July 11, 2003 -
July 9, 2003 - An Evangelical Lutheran Bishop says the prayers of people throughout the nation were answered following today's release of a St. Paul Hmong American pastor from a Lao jail. Authorities released Rev. Naw-Karl Mua and two journalists following intense diplomatic pressure by the French, Belgian and U.S. governments; and reportedly a payment of nearly $2500 from Mua's wife to Lao authorities.
July 3, 2003 - Death penalty opponents say U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is seeking capitol punishment in jurisdictions that have historically opposed the death penalty. Minnesota hasn't had a death penalty case in nearly 100 years. But some attorneys say Minnesota could be the next in line for a federal death penalty case. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
May 29, 2003 -
May 20, 2003 -
May 16, 2003 - A medical mistake has propelled a Wisconsin woman into the national debate over lawsuits over pain and suffering. Linda McDougal, who underwent an unnecessary double mastectomy at a St. Paul hospital, is campaigning against a federal move to cap lawsuit damages on pain and suffering. Supporters of the cap say multi-million dollar verdicts are driving up the cost of malpractice insurance and forcing physicians out of high-risk medicine. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
May 14, 2003 - An attorney for convicted killer Donald Blom told state Supreme Court justices today (Wednesday) that his client deserves a new trial because authorities coerced Blom to confess. Blom was convicted of murdering 19-year-old Katie Poirier (POY-er) in August of 2000. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: {3 1/2 years ago Donald Blom confessed to kidnapping Katie Poirier from a Moose Lake convenience store where she worked as an attendant. Blom also confessed that he strangled Poirier and burned her body in a fire pit at vacation property nearby. Blom later recanted the confession but a jury convicted him of first-degree murder.
May 1, 2003 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on the Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that police must suspect a motorist has committed a particular crime before asking for consent to search a vehicle following a routine traffic stop. Len Castro, Hennepin County's Chief Public Defender had argued such search requests were racial profiling tools. Justice Alan Page wrote for the court’s majority decision. Report also includes commentary from Pete Cahill, Assistant Hennepin County attorney; and Rev Albert Gallmon, president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP.
April 25, 2003 -
April 3, 2003 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on jury verdict finding baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett not guilty on all charges in assault case. It took the jury a little more than eight hours of deliberation to clear Puckett on three charges related to an alleged assault of a woman in a restaurant bathroom in September 2002.