November 13, 2001 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that a new round of mandated state testing is underway in Minnesota public school classrooms. Over the next month, teachers will use the new Test of Emerging Academic English to measure the progress of the students who are not yet fluent English speakers. The results could also have a financial impact on schools.
November 15, 2001 - A collection of reports from the MPR special series "The Color of Justice," which investigates the racial disparity in Minnesota’s criminal justice system. This Midday program includes reports by MPR’s Dan Olson, Brandt Williams, and Elizabeth Stawicki, as well as various interviews and commentary of officials, academics, and community members.
November 15, 2001 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that Hennepin County District Judge Harry Crump says he'll announce soon whether he'll require the Twins to play baseball in the Metrodome next year (2002). Crump heard arguments from the the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the Attorney General's office, and the Minnesota Twins.
November 15, 2001 - MPR’s Brandt Williams conducts a 'rolling roundtable' discussion on the issue of "Driving While Black" with three Black men as they drive around the Twin Cities.
November 16, 2001 - MPR’s Tom Scheck shares details on Hennepin County District Judge Harry Crump ruling that the Minnesota Twins must play baseball in the Metrodome next season. In an order filed, Crump ruled in favor of the injunction request filed in prior week by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.
November 16, 2001 - “The Color of Justice: The News Disparities” is part five of an MPR special series which investigates the racial disparity in Minnesota’s criminal justice system. Discussions of race and the criminal justice system tend to focus on the disproportionate rates at which African Americans are arrested and jailed. However, the growth of Latinos, Hmong, and Somali in Minnesota has broadened the scope of the disparities issue.
November 16, 2001 - A conversation with former Minneapolis Police Chief Tony Bouza about diversity on the force, racial profiling and other issues facing law enforcement today.
November 19, 2001 - A survey of more than 800 city and county-level elected officials in the Twin Cities metropolitan area shows the number of racial minorities in elected office lags far behind the growth of minority populations. The survey shows minorities are having little success in translating their gains in numbers to power at the polls.
November 20, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews John Wodele, communications director for Governor Ventura, about projected state budget shortfall. Finance Commissioner Pam Wheelock says the projected budget shortfall could be as high as one billion dollars when the revenue forecast is announced. The Ventura administration is asking state agencies to plan for budget cuts of up to 10%.
November 20, 2001 - MPR’s Michael Khoo talks with All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson about what came out of a first meeting of a tri-partisan task force looking at various ballpark proposals, including one for the Minnesota Twins. Khoo breaks down some of the testimony at meeting.