January 3, 2008 - Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura is raising a few eyebrows with claims in a new book about his dealings the Central Intelligence Agency. The St. Paul Pioneer Press offered a sneak peak today (Thursday) of the forthcoming book, titled "Don't Start the Revolution Without Me." In one excerpt, Ventura describes a post-inaugural meeting with CIA agents. He also claims a CIA operative was on the state payroll. Even a Ventura confidant is questioning the account. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports, the surprising revelations are at least partially true.
January 3, 2008 - A spokesman for the Central Intelligence Agency confirms that agents met with then-Governor Jesse Ventura in 1999. But former Minnesota Senator Dave Durenberger, who spent eight years on the Senate Intelligence Committee, says Ventura's account is hard to believe.
October 25, 2007 - A key state lawmaker says he's troubled by the testimony a Minnesota bridge inspector provided to a Congressional subcommittee in Washington earlier this week. DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich of Chisholm says the inspector's testimony doesn't match the positive spin coming from Minnesota Department of Transportation leadership. Bart Andersen told members of a House Transportation subcommittee that driving over bridges in Minnesota is dangerous because there isn't enough money for proper inspections. Sertich says all Minnesotans needs to hear what Anderson had to say.
October 24, 2007 - A key state lawmaker says he's troubled by the testimony a Minnesota bridge inspector provided to a Congressional subcommittee in Washington earlier this week. DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich of Chisholm says the inspector's testimony doesn't match the positive spin coming from Minnesota Department of Transportation leadership. Bart Andersen told members of a House Transportation subcommittee that driving over bridges in Minnesota is dangerous because there isn't enough money for proper inspections. Sertich says all Minnesotans needs to hear what Anderson had to say.
October 3, 2007 - The legislature's top-ranking Democrat has joined the call for Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau to resign her other job as state transportation commissioner. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher of Minneapolis said today she's concerned about Molnau's ability to run the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Legislators also launched another investigation of the state agency in connection with the 35W bridge collapse. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
September 25, 2007 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says there's been a misunderstanding over the potential impact of the 35W bridge reconstruction on other projects. DFL lawmakers have been warning that other road and bridge work will likely be put on hold so the Minnesota Department of Transportation can pay for the new 35W bridge. The Republican governor says there will be no delays if a legislative panel simply approves MnDOT's request for increased spending authority. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
September 21, 2007 - Another controversy has emerged in connection to the I-35W bridge reconstruction. State transportation officials are asking a special legislative panel for the authority to spend an additional $195 million. That's the amount of emergency money still due from the federal government to help pay for a new bridge. But a key DFL lawmaker accuses the Pawlenty administration of using a backdoor maneuver to avoid a broader debate of transportation funding. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
September 19, 2007 - State officials have named a joint team from Colorado and Seattle as the winning bidder to rebuild the collapsed 35W bridge. The Minnesota Department of Transportation picked Flatiron Constructors and Manson Construction Company today from four bids. Flatiron/Manson won despite submitting the high bid, at nearly 234 million dollars. The team also had the longest timetable for the work, 437 days. MnDOT project manager Jon Chiglo says he's pleased with the choice.
September 19, 2007 - Minnesota Department of Transportation officials picked a joint team from Colorado and Seattle today to build a replacement for the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge. Flatiron Constructors and Manson Construction won the project despite submitting the high bid of $233.7 million. MnDOT will award stipends of $500,000 to each of the three losing bidders to cover the costs or preparing proposals. The original plan called for $300,000 stipends. DFL Representative Jeremy Kalin of Lindstrom says there's been no public accounting of the reason for paying more to the losing bidders.
September 3, 2007 - As Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders still disagree on an agenda for a potential special session, some analysts say the prolonged partisan wrangling could have a political price. The Republican governor wants assurances that DFL lawmakers will keep the focus on emergency needs related to floods and the 35W bridge collapse. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.