March 12, 2002 - **For Tuesday 3/11 M.E.** For the first time in Minnesota history, a former court of appeals judge faces five felony counts. Roland Amundson is expected to plead guilty to swindling a vulnerable adult out of 313-thousand dollars when he appears in court next week. While Amundson's lawyer says his client will repay the *money* he stole, repairing damage to the court's credibility may not be so easy. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
February 19, 2002 - *For Tues M.E. 2/19* The Minnesota State Bar Association has asked the state Supreme Court to allow attorneys to partner with other professions such as accountants. Multi-disciplinary practices, or MDP's as they're called, have been controversial. Critics have argued such partnerships would compromise the independence of the legal profession because they'd intermingle different codes of ethics. The request takes on even greater significance given the concern over Arthur Andersen's roles as both accountant and consultant at Enron. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
February 18, 2002 - No one knows for sure why dozens of Faribault and Waterville teenagers got into a brawl last May. But whatever the reason, those involved say the fight should not have cost 18-year-old Freddy Schultz his life. So when the teens appeared in court, district judge Tom McCarthy found the typical legal remedies of jail time and fines inadequate to do deal with the pain and anger that had split the neighboring southeastern Minnesota communities. As Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, the judge, along with the understanding of a grieving mother found a way.
February 15, 2002 - **For Fri 2/15 M.E.** The Minnesota Commerce Department has accused Qwest Telecommunications of violating federal and state law by making secret agreements with some of its competitors. Denver-based Qwest is the dominant local phone company in 14 states from Minnesota to Washington. The Minnesota Commerce Department filed a formal complaint with the Public Utilities Commission yesterday (Thursday). Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
January 9, 2002 - An attorney urged Minnesota Supreme Court justices to declare unconstitutional a state law that tacks on a year of prison time to crimes committed for the benefit of a gang. The Court heard arguments on whether the law violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection because 90-percent of those convicted under the law were people of color. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
January 2, 2002 - **For Wed 1/2 M.E.** Beginning next week, an unusual appeals panel sets up shop in Minnesota; it'll be the first of its kind in the country. The panel, comprised of three former Twin Cities judges, will act as a kind of appeals court when health insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield denies mental health coverage to a subscriber. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
December 13, 2001 - U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger met with a group of recent Somali immigrants yesterday (Wednesday) to attempt to allay some of their fears about questioning by the FBI. Last month, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft asked law enforcement around the nation to help locate and interview five-thousand men from the Middle East and countries where al-Qaida terrorists are known to operate. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
November 15, 2001 - A collection of reports from the MPR special series "The Color of Justice," which investigates the racial disparity in Minnesota’s criminal justice system. This Midday program includes reports by MPR’s Dan Olson, Brandt Williams, and Elizabeth Stawicki, as well as various interviews and commentary of officials, academics, and community members.
November 8, 2001 - Blue Cross Blue Shield outlined a new plan for its tobacco settlement proceeds which includes 60-million dollars in subscriber rebates. The idea of refunds has been a point of contention for State regulators, who rejected an earlier Blue Cross plan that earmarked the money for anti-smoking and heart health programs. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
October 18, 2001 - Vermont health officials are studying a white, powdery substance that appeared on a Northwest Airlink flight Monday night. Preliminary tests show no evidence of anthrax, but the Vermont health department has recommended passengers and others connected with flight 5908 from Detroit to Burlington, get antibiotic treatment. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: PLEASE BACKANNOUNCE: Vermont Public Radio contributed to this report.