January 29, 1997 - The ANTI-smoking lobby at the state capitol believes THIS is the year to get the support needed to pass a bill designed to help keep cigarettes out of the hands of children. The bill gets a hearing tomorrow (today-thurs) in the House Commerce Committee. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports from the capitol: The bill establishes a system of licensing and compliance checks for retailers who sell tobacco and it provides for PENALITIES for stoes which sell tobacco to minors. The bill ALSO prohibits self-service tobacco displays in places accessible to minors. Under the legislation cities would not be preempted from passing local ordinances that are even MORE restrictive than state law.
January 28, 1997 - DFL Senator, and Attorney General candidate, Ember Reichgott Junge is proposing legislation this session that takes on the alcohol bottling and packaging industry. Her goal is to reduce the sale of alcohol products SHE says are packaged with under-age drinkers in mind. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports from the capitol: Walk into most ANY liquor store and you'll notice small vials or cups of sweet-tasting alcohol drinks for sale....often times, they're displayed right at the check-out counter. They're eye-catching NOT because they're bottles of fine wine or aged scotch...they attract attention because they're brightly colored drinks in hues of yellow, orange and blue with names like, "Monkey Bite," "Yellin Melon Balls" and "Oatmeal Cookie." Flavors range
January 27, 1997 - State lawmakers are getting involved in snowmobile safety issues after the deaths of more than two dozen people this winter. A House Committee has heard testimony from D-N-R officials and leaders of the Minnesota United Snowmobile Association who say driver safety and trail QUALITY are two inextricably linked issues. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports from the capitol. Officials say the deaths this year are not an anomoly, but are part of a rising toll among snowmobilers over the last ten years. WHY? there are a handful of reasons. First, there's been a 35-percent increase in ridership since 1990 alone. New technology and design has led to bigger, faster and BE
January 23, 1997 - Governor Arne Carlson laid out his Budget plan, in a presentation at the Minnesota World Trade Center downtown St. Paul. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, it includes more than 500-million dollars in tax cuts, and significant increases in education and welfare reform: There were no big surprises in the Governor's 20-plus Billion dollar budget...but it's the DETAILS that are most telling both FISCALLY and POLICY WISE! First, the Governor is calling for 535-million in tax cuts Bite: the federal changes 38 secs 0295 ALSO part of the plan, is an eleven and a half percent increase in total education spending over the previous biennium. This
January 22, 1997 - A welfare program geared at putting people to work has received early high marks. A state audit of the Minnesota Family Investment Program indicates that families in the program are escaping poverty faster than those who rely on A-F-D-C. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports from the capitol.
January 22, 1997 - Many state lawmakers spent a day away from the capitol to gain a closer look at the new federal welfare law and learn the effect on Minnesotans. State Welfare reform is the next step and as Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, lawmakers, policy analysts and local officials are beginning to see just how far-reaching the changes will be.
January 21, 1997 - A welfare program geared at putting people to work has received early high marks. A state audit of the Minnesota Family Investment Program indicates that families in the program are escaping poverty faster than those who rely on A-F-D-C. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports from the capitol.
January 16, 1997 - Governor Arne Carlson delivered his annual "state of the state address" to a joint convention of the legislature. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, the Governor made his first DIRECT pitch for funding a new baseball stadium and hammered familiar themes of his administration's policies: The annual State of the State Address is a Governor's time to take center stage and be his or her persuasive BEST. THIS year, the governor had reason to sound fairly upbeat. The state is enjoying a projected surplus of 1.4-BILLION dollars, unemployment is low and job creation is ahead of the national average. Another factor leading to the Governor's optimism is the promise by state lawmakers to work harder than ever to be bi-partisan and civil when it comes to doing the state's business.
January 16, 1997 - Midday features live coverage of Governor Arne Carlson's State of the State address. He speaks in the Minnesota House Chamber well over an hour. Highlights of speech include a state disaster fund, property tax reform, crime control, welfare reform, arts funding, and Twins stadium.
January 14, 1997 - A new report by the state Department of Economic Security sheds a positive light on job prospects for welfare Recipients who'll SOON be required to seek work. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: The report says Minnesota's favorable economy will benefit those on A-F-D-C, because as they move from welfare to WORK under new guidelines of federal reform, they'll find more OPEN doors than closed ones. The report says the influx of some 15 thousand welfare recipients into the job market this year ALONE, will have minimal affect on the job opportunities for other job seekers or on the level of COMPETITION for jobs.