July 24, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on the four DFLers seeking to replace retiring fifth district Congressman Martin Sabo. Keith Ellison, State Representative; Ember Reichgott Junge, former state senator; Mike Erlandson, former DFL Party chair; and Paul Ostrow, Minneapolis City Council member, appeared at an event hosted by KFAI Radio and Insight News. With less than two months before the September primary, the four DFLers agreed on several major national issues but tried to differentiate themselves based on their experience. The debate included topics of the war in Iraq, health care and poverty issues.
July 11, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that Ford Bell has dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate. Bell intended to challenge Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in a September primary. But he says difficulty raising money led to his withdrawal. Bell's announcement now clears the way for Klobuchar, the DFL endorsed candidate for Senate, to face Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy.
July 7, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on upcoming DFL battle for congressional seat. Ellison is the DFL-endorsed candidate for Congress in the Fifth Congressional District. Yesterday the former chair of the state DFL Party, Mike Erlandson, filed for the same seat. Erlandson is ignoring his party's endorsement and trying to beat Ellison in the September primary. Erlandson is getting help from his former boss, Congressman Martin Sabo, who is retiring at the end of the year.
July 5, 2006 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says he's sending 200 Minnesota National Guard troops to New Mexico to help patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. Pawlenty says he's activating the troops because the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security issued a request for help. President Bush said in May that he wanted 2,500 National Guard troops in the southwest by June to prevent people from crossing the border illegally, less than half the desired number of troops were in place along the border on June thirtieth. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
June 30, 2006 - The Reverend Jesse Jackson will be in North Minneapolis today to hold a rally for Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. If elected, Ellison would be the first African American Congressman from Minnesota and the first Muslim Congressman in the nation's history. But Ellison's past, in particular his relationship with the group, Nation of Islam, is causing some Jewish activists and others to question whether he's the best candidate.
June 14, 2006 - Minnesota's jobless rate hit a five-a year low in May, providing ammunition for some early salvos in this year's campaign for governor. Governor Pawlenty and the Republican Party are touting the unemployment numbers in the hope of convincing voters that Minnesota is headed in the right direction. DFLers, led by its list of endorsed candidates, criticized the governor's policies during a statewide fly-around today . Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
June 13, 2006 - Minnesota's jobless rate hit a five-a year low in May, providing ammunition for some early salvos in this year's campaign for governor. Governor Pawlenty and the Republican Party are touting the unemployment numbers in the hope of convincing voters that Minnesota is headed in the right direction. DFLers, led by its list of endorsed candidates, criticized the governor's policies during a statewide fly-around today . Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 22, 2006 - MPR's Tom Scheck examines why the Minnesota Twins were finally successful in getting a new ballpark, after being told no so many times. The legislation authorizes public financing for most of the half-billion dollar cost of the stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The House and Senate passed the bill and Pawlenty says he intends to sign it.
May 19, 2006 - State lawmakers will be back at the Capitol today working on getting the major issues resolved before Monday's constitutional deadline to adjourn. Late last night, Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders agreed on a spending plan. They hope the deal sets the course for a smooth ending to the legislative session. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
May 7, 2006 - State Representative Keith Ellison of Minneapolis has won the Democratic endorsement for Congress in Minnesota's Fifth District. Delegates endorsed Ellison to succeed retiring Congressman Martin Sabo, who has held the seat since 1978. If elected, Ellison would be the first African American Congressman in Minnesota history. But the endorsement doesn't guarantee that he'll be DFLer on the November ballot because several Democrats say they'll run in a September primary. MPR’s Tom Scheck reports from DFL convention.