October 25, 2012 - Minnesotans are involved in a passionate debate about marriage during 2012 election season. The two sides began squaring off more than 40 years ago. This project draws from MPR's extensive audio archive to explore the origins of this election day showdown over same-sex marriage.
May 14, 2004 - Midday continues to broadcast live from the State Capitol. Host Gary Eichten and MPR's political editor Mike Mulcahy talk with key lawmakers at the MPR broadcast table. Guests include Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar; Governor Pawlenty's chief of staff, Dan McElroy; Senator Dick Cohen, DFL-St. Paul; Representative Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud; Representative Doug Stang, R-Cold Spring; and Senator Stevey Kelley, DFL-Hopkins.
March 15, 2004 - Legislators have a full range of issues to deal with again this spring. Topics include the bonding bill, the state budget deficit, and a raft of proposed constitutional amendments such as the gay marriage amendment. Not to mention the fallout from the transit strike, health care, education, criminal sentencing, and the stadium. Gary Eichten. House Speaker Steve Sviggum, and Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson discuss issues before the Minnesota State Legislature.
June 6, 2002 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports that members of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission could vote on a proposed settlement with Major League Baseball and the Minnesota Twins. The commission, which owns and operates the Metrodome, filed suit against the two entities after the league announced that it wanted to eliminate two teams. No teams were named, but the Twins were considered a top candidate.
May 8, 2002 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that Governor Ventura and his staff are preparing for the worst. If the government doesn't figure out a budget, then he will do it himself and call the legislature into a special session. He can also call a special session in September, during election months, which some see as a way to make the candidates look bad.
April 25, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that the Minnesota Senate passed a bill that would require students to recite the pledge of allegiance in school at least once a week. Supporters say the bill would help teach patriotism to children, but opponents say the state shouldn't force students to recite the pledge.
April 17, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that budget negotiations proceeded at a snail's pace at the State Capitol. A co-chairman in a joint House-Senate budget balancing conference committee says he sees little need to meet until legislative leadership agrees to spending targets for conference committees. About the only sign of movement came on transportation funding as House Republicans made their first indication they would be open to a gas tax increase.
March 14, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck report that a Senate committee chairman looking into the cost of Governor Ventura's executive protection has postponed hearings originally scheduled. Senator Dean Johnson says he still expects the Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee to take up the issue, but he hasn't decided on a date.
March 14, 2002 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports that a Twins ballpark bill has limped across the finish line in the Senate. It's the first time a stadium bill has succeeded in the House or Senate since 1997. The bill survived several potentially lethal amendments and passed only after lawmakers scaled back a proposed statewide tax on sports memorabilia.
November 29, 2001 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on new task force that will discuss various plans in building a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. Financing options will be the main point of the meeting.