April 9, 1998 - The House and Senate will likely take up the proposed bonding bill tonight. The bill totals 999-million-dollars, the largest in state history. The Minneapolis Convention Center is the largest single project in the legislation, at 87-million dollars. Second on the list is money for a new arena in St. Paul, at 65-million dollars. Late-night talks between legislative leaders and Governor Carlson resulted in the 65 million dollar, no-interest loan to St. Paul for a hockey arena in the city. In return, the Governor agreed not to reject the entire bonding bill. Carlson threatened to veto the legislation if lawmakers did not approve money for the new arena. Dick Cohen, chairman of the Senate State Government Finance Committee and one of five senate conferees on the Bonding Conference Committee, says the plan solves several problems surrounding the funding of the arena. | D-CART ITEM: 2414
April 8, 1998 - The adults who supplied alcohol to teenagers during a party on New Year's Eve will not face felony charges. Sixteen-year-old Kevin Brockway died and Mark Roy Adams was seriously injured after they left the party and Brockway crashed the car into a tree on St. Paul's East Side. However, three adults involved with the party could face gross misdemeanor charges. Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner said today there's no felony law that applies to this situation. Ramsey county Attorney Susan Gaertner. Sun 28-MAY 11:39:44 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
April 7, 1998 - The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled protestors do not have the right to demonstrate at the Mall of America. Two years ago the city of Bloomington arrested animal rights protestors for trespassing when they staged an anti-fur protest at the Mall. A lower court had sided with the protestors, but the Appeals court reversed the ruling, saying the mall does not qualify as a public forum for free speech as protected under the Minnesota Constitution. Greg Brooker is an assistant attorney for the City of Bloomington. He says the Appeal's court ruling is an important victory for cities since publicly financed spaces like the mall can still be protected as private property: Sun 28-MAY 11:40:32 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
April 7, 1998 - Feedlots have been among the most contentious issues at the legislature this session, and lawmakers say they need more information before deciding whether to pass a moratorium on new ones. They've asked the legislative auditor to review the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's oversight of feedlots. News reports have raised questions about the make-up of the MPCA, as well as the number of permits that have been granted. Roger Brooks is with the legislative auditor's office. He says of all the issues the legislature works on, only a handful sift to the top and merit this kind of investigation: Roger Brooks is with the legislative auditor's office.
April 7, 1998 - The U-S-S Des Moines might get a home on the North Shore afterall. The town of Two Harbors says if Duluth doesn't want the retired Naval crusier, it'll take it. A month ago, Duluth voters rejected the idea of bringing the Des Moines to their city as the centerpiece of a new state park dedicated to veterans. Two Harbors is twenty miles up the road from Duluth, and supporters say there's room for the Des Moines to dock next to the iron ore docks. Two Harbors Mayor Wayne Sletten says State Senator Doug Johnson came up with the idea: Two Harbors Mayor Wayne Sletten says he hopes the legislature will approve the Des Moines' park during its 1999 session.
April 3, 1998 - Less than a mile from Minnesota Avenue... over near the hospital...there stands a sad and battered yellow victorian house. The railings and bannisters are ripped away...the once-proud tower is cracked and punctured. This is commentator Anne Burkhart's house. She's a retired reporter for the Star Tribune newspaper...and amidst the cleanup Burkhart found time to jot down some of her thoughts about these past five days. We join her in her living room. Anne Burkhart is a retired reporter for the Star Tribune newspaper...and one of the 10-thousand residents here facing the enormous task of restoring their tornado-ravaged town.
March 31, 1998 - Governor Carlson said today he expects Minnesota towns hit by Sunday's tornadoes to qualify for federal aid. Carlson will send a letter requesting federal aid to President Clinton today. He says a preliminary damage estimate could be done Friday. Clean up in those towns continues, and now the cold, rainy weather has officials worried about people getting hypothermia. But the Red Cross is there, providing food and shelter to those who need it. Spokewoman Melanie Rubrecht says two shelters remain open--one in St. Peter and one in Le Center--with about 50 expected to spend tonight at the St. Peter shelter: --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 0482 | TIME: 4:46 | OUTCUE: "...for the rest of us." -----------------------------------------------------
March 30, 1998 - Governor Carlson traveled to Saint Peter today to survey damaged caused by tornadoes yesterday. The Governor says he hopes to have a request for disaster aid to the federal government and state Legislature within a week. Emergency crews are working to restore power and phone service, and Authorities say it may be Friday before some residents of St. Peter have their electrical power back. Bob Julius is with the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency in Rochester, which serves Saint Peter. He says only the most crucial parts of Saint Peter have had the electricity restored.
March 30, 1998 - Phone service is still down in some parts of southern and southwestern Minnesota, and could be unavailable for several days. Mary Hisley is a spokesperson for U-S West. Mary Hisley is with U-S West. She says the company will be making pay phones available to people in the area until the service is back. Sun 28-MAY 11:52:11 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 27, 1998 - The Minnesota Supreme Court has let stand a lower court ruling requiring tobacco companies to turn over more internal documents in the state's tobacco case. The state's high court has given the companies until five p.m. next Wednesday to turn over 39-thousand secret documents to the state's attorneys. Hamline University Law Professor Joseph Daly says big tobacco has just one avenue left for appeal--the U-S Supreme Court: Hamline University Law professor Joseph Daly has been a frequent observer of Minnesota's tobacco trial. Sun 28-MAY 11:53:04 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001