February 3, 1997 - Today, two D-F-L'ers introduced a bill in the House to license naturopathic physicians--those who use on natural remedies to heal the sick. State Representatives Linda Wejcman and Karen Clark are proposing a number of criteria that a naturopath must meet in order to attain licensure, including a four-year degree. At this point, only six practioners in the state are known to meet the requirements. Helen Healy is a naturopathic practioner in St. Paul. Last year, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice sued her for practicing medicine without a license, and reached a settlement laying out what she could and could not do in her practice. She favors the idea of licensing because it would give some legal protection to naturopaths and significantly expand the care they would be allowed to give. Dr. Paul Sanders is the CEO of the Minnesota Medical Association which opposes the licensing. We invited Healey and Sanders into the studio to lay out the pro's and con's of the proposal. Healy told us licensing would give naturopaths more credibility with patients and in the medical establishment:
January 28, 1997 - Bishop Peter Storey is on the selection committee for South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation commission. He's in the Twin Cities to lecture on South Africa's healing process, and he agrees that momentum is now building in the search for truth. Bishop Peter Storey is on the selection committee for South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation commission. He speaks at 8 tonite at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church at 511 Groveland Avenue in Minneapolis. Tomorrow morning at 9-30, he'll speak at Hamline University; and Thursday evening, he'll be at Luther Seminary at 7-30. Sun 28-MAY 20:56:17 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
January 27, 1997 - Minnesota is looking at an idea to have men register their sexual liaisons. Then, if a baby is produced, a record would exist so men could claim their parental rights. Under the legislation, potential fathers would have from the time of the sexual encounter until 30-days after a child is born to register. Any adoption would then have to have the permission of both the mother and father. DFL State Senator Linda Berglin will sponsor the bill. She says is intended to help prevent the kind of bitter custody battles that have ensued when a birth father comes forward after an adoption has already taken place: | D-CART ITEM: 4174
January 17, 1997 - This Sunday, in the wee hours of the morning, a small knot of people bundled in parkas and boots will gather outside the Saint Paul Pioneer Press office. They're seeking the first edition of the paper. Not for the classifieds, or the news. They want the clue. The first clue in the hunt for the Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt Medallion. For those of you who have never hunted the medallion, it's perhaps impossible to understand this frenzy over a four-thousand dollar prize. It means twelve days of pouring over clues, figuring out riddles and rhymes, and digging through snow in city parks with hundreds of other medallion hunters. 17-year old Chad O'Leary is a devoted medallion hunter. We invited him into our studios to explain what all the fuss is about: --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 1820 | TIME: 5:56 | OUTCUE: "...TRYING TO PARK." ---------------------------------------------------------
January 9, 1997 - Participants in the Voyageurs National Park have met with some degree of success after twenty days of negotiations. Yesterday, the group reached a tentative consensus on many issues, including rules for snowmobiles and floatplanes. We caught up with two of the participants this afternoon during a break in discussions. Paul Stegmeir is a a Twin Cities resident and landowner on Lake Kabetogama (kab-uh-TOH-guh-muh) in Voyageurs. Dave Zentner is the former National President of the Izaak Walton League, an environmental group, and a Duluth resident. Zenter says the group has made progress because both sides have been willing to make compromises, starting with the terms of the debate.
December 16, 1996 - The Minnesota Department of Health says reports of Rohypnol, or "the date rape drug" are still uncommon in Minnesota, but there's concern because the small number here is growing. Hennepin County has seen about a dozen possible cases in the last year -- four in the last month. The drug is usually slipped into a woman's drink leaving her incapacitated and unable to remember what happened. Doctor Linda LeDray, of Hennepin County's Sexual Assault Resource Center, says she suspects incidence of the drug is STILL under-reported.
December 6, 1996 - Negotiations in the federal mediation of the Boundary Waters issue are taking some time off after 14 non-consecutive days of negotiations. After months of discussion it seems there are still large disagreements over basic issues. In fact, one of the participants, Bill Hansen, a second generation canoe outfitter, has proposed just sticking with the status quo.
December 4, 1996 - Sandra Peterson is the president of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers, one of the state's two major teachers' unions. Her reaction to the plan was not favorable.
December 3, 1996 - A judge in Hawaii ruled today that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. An attorney for six gay plaintiffs says the ruling orders state officials to stop denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It's expected to be appealed to Hawaii's Supreme Court. Other states have been awaiting this ruling, since a same-sex marriage performed in Hawaii must be recognized in other states, UNLESS the state has passed a law banning recognition of such unions. Allan Spear is a DFL state Senator from Minneapolis . He wrote the state human rights law that protects gays and lesbians. We asked him whether he's gearing up for a fight at the Minnesota legislature.
October 31, 1996 - With wind chills for Halloween expected to hover near or below zero, Minnesota continues to prove in being the worst place in the world for trick-or-treaters. MPR’s Chris Roberts wondered whether this puts much of a damper on things for kids, so he sought an expert's opinion.