January 9, 2001 - A state legislator plans to introduce a bill in a few weeks which will help determine if racial profiling occurs in Minnesota. Representative Rich Stanek of Maple Grove says the measure will provide financial help for police departments who wish to document the race of the people its officers pull over in traffic stops. However, critics of the proposal say without mandating racial data collection, the bill has no teeth.
January 10, 2001 - According to data gathered by the St. Paul Police department, African Americans are being stopped and searched at a higher rate than Whites. Police Chief William Finney says the figures don't denote racial profiling by his officers. But to others, the study points to a pattern which they say is all too familiar.
January 10, 2001 -
January 10, 2001 - Robert Olson is up for his second contract renewal after six years as chief of Minneapolis police. Olson is expected to win reappointment, even though he faces opposition by some residents and city leaders. His opponents point to rough handling of protestors at a Minneapolis genetics conference earlier this year as evidence that Olson permits a culture of brutality. Opponents plan to speak out at a city committee hearing today but are not likely to sway enough council votes to oust the chief.
January 11, 2001 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that a citizens panel put together by the Minnesota Twins to look at the baseball team's future has finished its work. After six months of study, Minnesotans for Major League Baseball says the state risks losing the Twins unless the team gets a new ballpark combined with financial reforms in big league baseball.
January 15, 2001 - The theme at 2001 Martin Luther King Day rally and march in St. Paul was progress in race relations. But many of the speakers gave their view of the distance to go before equity and justice are achieved.
January 16, 2001 - It may be a big day for Minnesota baseball as results of this 2001's Hall of Fame balloting will be announced and two of Minnesota's own…Dave Winfield, a Saint Paul native; and Kirby Puckett, a 12-year star Twin…are strong candidates for enshrinement.
January 16, 2001 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen provides a brief profile of baseball star Kirby Puckett, who along with Dave Winfield, have been elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Winfield is a St. Paul native whose 22-year major league career included a couple of seasons with the Minnesota Twins. But at the team offices in the Metrodome, the biggest celebration was for Puckett, who during his twelve years in Minnesota became one of the Twins' best and most popular players.
January 17, 2001 - MPR's Andrew Haeg presents various local viewpoints on the telecommunication regulations debate. The Ventura administration wants to dramatically change the way the state regulates telecommunications. The goal is to foster competition for telephone and cable customers throughout the state, and, by doing so affordable and advanced services to all Minnesotans.
January 17, 2001 - According to data released late yesterday by the Minneapolis Police Department, Black motorists are more likely to be stopped and arrested than Whites. The figures, were collected from May first to November 1st of last year. Police Chief Robert Olson says the public should wait until the raw data is analyzed before making conclusions. However, some see the preliminary data as proof of racism influencing the policing of the inner-city.