May 16, 1997 - (For Friday Morning Ed) Legislative leaders have given up trying to reach a compromise with Governor Carlson over education tax credits. Senate negotiators last night (Thurs) abandoned a plan known as "Common Schools of Excellence," which they had hoped would satisfy the Governor's desire to let families spend public dollars on private education. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has the story: The DFL leaders of the House and Senate went into Governor Carlson's office on Thursday afternoon hoping to coax his signature for their school funding bill. By the time they came out, they's resigned themselves to a veto. Speaker Carruthers: ((Carruthers being gloomy))
May 19, 1997 - A Voices of Minnesota interview with retiring Augsburg College president, Charles Anderson. Also Israeli novelist Abraham B. Yehoshua is in the Twin Cities to speak on the topic of "Israeli Identity in a Time of Peace" and "Modern Democracy and the Novel". He has won numerous awards for his writing and is an activist in the Israeli Peace Movement, working for a compromise with the Palestinians.
May 19, 1997 - MPR’s Martin Kaste describes that state lawmakers are facing a midnight deadline to finish their work of the session. Two big bills are headed to the Governor Carlson’s desk, where they face all but certain vetoes.
May 20, 1997 - Public and private landholders are challenging Chippewa Indian's plans to take fish and other game in eastern Minnesota, under terms of an 1837 treaty. But miles north of the region under contention, Chippewa Indians have been harvesting fish and wild rice and hunting moose and deer on public lands with little fanfare, and no public protests.
May 20, 1997 - Midday discussion with the four legislative leaders from the State Capitol. Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, Senate Minority Leader Dean Johnson, House Speaker Phil Carruthers, and House Minority Leader Steve Sviggum share their thoughts on the close of the regular legislative session and the chances of a special session due to potential governor veto on education bill. The guests also answer listener call-in questions.
May 22, 1997 - Midday discusses saving for retirement with guests Jean Johnson, senior vice president for Programs at Public Agenda, a research group in New York; and Chris Farrell, Minnesota Public Radio's senior business and economics editor. Listeners call in with questions for the guests.
May 22, 1997 - Governor Carlson and DFL legislative leaders turned a political stand-off into a dueling face-off today when they called back to back press conferences at the state capitol. (today-thurs) Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports...BOTH sides are firm in their positions over whether 150-million dollars in tax credits and deductions ought to be attached to the K-12 Omnibus funding bill. In the closing days of the legislative session the Governor drew a clear line in the sand.....fail to pass a K-12 funding bill that includes his Tax credits for people who want to send their kids to private school, and seal its fate with a VETO. Well, that fate isn't SEALED because the governor hasn't vetoed it yet. He's hoping for some more GIVE by lawmakers, and to get
May 22, 1997 - It's been a hard winter...and for some an even harder spring. But while the media attention has focused on the drama of flooding in the Red River Valley...ranchers in the Dakotas are also counting the cost. Hundreds of thousands of head of livestock perished with the cold and blizzards and now many farmers are faced with a late start in the fields Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: It's estimated as many as 400-thousand cattle and calves died in North and South Dakota this winter. Of that - 77-thousand died during the early April blizzard. Another ten-thousand cattle, sheep and hogs died in Minnesota from winter storms. It's difficult for ranchers to put a price tag on their losses but many estimate a thousand dollars per lost adult cow and five-hundred
May 22, 1997 - Hundreds of camper trailers are moving into communities along the Red River as temporary shelter for flood victims. Most of the trailers are being set up in peoples' yards while they repair their houses. Outside Grand Forks, North Dakota, a community of refugees have taken over a small campground. Some campers expect a short stay, but others say it could be several months before they have a permanent home again. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
May 22, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Catherine Winter presents a profile of the band, Conga Se Menne. The group from Upper Peninsula of Michigan utilizes some bongos, steel drums, and a tropical beat. They call their music Finnish reggae. The reggae beat is surprisingly similar to the Finnish schottish and soca is not far from a polka.