July 17, 2002 -
July 8, 2002 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak proposes capping city spending increases at no more than eight percent a year. The plan enjoys majority support on the City Council, but it means the city will have to cut six million dollars as elected leaders prepare for next year's budget.
June 3, 2002 -
May 27, 2002 - Minneapolis officials are assessing the damage after a legislative session in which most bonding requests within the city limits were either vetoed by the governor or shot down in the House and Senate. Minneapolis was also effectively excluded as a site for a new Twins ballpark. As bad as the session was, many in Minneapolis say it could have been worse. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
May 3, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on local Cinco de Mayo celebrations. What began as a Mexican national holiday to commemorate an important battle is now a way to share ethnic pride with Minnesota's exploding population of Latinos from many different countries.
April 26, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on reaction from Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson on Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak’s attempt to oust him from position. Olson says that he has no intention of moving on. Rybak had requested Olson leave, followed by a failed attempt from Rybak on getting votes from Minneapolis City Council.
April 25, 2002 - Minneapolis officials have begun a review of the police department's use of force following a series of high-profile confrontations. Some citizens and even council members told a joint council committee they are deeply concerned by images and stories of excessive force. Police say they're committed to removing bad cops, but only when the evidence supports it.
April 16, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on mayor of Minneapolis view on police chief. R.T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis, says any public discussion right now about Robert Olson's future as police chief is inappropriate. Rybak's statement came amid reports he has told Olson to find another job. Rybak makes it clear Olson is not living up to the new administration's expectations in terms of what Rybak calls community relations. Report also includes comments from City Council members Scott Benson, Paul Ostrow, and Joe Biernat.
April 8, 2002 - Light rail supporters say this fall's scheduled test of Minnesota's first light rail transit system will start closing the lid on criticism of the project. But, if Minnesota's light rail project is similar to others, significant pockets of opposition will linger and threaten to short circuit development plans that could determine whether the system succeeds. As part of our series on road congestion "Are We There Yet?" Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports. Listen for more of our series "Are We There Yet? tomorrow on Morning Edition and on the Web at Minnesota Public Radio dot org. And tomorrow we'll have a story about a road that some say is the most dangerous in the state.
April 1, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minnesota Public Radio has announced plans to expand its programming by creating a third statewide network to compliment its existing news and music channels. The new network will be all silent…and in stereo!