MPR Economic Reporter Chris Farrell and Augsburg U prof Jeanne Boeh give us their take on Friday's weak employment figures.
It's another in our series of summertime money chats with financial guru Nathan Dungan. This week's topic explores whether Minnesota students should be required to take a finance class in high school. Weigh in with your own opinion at 651-229-1430.
It's our summertime series of reports in which we look at the ways that people spend and save money. Financial expert Nathan Dungan explains our approach to the series and hands out the first of his homework assignments.
Download the Money Temperament worksheet here. This file is an Acrobat PDF - you will need the free Acrobat Reader to view and print it.
Senate leaders Larry Pogemiller and Dave Senjem join us live with a preview of the session's final days...and nights.
Friday, April 24, 2009 - 1:30 pm
As the Great Lakes lawmaker Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) had some fun with Minority Leader Seifert's amendment for "no taxpayer support for pirate lovers and terrorists." Huntley offered his faux amendment to "protect the Great Lakes from pirates" then went on to define pirates as people who say "arrgh" and wear "puffy shirts." He then withdrew his amendment while wearing a play pirate hat and pretending to have a severed arm. Lawmakers are getting punching after many long days on the floor.
Rep. Seifert didn't think it was funny saying "this is serious, not a joke." This, moments after House Speaker Kelliher gave Seifert a birthday present of a pirate hat and swords (plastic). Seifert says Omar Jamal from the Somali Justice Center was aiding Wali-i-Musi the only pirate to survive the recent taking of an American ship captain. Seifert added "taxpayers shouldn't be supporting those who support and defend people who attack Americans." The amendment wasn't allowed.
Numbers released Friday show that Twin Cities home sales are up by 21 percent from the same time last year, but prices are down by about 23 percent. Rae Jean Malone with the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors joins us to explain.
The budget and bonding are at the heart of Mary's news-of-the-week, legislators from northwestern Minnesota assess the impact of the flooding, and Finance Commissioner Tom Hanson discusses the distribution of federal stimulus money.
The governor meets with the Republican caucus, state bonding bill moves to the floor with some questions about flood funding, and the tax reform commission prompts an argument about business taxes.
The water is receding, businesses and roads are reopening, but the impact on communities will remain for weeks and months to come. Mary visits with lawmakers from the affected region to get their takes.
Hibbing is featured in this black and white clip from the '50s.
The Minnesota National Guard's Red Bull unit prepares of deployment. Segments of a report we are preparing for Friday's Almanac.
Finance Commissioner Tom Hanson helps explain what the federal stimulus money may mean for the state budget.
Monday, March 30, 2009 - 4:44 pm
The House DFL unveils its bonding bill, House Democrats want to change the unemployment rate, and a Senate committee considers free fishing for people 90 and over.
House Democrats introduce a plan to let counties raise taxes to lessen the impact of state budget cuts, the Senate passes booster seat requirements, the Family Council is concerned with anti-bullying legislation, and environmentalists ask the governor to get green jobs going.
