Red Rock On Air

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty unveiled his much anticipated budget proposal Tuesday morning. The Governor’s proposed budget is $33.6 billion over the next two years. That is 2.2 percent less than the current budget. Pawlenty proposes cutting $2.5 billion in spending, delay state school funding by $1.3 billion and borrow over $980 million through bonds which the state will pay back from annual funds received from a 1998 tobacco settlement.

Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher:

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House Majority Leader Tony Sertich:

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House Minority Leader Marty Seifert:

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Washington DC – An analysis of the economic recovery bill before Congress concludes the legislation could create or save thousands of jobs in Minnesota and keep unemployment down. The study of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was performed by Mark Zandi, the chief economist of Moody’s Economy.com. Zandi was an economic advisor to former presidential candidate John McCain.

A Coon Rapids man admitted, Monday, to robbing a bank near lake Mille Lacs. James Ardito Jr, 39, confessed to holding up the First National Bank of Deerwood, in Garrison in September of 2007.

A 44-year-old Glenwood city man faces charges of refilling liquor bottles with cheaper alcohol and serving it to patrons at a St. Croix Falls tavern, according to Polk County records. David Kremer is charged with a felony count of giving a fraudulent statement and eight misdemeanor counts of possession of diluted liquor bottles.

The winter weather can cause health concerns when not properly clothed. A local church is doing their part to help keep area residents warm. The Pine City Evangelical Free Church recently opened a “Clothing Shelf.” The shelf provides free coats, scarfs, hats, snowpants, etc. for anyone who needs the clothing. Adrianne Rubineck with the church talks about the clothing shelf

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Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will unveiled his budget Tuesday. The state deficit is $4.8 billion. The governor is vowing not to raise taxes, but rather make a series of cuts. Representatives Tim Faust (DFL-Mora) talks about what he expects from the governor’s budget.

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Every time we get a couple inches of snow, it seems as though all we focus on is how much of a hassle it is to shovel or snow plow our driveways. And for a state that averages over 45 inches of snow each year, it certainly can seem like a very large inconvenience. However we must keep in mind how beneficial snow actually is for our tourism industry.