January 25, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on the debate over higher education state funding between Governor Jesse Ventura and University of Minnesota president Mark Yudof. Neither side is backing down on what promises to be one of the biggest budget debates this session.
January 25, 2001 - MPR’s Annie Feidt reports on The Midwest Food Alliance, a new local organization that is hoping to convince Minnesotans to pay closer attention to the source of their food. The alliance supports and promotes the products of local farmers who practice environmentally sound, sustainable agriculture. The organization hopes consumers will search out its brightly colored stickers on produce and meats, the way some look for the organic label.
January 25, 2001 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen presents a profile of jazz organist Jack McDuff (aka Captain Jack), who died on January 24th, 2001. Segment includes recorded interview with McDuff.
January 29, 2001 - Meteorologist Tony Zaleski details freezing rain engulfing the southern third of Minnesota, making for treacherous commutes. The National Weather Service predicts significant amounts of ice forming, an uncommon occurrence in Minnesota. Zaleski explains how an ice storm happens…even when it’s below freezing.
January 30, 2001 - MPR’s Tim Post reports on a winter storm that dumped freezing rain and snow across much of the state. Freezing rain spread a layer of ice in central and southern Minnesota while residents in western Minnesota and the Dakotas received mostly snow; anywhere from a few inches to more than a foot.
January 30, 2001 - Greg Galloway, a supervisor with St. Paul's sewer maintenance division, discusses how a storm's heavy rain caused huge puddles to build up on Twin Cities roads. Crews in Minneapolis and St. Paul worked all night and day to open catch basins and allow the water to flow into the sewer system. Galloway has just 31 employees to oversee the maintenance of 20,000 catch basins.
January 30, 2001 - MPR’s Patty Marsicano reports that the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System stepped up their drive today for more higher education state funding than Governor Jesse Ventura has proposed.
January 30, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that Governor Ventura's tax bill got its first committee hearing at the State Capitol. Ventura's ambitious series of tax cuts and reforms faces an uncertain future. Even the bill's chief House author doesn't completely support all of it.
January 31, 2001 - Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz joins Midday’s Gary Eichten in the MPR studios to talk about the state of the judicial system in Minnesota. Focus of conversation is on how state court system is overwhelmed handling two million cases a year and the need for more funding. Justice Blatz also answers listener call-in questions.
February 5, 2001 - MPR’s Chris Julin reports from Cloquet High School, “checking” the growing popularity of high school girls hockey. In 2001, 120 Minnesota high schools have girls hockey teams and two-thirds of the girls playing high school hockey in the entire country live in Minnesota.