March 25, 2002 - The mayor of Minneapolis joined state lawmakers and mental health advocates at the Capitol today to support a bill to make it easier for police officers to commit someone having a mental health crisis. They say the bill will help prevent tragedies. Two weeks ago, an apparently delusional Minneapolis man was shot and killed after confronting police with a machete. But some in the mental health field say with funds dwindling, there's no place to bring people in crisis. MPR’s Art Hughes presents this report on gathering.
March 25, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on push for bill focused on addressing mental health crisis incidents. The mayor of Minneapolis joined state lawmakers and mental health advocates at the Capitol to support a bill to make it easier for police officers to commit someone having a mental health crisis. They say the bill will help prevent tragedies. Two weeks ago, an apparently delusional Minneapolis man was shot and killed after confronting police with a machete. Some in the mental health field say with funds dwindling, there's no place to bring people in crisis. Report includes comments from Mindy Greiling, state representative and author of bill; R.T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis; Greg Hestness, Minneapolis deputy police chief; John Trepp, member of Friends of Barbara Schneider; and Sue Aberholden, executive director of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
March 8, 2002 - Minneapolis officials remain hopeful for state money to build a new planetarium despite the House of Representatives bonding proposal that includes no money for the project. The city wants $30 million dollars in this year's bonding bill for a state-of-the-art planetarium and space center as part of the new downtown library project. An earlier Senate plan includes $20 million dollars toward the planetarium. Supporters are pinning their hopes on conference committee negotiations to revive funding. Otherwise, they say, the opportunity to build the center will be lost for the foreseeable future. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
March 5, 2002 - The destruction of files by a former Minneapolis city councilmember is making the transition difficult for her successor. Fifth Ward Councilmember Natalie Johnson Lee inherited an office virtually stripped of all paper and electronic files by her predecessor, Jackie Cherryhomes. More than any of the seven newcomers to the council this year, Johnson Lee is having to reconstruct the history of her ward's business for the previous 12 years. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
February 25, 2002 - An independent investigator hired by the city of Minneapolis finds no additional corruption in city hall related to the Brian Herron bribery and extortion scandal. Chicago Attorney Joe Duffy reported to council members that while Herron promised to provide influence in exchange for bribes, there's no evidence he was successful in doing that. But Duffy also cautions against continuing with a political structure that allows council members to exert influence on behalf of a single constituent. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes has more.
February 19, 2002 - Hennepin County is entering the Twins stadium debate in an attempt to keep the baseball team in Minneapolis. County Commissioners today (Tuesday) approved a $370-million dollar plan that would raise a variety of taxes and user fees and utilize both private and public money. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
February 12, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on proposed budget cuts by Minneapolis Mayor and City Council. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and City Council leaders delivered a list of proposed cuts to reach the five-million-dollar budget reduction imposed by the council two months ago. The police and fire departments will see reductions, but their functions are protected. Many smaller operations in city hall aren't as lucky, including Office of Cultural Affairs, Civilian Review Authority (CRA), and Truth and Sale of Housing program, amongst others.
February 1, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak’s effort to organize his office staff, and the opposition move is encountering on the City Council. The council votes on the plan that would see a sixty-thousand-dollar reduction in salaries in the mayor's office. But some council members complain the cuts are at the expense of those who are paid the least.
January 15, 2002 - R.T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis, used the term "difficult" to describe the next three months. Rybak is trying to get the Minneapolis budget back on track as he begins his term as mayor.
January 9, 2002 - Three gang members are indicted for killing a four-year old in 1996.