April 24, 2002 - It looks like there might be some progress toward on a budget deal up at the capitol. For the first time in weeks, legislative leaders say they're significantly closer to agreement. In a preliminary deal, Senate Democrats would give up their call for raising the cigarette tax, while House Republicans would accept a hike in the gasoline tax. Of course, the House and Senate still have plenty of other work to do-- namely, they need a deal on a bonding bill, a transportation funding package, and an anti-terrorism bill. Joining us now are two newspaper editors who have been watching developments at the capitol... Bill Hanna from the Mesabi Daily News in Virginia... and Deb Flemming, from The Free Press in Mankato.
April 24, 2002 - The voters understood that the school district was projected to grow immensely within the next few years. Lakeville voters voted on four separate questions. One of the projects will be to build a new high school that will open in 2005.
April 19, 2002 - Morning Edition, April 12, 2002 Topic: Costing our National Weather Service
April 17, 2002 - An audio clip of John F. Kennedy Jr. reading from his father’s book “Profile of Courage.”
April 17, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer speaks with Karen Oman, founder and CEO of Certes Financial Pros, a financial consulting company based in the Twin Cities. Oman is being named Woman Business Owner of the Year by the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
April 11, 2002 - The 16th annual American Craft Council show gets underway in St. Paul tomorrow. More than 250 artists will display their work, and that includes glass artists Jim and Renee Engebretson. They work as a team-- Jim blows the glass and Renee etches a variety of patterns and designs into the glass. I visited the couple at their home studio in Hudson, Wisconsin. Jim Engebretson says he started working with glass back in 1968.
April 3, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with historian Hy Berman about Nellie Stone Johnson, an influential leader in civil rights and labor movements, who passed away on April 2nd, 2002. Johnson was 96 years old.
April 3, 2002 - A group calling itself "Minnesotans Against Terrorism" is criticizing the Minneapolis Star Tribune's policy on using the word "terrorist" when reporting on the Isreali/Palestinian conflict in the Middle East. The group of state business, political and religious leaders took out a full-page ad in the paper yesterday, saying the Star Tribune SHOULD use the word "terrorist' when referring to Palestinian suicide bombers. Here's Minneapolis attorney Mark Rotenberg.
April 2, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Steve Minn, former Minneapolis City Council member, about R.T. Rybak’s upcoming first State of the City address. It’s been three months since Rybak took office. After campaigning on issues like affordable housing, and restoring trust in City Hall, Rybak has had to handle a series of high-profile events, in addition to focusing on his stated agenda.
April 1, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minnesota Public Radio has announced plans to expand its programming by creating a third statewide network to compliment its existing news and music channels. The new network will be all silent…and in stereo!