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 Minnesota
Tuesday, Feb. 23
St. Paul - The total ban on lobbyist gifts to lawmakers headed for changes in the Senate, as the ban's supporter agreed to relax the law. The ban prohibits legislators and other elected officials from accepting anything of value from a lobbyist. Sen. John Marty agreed to a $5 cap on refreshments and some mileage reimbursement.
Monday, Feb. 22
St. Paul - Some farmers with planting season just three months away are being required to put up land or equipment as collateral for loans by lenders who fear the farm crisis will result in unpaid debts. Not since the mid-1980s have lenders had such struggles with farmers' balance sheets to rationalize lending money to them.
Friday, Feb. 19
St. Paul - After hearing from the parents of a man who was killed during a Minneapolis police car chase, the House Crime Prevention Committee OK'd a bill to require more police training. Steven Winkel died several days after a police car rammed his pickup truck in November while pursuing a burglary suspect in another vehicle. Passenger Jeff Carlson also died from crash injuries.
Thursday, Feb. 18
St. Paul - The state needs 18 new district court judges to keep up with a burgeoning caseload. State Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz noted that the judicial caseload increased 41%, an additional 62,000 cases, between 1988-1998. The number of judges increased 11% to 254.
Wednesday, Feb. 17
St. Paul - The state could get about $3.2 million in federal funds if lawmakers lower the state's drunken-driving threshold from 0.10% to 0.08%. Similar bills failed in 1997 and 1998. But Sen. Leo Foley said this year might be different because of the federal money.
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