February 14, 2002 - The U-S House voted early this morning to pass what could become the first significant reform of the campaign finance system in more than 25 years. The Shays-Meehan bill bans unregulated donations to national parties, but it does allow contributions to state and local parties, in amounts up to ten-thousand dollars. The Senate passed nearly identical legislation last year and now will vote on whether to send the bill directly to President Bush for his signature. Minnesota Congressman Jim Ramstad was one of 41 Republicans who broke rank with party leadership and voted for the bill. He says campaign finance reform is long overdue:
February 14, 2002 - The U-S House voted early this morning to pass what could become the first significant reform of the campaign finance system in more than 25 years. The Shays-Meehan bill bans unregulated donations to national parties, but it does allow contributions to state and local parties, in amounts up to ten-thousand dollars. The Senate passed nearly identical legislation last year and now will vote on whether to send the bill directly to President Bush for his signature. Minnesota Congressman Jim Ramstad was one of 41 Republicans who broke rank with party leadership and voted for the bill. He says campaign finance reform is long overdue:
February 13, 2002 - Car theft in Saint Paul increased more than 17 percent last year, according the Saint Paul Police Department. That's compared to a five percent increase in Minneapolis. Saint Paul Police Commander Tim Lynch oversees the Crimes Against Property Unit for the department. He says auto theft tends to increase in a down economy. But he says nearly half of the car thefts in the city could have been prevented if the owners had removed the keys from their car.
February 12, 2002 - The U-S Women's hockey team crushed Germany today ten - nothing in its first Olympic game. The United States has beaten the Germans all six times they have played, outscoring them 69-3. The U-S team includes three Minnesotans- high schooler Natalie Darwitz, Krissy Wendell and Olympic veteran Jenny Potter. Hockey analyst Ross Bernstein says the Minnesota contingent had a great showing today:
February 5, 2002 - Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced today he's dropping plans to contract two major league teams this year. Yesterday, the Minnesota Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal of an injunction that forces the Twins to honor their Metrodome lease. Selig's announcement comes just nine days before the start of spring training. He is vowing to press forward with contraction for 2003. Baseball author and analyst Gary Gillette says Seligs announcment is no surprise:
February 4, 2002 - The Minnesota Supreme Court has all but ended major league baseball's plans to eliminate two teams before this season. The court today refused to consider an appeal of an injunction that forces the Minnesota Twins to fulfill their Metrodome lease this year. The high court's action means an injunction issued by a Hennepin County judge in November will stand - barring intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court, which is unlikely. Twins president Jerry Bell says a cheer went up among Twins employees who can now look forward to the season. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham that it looks very likely that the league can't proceed with contraction.
January 30, 2002 - Mee Moua made history last night when the voters on St. Paul's East Side elected her to the state Senate. Moua is the first Hmong-American in the country to win a seat in a state legislature. Florida represenative Phillip Brutus understands well the excitement surrounding Moua's victory. In 2000, the Democrat received similar attention when he became the first Haitian elected to the Florida state Legislature. Brutus says his election has meant a lot to the Haitian community:
January 18, 2002 - The workers laid off this week from Fingerhut and 3-M may not get much help from the state when it comes to retraining and help finding a new job. Paul Moe is the head of the Dislocated Worker program. He says the program is underfunded and running out of money:
January 17, 2002 - Four-hundred hats, neck gaitors and ear warmers from Ely-based Wintergreen Designs are on their way to Ground Zero in New York City. Ground Zero coordinators contacted Susan Schurke and asked if her company could make and donate the items to help keep emergency workers warm. Schurke says her company closed down its regular production to complete the order...
January 15, 2002 - University of Minnesota officials are apologizing today for a breach of patient confidentiality. University of Minnesota researchers mistakenly revealed the names of deceased organ donors to 410 patients who received kidneys. Organ donor names are supposed to be kept secret from the people who receive those organs. University officials say the donors were identified because of a glitch in a computer-generated letter sent to recipients participating in a long-term study. Jeffery Kahn is the director of the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics. He says the names of donors are kept private to protect all of the individuals involved: