrow......one is a promo announcement for the State Fair Midday broadcast next Thursday ...the other is a promo for the Flood Summit coming up on August 27th in Bloomington (requested by Homeland Security, FEMA, and the DNR).......I realize this will put pressure on our available time to chat, but I will be speedy with it if you like.... I will not be in town on Friday, August 28th (traveling to
August 18, 2003 - Though the Democratic presidential nominating convention isn't until next summer, several of the nine candidates vying for George Bushs' job have been making Minnesota a must-stop-state on the campaign trail. Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich Helms reports.
August 18, 2003 - Since the recession Minnesota has lost more than 67 thousand jobs. The layoffs come in a variety of sizes ... some wipe out hundreds of jobs, others just a handful. In many cases, those left behind have to do the same- or more work with less--less help and tighter budgets. We have the stories of two people who survived layoffs, and what their work life has been like. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
August 19, 2003 - Health care professionals joined Governor Pawlenty today to inaugurate a new law created to track medical mistakes. The goal of the program is to reduce medical errors in Minnesota and, eventually, help Minnesotans determine which hospitals are doing the best job in preventing mistakes. The Legislature didn't fund the system. But officials hope to find start-up money in the next month and have the program fully operational within two years. The Minnesota law is the first in the nation to embrace standards proposed by the National Quality Forum. Dr. Ken Kizer is the non-profit organization's president and C-E-O. He joined the governor today to praise Minnesota's plan. Kizer says as many as 98,000 people die each year from hospital medical errors, and that Minnesota's new law is an important step in making hospitals safer.
August 26, 2003 - President Bush pulled in more than a million dollars this afternoon at a downtown St. Paul fundraiser for his re-election. Speaking to several hundred supporters at the RiverCentre, Bush touted his accomplishments in the White House over the past two-and-a-half years and said his work in Washington has only begun. Meanwhile, the president's critics offered a much different message outside the event. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik has the first of two reports on the president's visit.