December 4, 2003 - Another day has passed without a sign of Dru Sjodin, the 22-year-old college student who went missing last month after her shift at a Grand Forks shopping mall. The man charged with kidnapping made his first appearance in a North Dakota courtroom this afternoon. A judge set bail for Alfonso Rodriguez Junior at $5 million dollars. Rodriguez entered no plea, but requested to remain in jail, for his own safety. Rodriguez is a convicted rapist who was released by Minnesota authorities last May even though he was rated a level three sex offender -- the category deemed the highest risk to reoffend. His arrest in the Sjodin disappearance has prompted the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Corrections order her department to refer all level three sex offenders to county attorneys for civil commitment. Until now, officials with the Corrections Department have conducted interviews and psychiatric evaluations of all level three sex offenders. The department would then recommend civil commitment for the offenders judged most likely to commit another sex crime. Critics say the policy shift is shortsighted and will place an undue burden on county attorneys and the courts. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
November 28, 2003 - Shoppers flooded shops and malls today , the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Retailers traditionally rely on holiday and year-end sales to offset slower sales in the remainder of the year. They're hoping that shoppers spend more than they did during the last holiday season. But shoppers remain cautious about the economy and are shopping for bargains. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports
November 27, 2003 - Each day, thousands of Minnesotans go hungry. And their numbers are growing. Officials at area food shelves say there are more hungry people this year than last. They also say individual and corporate donations are not keeping up with the increased demand. The squeeze is causing many food shelves to run a deficit and it's forcing area food banks to limit their donations. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports. <Marty Mumma and Julie Kelly take a morning stroll on Thanksgiving morning. The two women are making the rounds in the Mall of America for this year's Hunger Walk. Mumma, of Eagan, and Kelly of Minneapolis are just two of the three thousand people who are walking past the closed stores of Bed Bath and Beyond, Victoria's Secret and Sam Goody to raise money for Minnesota's six area food banks. Mumma and Kelly say they're taking part in the Hunger Walk to help the less fortunate.
November 24, 2003 - The prescription drug benefit in the Medicare bill under debate in the U.S. Senate is getting a mixed reaction from Minnesota seniors. Supporters say the bill would finally provide a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries, something that's been missing from the program since it was started in 1965. Opponents of the 400 billion dollar bill say the bill benefits drug and insurance companies, but does little to lower the overall cost of drugs. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
November 21, 2003 - Minnesotans throughout the state are bracing for the first major snowstorm of the season. And like any major storm, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is urging motorists to use extreme caution when traveling. But a news release issued by MnDOT today also says travelers may notice fewer snow plows on the roads due to reduced overtime costs and staffing changes. The news releases were sent by district engineers in several rural parts of the state. House and Senate DFLers say the changes are a result of budget cuts, another example, they say of how the state's budget cuts are affecting Minnesotans. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
November 17, 2003 - Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch was in Hennpin County District Court this morning to ask a judge to force the drug company GlaxoSmithKline to produce documents related to sales in Canada. Hatch is conducting an investigation into whether Glaxo and other drug companies are conspiring to limit drug sales to Canada in retaliation for cross-border drug sales. Many Canadian mail order and internet pharmacies are profiting by selling less expensive, price-controlled prescription drugs to Americans. Hatch says he wants Glaxo to turn over any documents that exist in Canada and England, where the company is based. Glaxo attorneys say Hatch is overstepping his authority. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
October 30, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty said today (THURSDAY) that he'll encourage the Legislature to pass a bill next session that would lower the legal blood alcohol limit from point one zero to point zero-eight. Pawlenty says lowering the legal limit will reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads. The state will also receive millions of dollars in federal highway money that was only going to states that have the point-zero-eight standard. The Legislature failed to pass the bill in previous sessions. Opponents argue the lower limit could hurt business for bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
October 28, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty's task force on addressing rising health care costs held its first meeting yesterday. Pawlenty wants the 18-member group to present ideas to him before the Legislature begins its work in February. The governor and others are concerned Minnesotans won't be able to afford continuing double digit increases in health insurance premiums. The difficulties with Pawlenty's challenge were evident during the committee's first meeting and some in the group worry that they might not meet Governor Pawlenty's January deadline. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
October 24, 2003 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is backing off reports that it doesn't plan to sue any cities and states that set up plans to import prescription drugs from foreign countries. The report first appeared this morning (Fri) in the Boston Globe and was inititally hailed by officials from Minnesota and other places that have prescription importation plans in the works. By this afternoon, though, the FDA would only say it won't consider any legal action until plans for importation are in place. Minnesota's human services commissioner says the state intends to move forward with the plan no matter what the FDA does. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
October 16, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty announced a plan today that would make it easier for Minnesotans to buy lower priced prescription drugs from Canada. Pawlenty wants the state to create a website that lists Canadian pharmacies that meet state standards for safety. He's also asking state officials to look at importing foreign-made, government-approved drugs for Minnesotans. Critics say the plan isn't safe for consumers and could endanger the economic health of pharmacies across Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.