April 7, 1998 - The scene seems set for a battle at the legislature. A legislative conference committee has passed a Health and Human Services spending bill with nearly $60 million dollars worth of health and social services programs. However, the bill does NOT include two controversial abortion provisions the House passed. MPR's Eric Jansen joins us from the capitol.
April 8, 1998 - Saint Paul city officials are negotiating with the state Senate to salvage state support for the Minnesota Wild hockey arena. The city had asked the state to contribute $65 million dollars for the arena, but the city is now considering a Senate offer that negotiators have characterized as "half a loaf." Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste joins us from the Capitol.
April 9, 1998 - MPR’s Hope Deutscher reports on eight wrestlers at the University of Minnesota-Morris that are gaining international recognition. They are not only overcoming an opponent, but also stereotypes as they train for the future…even a potential Olympics.
April 9, 1998 - The State Legislature appears to be on track to adjourn tonight, thanks to a last-minute agreement with Governor Carlson on key bills. But rank-and-file members still have some long hours ahead of them to make the agreement a reality. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has been following their progress, and joins us live from our Capitol Bureau.
April 10, 1998 - A pile of bills including the largest bonding bill in the state's history is on its way to the Governor's desk. Legislators wrapped up the '98 session in the wee hours this morning, carving up the 1.9-billion dollar projected budget surplus into tax breaks and lots of public works projects. I asked capitol reporters Eric Jansen and Martin Kaste who the big winners were this session.
April 13, 1998 - A special Talk of Minnesota call-in related to the Minnesota Citizens’ Forum on public financing of sports. Program begins with a report summary of forum; then MPR listener’s views are presented.
April 13, 1998 - MPR political commentators Bob Meek and Tom Horner will be in the studio to assess the Wellstone Presidential bid, the governor's race and other political issues. Program begins with report from Mark Moran in Iowa.
April 13, 1998 - It's the coroprate earnings season again. Starting this week, companies will report their results from the first quarter of 1998 -- and Wall Street will be watching closely. Here's what Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell thinks we can expect.
April 14, 1998 - A federal judge yesterday upheld the National Park service's decision to block construction of a new bridge over the Saint Croix River. The Minnesota Department of Transportation had planned to build a four-lane freeway-style bridge at Oak Park Heights to replace the old two-lane lift bridge in downtown Stillwater. But U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery supported the park service's view that the bridge would harm the river's special qualities. We talk to Dave Schaaf, mayor of Oak Park Heights, who opposed the project, and Curt Johnson, chair of the Metropolitan Council, which approved it.
April 15, 1998 - As part of the series Remembering and Rebuilding - The Great Flood of 1997, a special Mainstreet Radio program from East Grand Forks, one year after the flood. Host Rachel Reabe interviews Pat Owens, Grand Forks mayor; Lynn Stauss, East Grand Forks mayor; Cliff Barth, Breckenridge mayor; and Morris Lanning of the Red River Basin Coalition about how people of the Red River Valley are putting their lives and their communities back together.