February 20, 1997 - At the Capitol a row is brewing over how much of the Governor's cellular phone records ought to be made public. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.
February 19, 1997 - Minnesota's quarter of a million snowmobilers could pay more for registering their machines and be required to buy a ten dollar permit to ride on state trails. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports the measures passed their first hurdle at the legislature when members of a house committee endorsed them.
February 18, 1997 - On the stroke of midnight January first, the year 2000.there could be the start of a massive failure in Minnesota's computer system. But as MPR's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, state officials are trying to head off the potential disaster.
February 17, 1997 - A state Senate Committee heard testimony from some of the state's top law enforcement officers who favor a bill creating a statewide Gang Strike Force. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.
February 13, 1997 - As many as one-hundred Native Americans and their Tribal leaders from across the state met with state lawmakers (today) at the Capitol. Although it's not unusual for native-specific issues to make their way into state policy...Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports...the day was, nevertheless, a PRECEDENT-SETTING one: Each day there's a house or senate floor session...an invocation by a sworn state chaplain is offered. NEVER before has that chaplain been a native american spiritural leader. That is, until NOW. 58-year old Thomas Stillday Junior has become the Senate's first American Indian Chaplain...he's a spiritual elder from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. After delivering a traditional Indian prayer during a peace pipe ceremony o
February 12, 1997 - A Senate committee has dismised an election challenge by failed state DFL Senate candidate John Derus of Minneapolis. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.
February 10, 1997 - Leaders of the Star Tribune newspaper had their day at the Capitol when they appeared before the Senate Elections Law Committee. They explained how a photograph of failed Minneapolis Senate candidate John Derus appeared next to an article about charity fraud. Derus says the mistake, which was published the day of the primary last September, cost him the election against Senator Linda Higgins. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.
February 7, 1997 - Shelia Wellstone, wife of Minnesota Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone, testified before a state senate committee today. She's calling on lawmakers to temporarily waive welfare work requirements for victims of domestic violence. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen Louise Boothe reports: When lawmakers, social activists and welfare recipients alike talk about the details of federal and state welfare reform.. .they often speak in disheartening tones. But Shelia Wellstone testified, that if they so choose, state lawmakers can find at least ONE glimmer of hope in the federal bill...and they could implement it here in Minnesota. It's in a federal welfare bill amendment championed in Washington by her and her husband, Democrat Senator Paul Wellstone. The provision gives states the
February 5, 1997 - A State Senate panel has approved a bill to allocate 20-million dollars from the General Fund to pay for emergency snow removal. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: Those who testified before the Transportation Budget Division, didn't even have the LANGUAGE to explain the hardships they're living with...the video and the photographs coming out of the regions hardest hit by winters storms say it best. Senate minority leader Dean Johnson says the constituents in his western minnesota district are living under duress:
February 4, 1997 - As some state lawmakers continue the task of drafting language for a state welfare reform bill....OTHERS are hearing from people bracing for the resulting effects. TODAY (THIS week) at the state capitol, parents of disabled children said they need to retain the help they now get from federal supplemental security income...or S-S-I. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: The new federal welfare reform law changes the definition of disability...making it more difficult for certain children to qualify as disabled. The state estimates that up to 32-hundred low-income children in Minnesota with disabilities could lose S-S-I benefits come July first. More EXACT numbers will be known once the federal governm