Poll at Fair Shows Support for Gas Tax, Expanded Health Care

During the State Fair that Monday drew to a close, more than 6,000 attendees who visited the Education Building  took the opportunity to participate in an informal, unscientific survey about issues that might possibly come up in the  Minnesota Legislature.…

Special Session or Not? It’s the Big Question

With September beginning and the State Fair ending, the way would seem to be clear for a special session of the state legislature to deal with two issues that came to light last month in…

More Questions than Answers about Special Session?

The Monitor has still not been able to get answers from the governor’s office about the timing or agenda for the propsed special session. Although late September has been mentioned, no specific date has yet been proposed.

Some legislators…

St. Paul Schools Start Program to Close the Academic Gap

As part of the St. Paul public schools Strategic Plan for Continued Excellence, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen recently announced a plan called the Transitions Initiative.

Noting a marked achievement gap between students of color and their white counterparts, the district…

War, Impeachment on the Minds of McCollum’s Constituents

National polling results have shown President George W. Bush’s approval rating to be little more than 30 percent. But if a poll had been taken at U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum’s neighborhood meeting Wednesday night in her St. Paul district…

Rybak Speaks out Against Gun Violence

Speaking at the National Day of Protest Against Illegal Guns event in north Minneapolis yesterday, Minneapolis mayor Mayor R.T. Rybak declared, “There are too many guns in our city, in our state and in our country.”

Out-of-control gun violence in…

Special Session Now a ‘Certainty,’ but Agenda Still Unclear

Andrew Wittenborg, Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Kelliher’s director of public affairs, released this statement to the Minnesota Monitor today on Kelliher’s behalf: “We are working to come to an agreement on a special session agenda, but we are also waiting…

Special Session Likely to Focus on Flood Relief, Taxes, Transportation Issues

With the I-35W bridge collapse and the recent flooding, August has been an eventful month in Minnesota.

Inquiring minds have been asking whether or not Gov. Tim Pawlenty will convene a special session, but until just the last few…

STEM Program Aims to Train Students for High-Tech Careers

If you haven’t heard of the STEM program, you’re not alone.

STEM, the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, is a fairly recent program making its way through schools nationwide, although not all…

School Superintendent Makes No Apology for Her High Expectations

Has the St. Paul public school system finally found stability in the superintendent’s office?

That would appear to be the case. After Pat Harvey resigned the position in 2005, two interim superintendents served the district before Meria Carstarphen took the…