February 4, 1997 - This session, Congress is expected to tackle the thorny issue of reforming Medicare. Many seniors are worried the reform effort will ultimately translate into fewer benefits. But in Minnesota, seniors are actually hopeful they might come out ahead. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
February 4, 1997 - A new elementary magnet school in Maplewood might be one of the most complex educational operations in the state. The school is supported financially by three districts, yet the school has its own district number and school board. The school is a voluntary desegregation project involving urban and suburban students. The curriculum has a duel focus of multicultural education and environmental studies. On top all this, the school is operating year-round. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire takes a look at what could be a model for the future of elementary schools... The seeds for Tri-District school were planted seven years ago when Saint Paul school district officials began talking to neighboring suburban districts
February 4, 1997 - Minneapolis officials are hoping to increase the state sales tax in the Twin Cities to expand the Minneapolis Convention Center and bolster mass transit. But the proposal faces a tough fight. Governor Carlson's chief of staff, Morrie Anderson, says convention center backers should prepare to compete for state bonding support because Carlson opposes raising the sales tax. In fact, the Governor vetoed an expansion plan last year. John Labosky formerly headed Minneapolis' downtown council, so he's familiar with the fight. Now he's with the capital city partnership in St. Paul.
February 4, 1997 - Democrats in the state House of Representatives are still reeling from the Senate's surprise passage yesterday of mandatory standardized testing for all public schools. House DFLers wanted to take their time with the testing issue, but now they're feeling pressure to meet the Senate's challenge. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports from the Capitol: It's not just the timing of the Senate's action that's caught House DFLers off guard. They're also suprised by how close the Senate's plan is to what Governor ARne Carlson wants. The Senate legislation, introduced by DFL leader Roger Moe, would impose state-wide achievement tests for 3rd, 5th, 8th and 11th graders. The Governor likes the Senate legislation so much, he's offered to sign it immediately -- if and when the House goes
February 4, 1997 - A Minnesota House higher education panel took its meeting on the road last night to the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus. Legislators were greeted by students, educators and community members pleading for more support. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports.
February 4, 1997 - A short reflection on Dan Olson’s Voices of Minnesota series, as part of Minnesota Public Radio's 30th Anniversary Celebration.
February 5, 1997 - Some residents in Northeastern Minnesota are fed up with the legislatures's slow movement on deer feeding. They're taking matters into their own hands and launching private deer feeding efforts.
February 5, 1997 - A State Senate panel has approved a bill to allocate 20-million dollars from the General Fund to pay for emergency snow removal. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: Those who testified before the Transportation Budget Division, didn't even have the LANGUAGE to explain the hardships they're living with...the video and the photographs coming out of the regions hardest hit by winters storms say it best. Senate minority leader Dean Johnson says the constituents in his western minnesota district are living under duress:
February 5, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil reports that county governments in Minnesota are in a financial squeeze as state and federal grants decline. They must either cut services or find new revenue sources. In southwest Minnesota, a bookmobile with a roadrunner painted on its side is directly in the path of the funding dilemma. People who use it say it's foolish to cut a service which enriches minds.
February 5, 1997 - Many Minnesota educators are embracing President Clinton's call to make college-level education available for everyone. In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Clinton said at least two years of college should become as universal as a high school education is now. Local educators say it's an achievable goal.... as long as the funding is there. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... President Clinton says his number one priority for the next four years is to ensure all Americans have the best education in the world. His goals include enabling every 18-year-old to go to college, and every adult