June 3, 1998 - Vice President Al Gore pledged today in Minneapolis that he and the President Clinton will protect social security and Medicare. He also told seniors gathered for the AARP national convention that he'll fight for a patient's bill of rights to protect against what he says are abuses in managed health care. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports.
June 2, 1998 - A survey of the Baby Boom generation finds most look forward to retirement and are preparing for it. But the American Association of Retired Persons says the growing income gap in the United States leaves many Baby Boomers worried about their futures. Minnesota Public Radios Eric Jansen reports: The baby boom generation born in the post World War II era, from 1946 to 1964, has been in the nation's limelight its entire existence. Researcher Edward Keller says as the bulge of baby-boomers has aged from birth to middle-age, it has profoundly affected U.S. society:
May 28, 1998 - Democratic Party Leaders are in the Twin Cities this week scrutinizing the Twin Cities's ability to host the Democratic National Convention in the year 2000. Minneapolis is one of seven cities under consideration as a site for the covention. The Democrats inspected the Minneapolis Target Center and Metrodome this morning, then lunched in St. Paul. They want to be sure not only convention delegates will be happy, but also news media from around the world. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports:
May 27, 1998 - The federal government has awarded more than $21 million dollars to the city of Minneapolis for housing and community development. Federal officials cite Minneapolis as an example of what they want cities to do to get federal housing money. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports: The Federal Housing and Urban Development Department made the public announcement via speaker-phone in a conversation with Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo told Sayles Belton Minneapolis is a great example of what HUD wants cities to do under a consolidated planning process started during President Clinton's first term:
May 26, 1998 - The federal government has awarded more than $21 million dollars to the city of Minneapolis for housing and community development. Federal officials say Minneapolis is an example of what they want cities to do to get federal housing money. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports.
May 20, 1998 - Young people are frequent victims, and the most likely perpetrators, of hate crimes. Many Minnesota teens were among hundreds who gathered yesterday at a hate crimes summit in Minneapolis, hoping their stories will encourage more people to pay attention to the problem. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports: The most energetic session of the day-long summit on hate crimes was the taping of a national television show about how prejudice affects teens. The June 20 show is hosted by Court TV's Carol Randolph:
May 14, 1998 - Law enforcement officials say despite some recent high-profile homicides, they're beginning to see improvements in some of Minneapolis' toughest neighborhoods. Some neighborhood leaders say they agree, but argue that's no reason to lift the pressure on drug dealers and city officials. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports.
April 10, 1998 - A pile of bills including the largest bonding bill in the state's history is on its way to the Governor's desk. Legislators wrapped up the '98 session in the wee hours this morning, carving up the 1.9-billion dollar projected budget surplus into tax breaks and lots of public works projects. I asked capitol reporters Eric Jansen and Martin Kaste who the big winners were this session.
April 10, 1998 - State lawmakers passed a health and human services spending bill early this morning after a compromise on abortion. The bill funds millions of dollars worth of health care and social service programs. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports from the capitol: The impasse over the Health and Human Services bill broke when abortion opponents dropped their demand that the bill include a ban on partial-birth abortions. Jackie Schweitz, of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life says she realized the Senate, led by Roger Moe, would not approve the ban, so her group settled for stronger abortion reporting
April 9, 1998 - Minnesota's House of Representatives has rejected a health and human services spending bill because it doesn't include a ban on a prodedure sometimes referred to as a "partial birth" abortion. The issue could be one of the last resolved on what's supposed to be the last day of the state legislature. As Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports... A majority of House members was upset the Health and Human Services bill did not ban a procedure commonly called partial birth abortion. So, as they pledged to several weeks ago, they refused to adopt the bill yesterday and sent it back