June 18, 1997 - The Rochester Board of Education heard from a committee last night that is recommending delaying the start times of all the district's schools. Supporters of the plan say it will help adolescents get the sleep they need and keep elementary school students off the streets before the sun comes up. Minnesota Public Radio's Brent Wolfe reports from Rochester.
June 18, 1997 - Brandi Parisi reports on strife in the classical music scene, as a debate brews over the direction and public interest in the genre. Parisi gets varied commentary from those in the community. Some see a crisis point; others see a natural evolution.
June 19, 1997 - School district administrators throughout the state are preparing for the coming school year with an unclear picture of their finances. The Minnesota legislature will meet in special session next week to work on a new K-12 education funding bill. Governor Carlson vetoed the first bill because it did not include his tax credit plan. The lack of a funding bill will begin causing problems for schools when the fiscal year ends June 30th. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
June 19, 1997 - ** TOP WITH LATEST ON TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ** The chief negotiator for states in talks with cigarette companies on a settlement of lawsuits said tremendous progress had been made today... but there's still no announcement of an agreement....although some anti-tobacco attorneys says a deal is imminent. Minnesota Attorney General Hubert Humphrey the Third says negotiators should slow down the rapid pace of the talks. Humphrey says tobacco companies are hoping for a speedy agreement, so they won't have to release incriminating documents that could work against them in the courts. Some of his colleagues have criticized Humphrey for his hard-line position on talks....but Humphrey says he's just trying to make sure that some 33-million documents Minnesota has collected for its case....see the light of day: | WATCH LEVELS...A BIT HOT IN SPOTS ****
June 20, 1997 - Midday discussion with the heads of Minnesota's two main political parties. Guests are Bill Cooper, newly elected chair of the state's Republican Party, and Dick Senese, chair of the state DFL Party.
June 23, 1997 - The candidate for superintendent of Minneapolis schools says the failure rate of students of color is the biggest challenge facing the state's largest school district. Carol Johnson, the current superintendent of St. Louis Park schools, told school board members today how she would address that and other challenges. The board spent two hours interviewing its lone candidate for the job. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
June 23, 1997 - Governor Carlson and DFL-Legislative leaders met today to discuss a K-12 education funding bill. The governor vetoed a funding bill at the end of the session because it did not contain $150-million in tax credits and deductions that parents could apply toward private and religious school tuition. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports the new DFL proposal contains four key components, including raising the state's minimum wage.
June 24, 1997 - Minnesota's 8th District DFL Congressman Jim Oberstar says airline officials should "clean-up their act" or the Congress will act. Oberstar is pushing legislation called the Airline passenger's bill of rights. Under the plan, airlines would be required to disclose their flight delay and cancellation policies. They would have to provide food and bathrooms during lengthy delays. The plan also calls for the airlines to double the payments passengers receive for lost luggage or for being bumped from a flight. Oberstar says he's encouraged by moves Northwest Airlines is making to respond to passenger complaints.
June 25, 1997 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports that Mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton says Minneapolis will put its money where its mouth is when it comes to keeping the Twins. Throughout the Twins quest for a new ballpark, Sayles-Belton has often said she wants the baseball team to remain in the city…bur much to the consternation of stadium supporters. Sayles-Belton has never committed city resources to the project. That changed when she announced a plan for acquiring and preparing a riverfront site for a stadium.
June 25, 1997 - Midday previews the special session of the Minnesota Legislature with guests Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe and House Minority Leader Steve Sviggum. Education funding is the main topic. Listeners also call in with questions.