January 15, 1998 - Governor Carlson is hoping to spend $373 million more of your money this year -- while sending you a tax rebate at the same time.
January 15, 1998 - One of Minnesotanesota's most influential light rail transit skeptics has changed his mind. Metropolitan Council chairman Curt Johnson now believes the prospect of car congestion makes lrt a transit option. But there's no sign Johnson's views will break the transit funding stalemate at the state legislature.
January 15, 1998 - The Saint Rose Convent has stood on the banks of the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin since 1871 and the city's historic preservation commission wants to designate it as a historic building. But the Catholic nuns who live and pray in the convent are fighting the designation. They say the city is interferring in the practice of their religion. The preservation commission will consider the designation tonight.
January 16, 1998 - Half-way into the school year, teachers in almost two-thirds of Minnesota's school districts are working without a new contract. Part of the reason is the one-time removal of a state-mandated contract deadline. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports teachers are increasingly concerned about the slow pace of this years contract negotiations.
January 16, 1998 - The debate over managing Minnesota's wolf population got contentious last night, as friends and foes of the wolf clashed over what should be done. The timberwolf may be taken off the endangered species list as early as next year... and at a public meeting in the Twin Cities, there was little common ground between the two sides.
January 16, 1998 - Another attempt is being made to pass a so-called "concealed carry" law in Minnesota. It would make it easier for legal gunowners to carry a handgun. 31 other states have such laws, while Minnesota is among 12 with discretionary laws allowing local law enforcement to decide who gets a concealed weapons permit.
January 16, 1998 - Even in the recent bitter weather people are choosing to live outside in the Twin Cities... They're under bridges, in abandoned buildings... bundled against the cold. The Salvation Army tries to lend a hand by sending out a special truck delivering hot drinks and food, blankets and bedrolls. The driver is well known to the people he serves. His first name is Kelly... its Salvation Army Policy not to reveal his last... and he was homeless himself for a longtime. He told Mary Stucky his real job is providing companionship to people he knows aren't going to come in from the cold.
January 16, 1998 - The legal battle over plans to build a massive bridge over the St. Croix River near Stillwater is on the docket in federal court later this morning in Minneapolis. Judge Ann Montgomery will hear the Minnesota Department of Transportation's claims the National Park Service did NOT have jurisdiction to block the bridge project under federal laws designed to protect designated river ways.
January 17, 1998 - In sports news: It was a nail-bitter last night as the Minnesota Timberwolves edged Houston 116-to-115 last night in overtime. The Wolves have won four straight. The Wolves take on the Mavericks tonight in Dallas. Gametime is 7:30 p.m. Minnesota Vikings board chairman John Skoglund says there's an outside chance the team will not be sold -- because of the NFL's lucrative new television deals. And if the Vikings ownership group doesn't sell the team, Skoglund says Dennis Green probably would stay as head coach. Major league baseball and the Minnesota Twins are trying to block Attorney General Humphrey's antitrust investigation into the possible move of the Minnesota Twins to North Carolina. The actions were filed yesterday in state and federal courts.
January 19, 1998 - State Attorney General Skip Humphrey's lawsuit against big tobacco interests is going to trial. But critics of his contract with an outside lawfirm, arguing the case, say private lawyers could get rich at the expense of state taxpayers.