August 15, 2003 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on the Minneapolis city budget, which continues to drop by millions of dollars. Mayor R.T. Rybak says he sees some reason for optimism. Rybak delivered his 1.24 billion-dollar budget proposal for 2004, saying there will be no more layoffs. In fact, he says the city will hire more police and firefighters. But the strain of debt and the second round of cuts from the state mean property taxes for Minneapolis homeowners will continue to rise. Report includes commentary form various city officials.
August 8, 2003 -
August 4, 2003 -
July 31, 2003 -
July 23, 2003 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that new information released by the U.S. Census gives a more detailed look at the state's Hmong population. When the Census was taken in 2000, Hmong Minnesotan's held jobs, but a third of them lived below the federal poverty line. The majority of Hmong are foreign-born, but over 30 percent are born in the state.
July 15, 2003 - Mourners are paying their respects to the late Archbishop John Roach for the second day today (Tuesday). His body was moved from the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis to the Cathedral of St. Paul for continued viewing tonight (TUESDAY) and tomorrow (WEDNESDAY) morning. After a short prayer service family members, longtime friends, Catholics and admirers filed passed his open coffin at the foot of the alter. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes talked to several those attending the viewing about their remembrances of Roach.
July 10, 2003 -
July 9, 2003 - A Minneapolis library committee is scheduled to vote tonight (WEDNESDAY) on recommended cuts in the coming year's budget. Public reaction to plans to close several libraries prompted the board to remove that option from consideration. But several popular programs are on the block and hours at most of the system's libraries could be cut back significantly. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
June 5, 2003 -
May 28, 2003 - All across Minnesota today (Wednesday) people wanting to carry a gun in public began filling out permit applications under the state's new concealed weapons law. The start of the new law also proved to be a rallying point for opponents. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.