April 9, 1998 - Minnesota's House of Representatives has rejected a health and human services spending bill because it doesn't include a ban on a prodedure sometimes referred to as a "partial birth" abortion. The issue could be one of the last resolved on what's supposed to be the last day of the state legislature. As Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports... A majority of House members was upset the Health and Human Services bill did not ban a procedure commonly called partial birth abortion. So, as they pledged to several weeks ago, they refused to adopt the bill yesterday and sent it back
April 9, 1998 - SOME POLITICAL ACTIVISTS SAY THE INTERNET MAKES AVERAGE CITIZENS MORE POWERFUL BECAUSE ELECTRONIC MAIL CAN BE A DIRECT PIPELINE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, SOME LAWMAKERS SAY THE ELECTRONIC VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS JUST ANOTHER VOICE TO IGNORE. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S JON GORDON REPORTS. AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS BUILT AROUND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, THROUGH VOTING, TOWN MEETINGS, CAUCUSES AND GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES. POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE CONCERNED THAT FEWER PEOPLE ARE GETING INVOLVED, BELIEVING THEIR VOICE DOES NOT MATTER. BUT SOME POLITICAL ACTIVISIST SAY THE INTERNET HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RE-INVIGORATE DEMOCRACY. THE WORLDWIDE WEB IS A CHEAP PLATFORM TO PUBLISH POLITICAL VIEWS. DISCUSSION LISTS GENERATE HEALTHY POLITCAL DEBATE. AND E-MAIL IS A CHEAP, EFFECTIVE WAY TO CO
April 10, 1998 - State lawmakers passed a health and human services spending bill early this morning after a compromise on abortion. The bill funds millions of dollars worth of health care and social service programs. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the capitol: The impasse over the Health and Human Services bill broke when abortion opponents dropped their demand that the bill include a ban on partial-birth abortions. Jackie Schweitz, of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life says she realized the Senate, led by Roger Moe, would not approve the ban, so her group settled for stronger abortion reporting
April 10, 1998 - The Minnesota Legislature wrapped things up late last night in a spirit of cordiality -- at least between DFLers and Republican Governor Arne Carlson. House Republicans were less pleased with the session's outcome, and they're promising to take their complaints to the voters this fall. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Governor Carlson wasn't able to stick around the capitol long enough to hear the final gavel of the legislative session -- he had to turn in early, to catch an early-morning flight for New Orleans. But he did take time to look in on both the House and Senate... and he assured lawmakers that he was finishing his last legislative session as Governor with no hard feelings: ((I know there are time when
April 10, 1998 - Traditional mainline churches have lost a quarter of their members in the last 25 years -- in part, due to the defection of baby boomers, a generation dissatified with organized religion. But for the first time in decades, officials with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis say enrollment in Catholic schools is on the rise. All this month, in a series of reports and commentaries, Minnesota Public Radio will explore relgious issues in everyday life. Today, in the second report in our series, Tim Pugmire reports in the Twin Cities, a new Catholic high school and two elementary schools are planned in fast-growing suburban communities. But enrollment is also booming for a few inner-city parochial schools.
April 10, 1998 - Students and faculty from the University of Minnesota's Chinese Language Program will meet with President Mark Yudof this morning to discuss the program's future. More than 20 students are in the third day of a hunger strike to protest understaffing of the program. University officials say a new professor will be hired next fall... but so far, that assurance hasn't been enough to end the strike. Minnesota Public Radio's John Bischoff reports: Sun 28-MAY 11:38:42 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
April 10, 1998 - It's been a quiet week for weather in Saint Peter as residents continue to clean up tornado debris and rebuild their flattened community. But spring in Minnesota means storm season...and that could be a frightening experience, especially for children who recently lived through a tornado. Saint Peter schools are trying to plan for the next severe weather and how to keep kids from panicking. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... (Sound of kids running and screaming) In the gymnasium at South Elementary School in Saint Peter, kindergarten students chase each other in a wild game of tag. Teachers and counselors at the school are hoping to avoid chaos in the classrooms the next time the
April 10, 1998 - Governor Arne Carlson signed a bill this week to allow citizens, doctors, social workers, and law enforcement officials to report pregnant women who abuse alcohol. The purpose of the new law is to reduce the number of cases in which babies are born with brain damage or birth defects caused by excessive drinking of alcohol, a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on the new law.
April 10, 1998 - State lawmakers refused to enact limits on bank service charges this legislative session. In the last several years, consumer groups have issued numerous reports blasting banks for increasing fees and adding new ones at a time of record industry profits. As Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports, legislative proposals to reign in bank fees drew more attention and support this year than they have in the past, but none survived. Jordan Ash says he's actually encouraged. Ash is the banking organizer at the activist group ACORN. He's the point man in ACORN's campaign to force banks to reduce bounced check and other fees the group says unfairly hit low
April 10, 1998 - SEVERAL OF SAINT PAUL'S CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE HAPPY TO HAVE FUNDING OF A NEW DOWNTOWN HOCKEY ARENA RESOLVED. MOST SAY THE DEAL MINIMIZES THE CITY'S FINANCIAL RISK IN THE 130 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN REPORTS... IN THE WANING WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION - WITH A REQUEST FOR HOCKEY ARENA FUNDING LANGUISHING BEFORE LAWMAKERS - SOME OF SAINT PAUL'S ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE SOBERED BY THE PROSPECT OF HAVING TO COME UP WITH NINETY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE RIVER CENTRE ARENA. BUT A LATE-NIGHT LEGISLATIVE BREAKTHROUGH AND A REVISED DEAL WITH THE MINNESOTA WILD HOCKEY TEAM NOW HAVE CITY HALL DENIZENS CELEBRATING. CONGRATULATORY REMARKS AND BACK-PATTING MAR