April 2, 1997 - SHRINKING BUDGETS IN RECENT YEARS MEAN THERE ARE FEWER ART PROGRAMS IN MANY SCHOOLS..PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS. A FARGO ART GALLERY IS TRYING TO HELP FILL THE VOID WITH ITS SUITCASE ART PROJECT. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIOS DAN GUNDERSON REPORTS. (SFX) SECOND GRADE STUDENTS IN A SMALL RURAL NORTH DAKOTA SCHOOL LISTEN EAGERLY AS CINDY HALE LIFTS PIECES OF NATIVE AMERICAN ART FROM A SLIGHTLY BATTERED SUITCASE. AS THE CHILDREN PASS THEM AROUND HALE TALKS ABOUT THE NORTH DA
April 2, 1997 - A panel of State Senators is contemplating raising the gas tax to pay for better state highways -- even though a gas tax hike has stalled in the House of Representatives. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Members of the Senate Transportation Budget committee aren't supposed to spend their time talking about what's going on over in the House, but these days they can't help themselves. Bloomington Republican Bill Belanger despairs openly about the House's unwillingness to raise more highway dollars: ((It's GRIM there... even if Rep Carruthers gets involved over there, it's GRIM, so....))
April 2, 1997 - The Minnesota House took up its version of a Comprehensive Welfare Reform Bill last night. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, it was an attempt by foes of legal abortion that stalled the bill when its key author then withdrew it from consideration on the floor.
April 2, 1997 - MPR's Mark Zdechlik traverses the Metrodome to talk with fans and players about the return of baseball and the Minnesota Twins prospects in 1997 Major League Baseball season.
April 2, 1997 - MPR’s Bob Potter interviews Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton about an arbitrator’s decision than former Minneapolis police officer Mike Sauro is to be reinstated, after being fired by the city for second time. Sayles Belton shares why she disagrees with the decision, her concerns over off-duty work by officers in businesses that serve alcohol, and need for officer training.
April 3, 1997 - Crews are sandbagging in Cold Spring, Minnesota, where some homes are threatened by the rising Sauk River. The river has risen three-and-a-half feet since Monday and is expected to crest eight to nine feet above flood stage. In Waite Park, rising water is starting to inundate a supper club. More flooding problems in eastern North Dakota -- this time in Milnor, in the southeastern part of the state. City auditor Kristen Looneborg (LOO'-nuh-berg) says water is surrounding several houses and a trailer park. had water on the main floor. Local officials are meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers to see whether an earthen dike is needed. The city engineer in Casselton says dikes started overnight have put the city in better shape to battle unexpected flooding. But engineer Roger Fenstad says the fight is not over -- and students are being excused from classes early today to help with sandbagging. Meanwhile, farmers near Amenia have asked Casselton for help in battling floodwaters. And around Fargo, the call is going out for thousands more volunteers to fill sandbags and build dikes. I talked with Mary Kenna at the Cass and Cl
April 3, 1997 - The Minnesota Attorney General's office is investigating last week's closure of a Saint Cloud organization serving people with disabilities. Central Minnesota Care Centers, which included one of the state's eight Centers for Independent Living, appears to have been at least half a million dollars in debt. As many question how the financial crisis could have happened, state and county officials and former center staff are moving quickly to provide emergency services to affected clients. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
April 3, 1997 - State Representative Todd Van Dellen wants to use slot machines to plug a loophole that would let the Twins break their Metrodome contract. The Plymouth Republican would allow slot machines at Canterbury Park, and would use about 21-million dollars of the money they bring in to buy around 800-thousand Twins tickets and cover some Twins operating losses. The Twins' contract says they can only leave the Metrodome before 2013 if they don't fill a certain number of seats or post losses for the '95 through '97 seasons. Van Dellen would also use some of the slot revenue to bring a hockey team to the Twin Cities and help cities change their property tax system. Twins officials say they're not interested in the proposal, to say the least. I asked Van Dellen what he makes of Twins President Jerry Bell's assertion that the Van Dellen plan would constitute inappropriate interference and would probably be illegal. | D-CART ITEM: 5057 | TIME: 3:21 | OUTCUE: "...THAT THEY SIGNED."
April 3, 1997 - A House Committee has withdrawn provisions of a bill that would tax monthly access fees to the Internet. The tax provision was deleted following a veto threat by the Governor. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.
April 3, 1997 - A House Committee has withdrawn provisions of a bill that would tax monthly access fees to the Internet, following a veto threat by the Governor. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.