January 23, 1998 - The Minnesota Supreme Court struck down part of the states anti-harassment law yesterday. The court ruled part of the law was too vague and interfered with the right to free speech.
January 24, 1998 - This past Monday on Martin Luther King Day there were two attacks in the Twin Cities. Victims in both incidents say the assaults were racially motivated. In St. Paul two black women were allegedly beaten by two white men. In the northern suburn of Brooklyn Center, an African American boy was shot in the back, the 14 year old says his assailant was white. Community Leaders have called a town meeting to talk about what they see as increasing problems with "hate crimes."
January 26, 1998 - Governor Carlson turned up the heat today in the controversy surrounding the USS Des Moines. Carlson wants to set up the decommissioned Navy cruiser as part of a new war memorial park in Duluth, but many -- if not most -- Duluthians oppose the project. Caught in the middle are Duluth's legislators, who are trying not to anger either side. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.
January 26, 1998 - Governor Carlson turned up the heat today in the controversy surrounding the USS Des Moines. Carlson wants to set up the decommissioned Navy cruiser as part of a new war memorial park in Duluth, but many -- if not most -- Duluthians oppose the project. Caught in the middle are Duluth's legislators, who are trying not to anger either side. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.
January 27, 1998 - MPR's Cara Hetland reports from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the Minnesota Twins are utilizing a caravan to hopefully draw crowds to ballpark as the team fights for a new stadium… while at the same time cutting team player payroll and dealing with talk of selling/moving team. Players admit it's tough to sell tickets for what may be a lame duck season.
January 27, 1998 - MPR’s Karen Louise Boothe profiles Jesse “The Body” Ventura, who is jumping back into the political ring with his decision to run for governor on a Reform Party ticket. It's hard to pin a label on Ventura. He's not your typical politician.
January 29, 1998 - MPR's Mary Stucky reports on folks at the Science Museum of Minnesota hoping to broaden public understanding of what Mozart called the "king of instruments." They'll do this through a special organ festival of concerts, exhibits, and tours sponsored in part by Minnesota Public Radio.
January 29, 1998 - Senate DFLer are proposing to RESCIND $500-million dollars in rebates on 1998 property taxes. It's part of what they call "Responsible Budget Management" ... but Republicans and HOUSE DFLers say taxpayers are entitled to the money.
February 2, 1998 - A new era of crime fighting begins this month in Minneapolis . It's similar to the strategy used by police in New York City where its credited with double-digit decreases in crime rates. The plan supplies police with daily reports of crime hotspots so they can send officers there to investigate. The plan also relies on more extensive questioning of suspects. And that feature of the strategy worries some people.
February 2, 1998 - MPR reporter Martin Kaste previews the week ahead at the Capitol.