April 11, 2001 - Democrats in the Minnesota Senate say they want to spend about 600-million dollars more than Governor Ventura's budget on education, transportation and health care, and about 400-million dollars more than House Republicans. Senate D-F-L'ers revealed their spending priorities today WEDNESDAY, setting the stage for the end-of-session negotiations between the three players in Minnesota's tripartisan government. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
April 12, 2001 - The State Supreme Court is forcing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota to reconsider its plans for a massive anti-smoking campaign. The insurer proposed the campaign to spend down a surplus it ran up because of its 1998 settlement with the tobacco industry. The court didn't rule on the merits of the plan itself, but said the commerce commissioner had the authority to reject it. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
April 13, 2001 - Many Granite Falls residents will take time off from the sandbag lines this weekend to celebrate the Easter holiday. Bruce Kenzel is the Pastor of Granite Falls Lutheran Church. He says his congregation will be ready for the break after a long bittersweet week:
April 19, 2001 - Minnesota's American Indian tribes have won a 200-thousand-dollar award for promoting preventive health for the elderly. The University of Pennsylvania's Institute on Aging recognized the state's eleven tribal communities along with the Minnesota Board on Aging for developing the Wisdom Steps program which provides education and healthy-living activities. Minnesota was one of three recipients this year of the university's SHARE award. Mary Snobl, an Indian elder specialist with the Minnesota Board on Aging says it's important that her community focus on healthy practices because on average, American Indians live 8 to 10 years less than many Americans.
April 19, 2001 - At a conference of social workers, judges and attorneys, the Chief Justice of Minnesota's Supreme Court posed this provacative question: Is it possible the child protection system itself represents a form of child abuse and neglect? Justice Kathleen Blatz cited research that shows 80 percent of Minnesota's prison inmates had some contact with the child protection system and she announced a plan to rethink how the system protects children. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
April 25, 2001 - As soon as the Mississippi River reopens to barge travel, rafts of corn kernels will head down river en route to their final destination -- Southeast Asia. Along the way kernels will be tested and retested for traces of Starlink, a genetically modified corn now banned around the world. Last fall Starlink turned up in taco shells and corn chips, prompting mass recalls and a shake up on the export market. The corn's manufacturer continues to push for full governmental approval which would allow for human consumption, but with the spring thaw, Midwestern grain elevators and their customers are preparing for round two. Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally reports:
April 25, 2001 -
April 25, 2001 - Minnesota is known around the country for its medical device companies. But the state lacks a vibrant biotechnology industry that many say could be vital to future economic development. Now state officials are joining the University of Minnesota in launching a public-private partnership they hope will encourage small companies and make the state a center for biotech business activity. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
April 25, 2001 - About 150 Minnesota teens congregated at the capitol yesterday to apply pressure on legislators. They want their money to fight the tobacco companies, but the government thinks that their cut is too big.
April 25, 2001 - The University of Minnesota has hired an international expert in BSE, or what's commonly known as Mad Cow Disease to head its new Center for Animal Health and Food Safety at the College of Veterinary Medicine. As a veterinarian, William Hueston has devoted his career to understanding and tracking animal diseases here and in the United Kingdom. In the early Nineties, he led the charge to discover the risks of BSE affecting animals in the U-S. I asked him about the chances of it showing up in the states: