August 9, 2007 - Minnesota Department of Transportation officials say they plan to shut down parts of Twin Cities highways in the next few weekends. The goal is to expand the roadways and relieve bottlenecks resulting from the loss of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis. In addition, MNDot Officials also say they've found no concerns with five state bridges that have the same design as the 35W bridge that collapsed. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
August 4, 2007 - An emotional Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau today defended the actions of the state transportation department she leads. Molnau, who also is lieutenant governor, cut short a trip to attend a conference in China in the wake of the I-35 bridge collapse. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
August 3, 2007 - *For Fri M.E.* Gov. Tim Pawlenty has ordered an immediate inspection of all Minnesota bridges that have a design like the one that collapsed. Federal officials have also alerted states to immediately inspect all bridges similar to the I-35W bridge. Meanwhile, National Transportation Safety Board investigators say they have a strong chance of determining why Minnesota's busiest bridge fell. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
August 2, 2007 - Federal officials arrive in the Twin Cities today (Thursday) to investigate the collapse of the eight-lane I-35W bridge in Minneapolis. The National Transportation Safety Board says it's sending a team of investigators to accompany the board's chairman. Governor Tim Pawlenty says two state inspections in the past two years found no structural problems with the bridge that collapsed. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: {The 40-year-old bridge was considered a bit of a marvel when in 2001 it became the first of its kind in the U.S. to be equipped with an anti-icing system. A computerized system sprayed an anti-icing chemical based on sensors that collected data on pavement temperature, ice and moisture. About 140-thousand vehicles traveled over the bridge each day.
August 2, 2007 - Gov. Tim Pawlenty has ordered an immediate inspection of all Minnesota bridges that have a similar design to the one that collapsed. Pawlenty said he did not know how many bridges have that design. Meanwhile, Federal investigators say they have a strong chance of determing why the state's busiest bridge fell. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: Minnesota Department of Transportation Engineer Dan Dorgan says that in the 1990's, investigators found fatigue cracks on the bridge but subsequent inspections showed no additional cracks or that that the existing cracks were growing.
August 1, 2007 - The are certain moments in time that people can reflect exactly where they were when it happened (i.e.- Challenger disaster, 9/11 terrorist attack). For many Minnesotans, the collapse of 35W bridge in Minneapolis is one of those moments.
May 22, 2007 - Federal officials say groundwork by slain St. Paul police officer Gerald Vick has led to 25 indictments on interstate prostitution charges. Minnesota's U.S. Attorney announced the indictments yesterday following weekend raids in south Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
February 5, 2007 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on a Wisconsin hunter's death and the designation of a hate crime. An issue of the nation's Hmong newspaper "Hmong Today" asks in bold headline whether death was an accident or a hate crime. Prosecutors in northeastern Wisconsin have charged James Nichols, who is white, with killing Cha Vang, who's Hmong. Nichols has claimed self-defense.
June 23, 2006 - U.S. Immigration officials spent nearly $200-thousand dollars last year on their failed attempt to fly Minnesotan Keyse Jama back to his native Somalia. Jama's case set a precedent when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Jama and other deportees could be sent to countries like Somalia that lack a functioning government. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
June 6, 2006 - Residents in the western suburbs such as Excelsior and Eden Prairie are using food shelves much more often. That's according to a report by a consortium of Minnesota food shelves and food banks called, Hunger Solutions. The group reports that some suburban areas saw a 300% increase in the past five years. The consortium says the Twin Cities metro area food shelf usage only went up 2% during the same time period. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.