March 19, 2002 - Minnesota's unemployment rate for February edged up slightly compared to January. The jobless rate of 4 point 2 percent is the highest in nearly 6 years. Minnesota non-farm payrolls declined by 13 hundred jobs as well, but state officials say the worst is probably over for Minnesota's job market. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
March 19, 2002 - BENSON: Two Minnesota Congressman have been paired in the same district under a new political map released today. A special state court panel created new political boundaries to reflect population shifts in the last decade after time ran out for legislators to broker a deal. The maps redraw the state's eight Congressional districts and all 201 legislative seats. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo joins us now from the Capitol. Michael, let's start with the two incumbents who are paired up. KHOO: Lorna, first-term Republican Mark Kennedy has been zoned out of the Second District and placed in 4-term DFLer Bill Luther's Sixth District. If both seek re-election, it could mean a face-off. Kennedy could move a few miles south so he'd be back in his old district, although legally he could run in the 2nd without moving. I spoke with the Republican state party spokesman Bill Walsh. He says doing running in the 2nd would put Kennedy in a strong position. WALSH: Carver and Scott County is really his political base and his political home. And those counties are in that new Second District. So that's a possibility for him. I think you're going to see a quick decision out of of Mark. But right now, it's just a little too early to figure out what everyone's going to do.
March 15, 2002 -
January 18, 2002 - Minnesota's dance is strong, but is it healthy?
January 4, 2002 - Artists fighting for money from the Capitol
December 21, 2001 - Examining the health of Minnesota theater.
December 21, 2001 - Health of Minnesota theater is looked at in the next episode.
December 18, 2001 - CUNNINGHAM: The Minnesota Vikings returned to the state Capitol today (TUESDAY) to continue their campaign for a new stadium. The Vikings are seeking a $500 million stadium to be shared with the University of Minnesota Gophers. But the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission is advancing a plan to renovate the Metrodome. The commission -- which owns and operates the facility -- told a tripartisan stadium task force that renovation would be cheaper -- and would solve many of the Vikings' problems in the current 'Dome. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo joins us now. Michael, what does the commission's plan entail? KHOO: Greta, the commission members say they'd like to turn the Metrodome into a football-only stadium. That would mean building a new ballpark for the Twins, and remodeling the facility to fit the needs of the Vikings and the University of Minnesota Gophers. A commission study estimates the cost of renovation at roughly $250 million dollars, or about half the cost of the new stadium the Vikings favor. The team has so far dismissed the renovation plan, but commissioner Richard Jefferson, **a former state legislator,** says it's important to explore all options.
December 13, 2001 - The Minnesota stadium debate took a step back from baseball today to focus on the state's football needs. The Minnesota Vikings and the University of Minnesota appeared before an 18-member stadium task force to outline their facility needs. Last session, the Vikings proposed a new stadium to be shared with the university's Golden Gophers. At the time, the plan seemed to satisfy some lawmakers desire to see a public-private partnership. But the testimony underscored the difficulty of placing two tenants in one facility. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports:
December 7, 2001 -