| 05/17/2008 - OPTIMISM AT THE STATE CAPITOL |
| Minnesota News Network |
| The DFL leaders of the Minnesota House and Senate are predicting they will be able to finish their work at the State Capitol today or tomorrow. The legislative leaders and Governor Pawlenty are still working to hammer out an agreement on a budget balancing plan, but they have reported making progress and the lawmakers are indicating they are very close to a deal on erasing the state's $936-million dollar projected budget deficit. The 2008 session must adjourn on Monday, but Sunday is the last day the lawmakers can act on bills. |
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| 05/17/2008 - TRANSPORTATION POLICY BILL SENT TO GOVERNOR |
| Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS |
| The chair of the State Senate Transportation Committee says he's optimistic the governor will sign a transportation policy bill that cleared the Senate and House yesterday. The measure creates a graduated provisional drivers license for teenagers that restricts the hours they can drive and the number of passengers they can have with them, but the bill does not make seatbelt law violations a primary offense. |
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| 05/17/2008 - LAWMAKERS MAY CONSIDER ANOTHER MINIMUM WAGE BILL |
| Minnesota News Network |
| Legislative leaders say they may try to pass another minimum wage bill before Monday's adjournment deadline. The governor earlier vetoed a bill that would have ramped up the state's minimum wage to $7.75 an hour by next summer, which would have been 50-cents above a planned increase in the federal minimum wage. The DFL lawmakers say they may seek passage of a smaller hike in the state's minimum wage, but are not likely to meet the governor's demand for a provision that would allow employers to pay a lower wage to workers who receive tips. |
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| 05/17/2008 - ROCHESTER WOMAN SENTENCED IN WINONA ROBBERY CASE |
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| A Rochester woman has been sentenced to 10-years probation for lying to police investigating an attempted armed robbery in Winona last year. 37-year-old Susan Leathes was charged because she misled police after she administered first aid to her boyfriend, who was shot by the clerk at a Winona liquor store during a botched hold-up. Leathes earlier pleaded guilty to a felony count of aiding an offender. Her boyfriend, 40-year-old Andre Jones, is serving a 7 1/2 year prison sentence for an aggravated robbery conviction in the case. |
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| 05/17/2008 - FATAL CRASHES ON I-94 IN THE TWIN CITIES |
| Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS |
| There were two fatal traffic crashes in the Twin Cities last night and early today. The first occurred around 10pm on I-94 when a car, traveling at a high rate of speed, crashed into the back of another car and then rolled. One person was killed and two other people suffered critical injuries in the wreck. The other crash was reported about 2am on I-94 and took the life of a 20-year-old woman from Plymouth. The State Patrol says the young woman was driving a car that crashed into a median divider. |
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| 05/17/2008 - HISTORIC FLY-OVER AT STATE CAPITOL |
| Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS |
| Minnesota's sesquicentennial celebration continues this weekend. The list of events includes a fly-over of the State Capitol involving over 25 vintage aircraft, including a number of World War 2 era warbirds. That will be followed by the First Day Issue Ceremony of the Minnesota Statehood Commemoration Stamp at the State Capitol. |
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| 05/17/2008 - GRADUATION DAY FOR MAYO MEDICAL AND GRADUATE SCHOOLS |
| Andy Brownell KROC-AM NEWS |
| The Mayo Graduate School and Mayo Medical School hold a joint commencement ceremony this morning at the Mayo Civic Center. 85 physicians and scientists received their degrees. Mayo Clinic Trustee James Barksdale delivered the commencement address. He has held a number of executive positions with major U.S. Corporations, including CEO of Netscape. |
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| 05/16/2008 - BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE |
| MetroSource |
| Negotiations continue at the State Capitol as lawmakers and the governor scramble to come up with a budget agreement before Monday's adjournment deadline. The two sides are struggling to close a projected $935-million dollar budget deficit for the current biennium. Reports indicate they have come to agreement on over $350 million dollars in spending reductions and the DFL leaders have agreed to a 3.9-percent cap on property tax increases. The governor and the legislative leaders are still discussing Pawlenty's push for another $150-million dollars in cuts as well as an increase in local government aid to cities and counties proposed by the House and Senate leadership. |
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| 05/16/2008 - BILL CREATING HEALTH INSURANCE POOL FOR TEACHERS SENT TO GOVERNOR |
| MetroSource |
| The legislature has sent the governor a bill that would create a statewide health insurance pool for public school employees. It would offer six coverage plans to eligible employees and would mandate the participation of all of the state's school districts. Some larger districts have expressed concerns that it could actually increase their insurance costs. Governor Pawlenty vetoed a similar bill last year. |
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| 05/16/2008 - FIRING OF MNDOT OFFICIAL WAS JUSTIFIED |
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| An arbitrator has rejected an appeal filed by a former Minnesota Department of Transportation official, who lost her job over a controversy connected to the 35W bridge collapse last August. Sonia Pitt came under fire because she was on the east coast for a conference when the bridge failed, but didn't return to Minnesota for another two-weeks. She was fired for unprofessional conduct involving thousands of dollars in unauthorized travel expenses. The arbitrator today ruled her termination was justified.
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| 05/16/2008 - NAME OF CONSTRUCTION ZONE VICTIM RELEASED |
| Kim David/KROC AM News |
| A Stewartville man was killed yesterday while working as a flagman at a road construction project in the Twin Cities area. The victim has been identified as 47-year old Leo Kuisle. The State Patrol says Kuisle was hit by an SUV driven by a 73-year old man. The accident happened near Chaska.
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| 05/16/2008 - FLIGHT ATTENDANT STARTED FIRE |
| Minnesota News Network |
| A flight attendant on a Compass Airlines plane that made an emergency landing in Fargo last week was upset about being assigned to the route - so he started a fire in the bathroom. That forced the pilot to make the unscheduled stop, disrupting the flight and scaring the 72 passengers. 19-year old Eder Rojas of Woodbury is now facing federal prosecution. The plane was on its way to Canada from the Twin Cities. |
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| 05/16/2008 - OVERNIGHT FIRE AT BURNSVILLE APARTMENT COMPLEX |
| Metro News |
| An overnight fire at a Burnsville apartment complex injured at least 3 adults and an infant. The Red Cross is helping at 50 other adults and 15 children find temporary housing. Fire and Police officials rescued several residents who were trapped on 3rd floor balconies. Officials say the building will be closed at least through the weekend because most of the 36 units have water damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. It apparently started in a 3rd floor unit around 12:30 this morning.
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| 05/16/2008 - OWATONNA STUDENTS FINED FOR USING CELLPHONES |
| Minnesota News Network |
| One Minnesota high school is taking extra steps to keep students off their cell phones during school hours. Any student at Owatonna High School caught using a cell phone will have it taken away and will have to pay a fine to get it back. Principal Don Johnson says the fine for the first incident is $5 and $10 for each additional incident. Johnson says the ban is not different that any other rule. Since the beginning of the school year, Owatonna High School has collected $1700 through the cell phone ban. The money will be used to pay for a free school breakfast before the comprehensive assessment tests.
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| 05/16/2008 - WAS WOMAN'S BOYFRIEND WITH HER? |
| Minnesota News Network |
| The woman accused of driving the mini-van that crashed into a school bus in southwestern Minnesota earlier this year was not alone at the time. That's what a federal immigration agent said yesterday during a court hearing involving Olga Franco. The agent said 3 witnesses indicated a man was at the scene of the wreck but his whereabouts are unknown. Franco has insisted her boyfriend was driving the van when it hit the bus. Investigators say the evidence shows Franco was the driver. Four students were killed and several others were hurt in the wreck near Cottonwood |
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