Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Directed by Callie Khouri (Ellen Burstyn, Ashley Judd, Sandra Bullock, Ron Eldard, James Garner) PG-13 About 10 minutes into my adventure with the women who call...

Mark Yudof came to the University with a vision. As president of the University, he wanted to improve the campus both externally and internally - to beautify the buildings and surrounding area while improving...

Robert Jones, University vice president for campus life, said the riots in Dinkytown early Sunday morning were an "embarrassment" to the student body but declined to comment on whether police officers...

Sunday morning, the buildings and streets near campus were largely unblemished. A tipped-over trash can, upturned newspaper machine, broken bus bench and shards of glass in the streets were about the only...

Building a stadium for one team can be a complicated process of balancing the players', owners' and fans' needs. But planning a stadium for the Gophers and Vikings, each with very different needs, owns...

Stadiums have been the talk of the town since a possible Major League Baseball contraction first clouded the minds of many Minnesota sports fans late last year. State legislators are hammering out their...

When David Simon was 16, he dreamed about being an attorney like the Mitchell McDeere or Adam Hall characters in John Grisham novels. That ideology changed after he took a postsecondary international relations...

State senators did some fancy footwork Monday to pass a phase two deficit reduction bill without abortion language. The controversial amendment requiring women to wait 24 hours between seeing a doctor...

The new legislative district lines are drawn, leaving many legislators scrambling to acquaint themselves with their new areas and constituents before starting re-election campaigns. Released by the state...

House members rejected the $839 million bonding bill late Thursday after hours of debate focusing not on the $131 million for University projects but on the $9 million North Star Corridor project - a commuter...

As the state legislative session comes to a close, incumbents in the Legislature and their opponents are gearing up for a campaign season boasting 201 open legislative seats. University-area legislators...

It's all quiet on the higher education front this week at the State Capitol, but with a $440 million state deficit to amend, some University bonding projects could be in jeopardy. Legislators will deal...

Minnesota House Republicans laid their blueprints on the table for a state bonding bill, providing $100 million more for higher education than the governor's proposal. House Republican leadership released...

Eden Prairie High School students had the option to take the afternoon off or listen to President George W. Bush speak Monday. Nearly 3,000 of the school's 4,000 students, plus a few thousand more community...

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Many members of the House followed this motto when they voted again Tuesday to override Gov. Jesse Ventura's veto of the operating budget bill proposed last...

Three votes made all the difference in the fight for answers to the $2.3 billion budget deficit. House members were three votes shy of a two-thirds majority necessary to override Gov. Jesse Ventura's veto...

Barricades shot up on the road to solving the state budget deficit at the Capitol on Monday. Shadowed by the release of a gloomy new financial forecast, Gov. Jesse Ventura vetoed the House and Senate's...

College athletes should concentrate more on school and sports and less on the fear of being led astray by sports agents, policy-makers say. Minnesota legislators have introduced a bill to regulate the...

Sen. Deanna Wiener, DFL-Eagan, and Rep. Peggy Leppik, R-Golden Valley, have shaken hands and decided on final cuts for the University. In a private meeting Tuesday, chairwomen Wiener and Leppik, of the...

When Sen. Mee Moua, DFL-St. Paul, asked a throng of young girls and women if this was their first trip to the State Capitol, a frenzy of hands shot into the air. This is something the Minnesota Women's...

Del Hansen always knew college was where he wanted to spend his post-high school years. Military service was something he contemplated but never fully considered because getting an education ranked higher...

From the unfamiliar surroundings to the rising costs of tuition, incoming freshmen already have a lot to worry about when they step on campus each fall. Students statewide might feel their pocketbooks...

State representatives are expected to approve the smallest reduction to the University's operating budget of any of the Capitol's three parties Wednesday. House Higher Education Finance Committee members...

The University's endowment investments were not immune to the chaos and backlash of the Enron debacle, an investment company informed the University Board of Regents on Thursday. The University lost approximately...

The University's capital request is off and running. The Senate Higher Education Budget Division unanimously passed a recommendation to the Capital Investment Committee on Wednesday to approve funding...

While most college students were asleep in their beds, Nate Saete was en route to the Capitol at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday. Along with approximately 100 other Crookston campus students, Saete approached St. Paul...

Amid dissension, the state Senate Education Committee passed a proposal Friday that might save the University $8 million in cuts this legislative session. By the committee's recommendation, the University...

University President Mark Yudof has made his message clear: The University can deal with a 5 percent, $33 million funding cut if it has to, but any more than that will impair the institution from providing...

Twins, Gophers and Vikings fans alike are one step closer to new stadiums after members of the Minnesota Stadium Task Force agreed on the terms of their recommendation for the state Legislature. After...

The intoxicating smell of chemicals used daily in the chemistry and biology labs overwhelms Dennis Abernathy every time he walks into the Pasteur Science Building at Winona State University. Abernathy,...

While most students were getting ready for their second day of spring semester Tuesday night, University alumni, staff and faculty rallied at the Gateway alumni center on their behalf in support of the...

The University could face a 5 percent cut in expected state funding if legislators agree with Gov. Jesse Ventura's answer to the state's expected $1.95 billion deficit. In a session originally slated to...

In an unusual twist, many members of the state House of Representatives might not be able to take advantage of the same-sex domestic partner health benefits they are deciding on for other state employees. The...

Same-sex domestic partners seeking health insurance benefits from the state have cleared their first hurdle in the process of contract ratification. Contracts were passed for the American Federation of...

More than 100 people wearing hard hats and protective glasses gathered in Minneapolis as Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, Rep. Martin Sabo, D-Minn., Gov. Jesse Ventura and other light rail transit supporters...

When Melissa Wenzel first joined the Environmental Studies Club there were three members - the minimum requirement for a student group. Now, five years later, there are 65. Along with the increase in members,...

Andrew Jensen and Scott Heineman waited in eager anticipation outside KB Toys at the Mall of America. Their eyes lit up as they saw the rows of toys they could choose from. "Oh! Transformers," Jensen said...

From the waste materials produced during construction of new buildings to the paper used in the stages of design, the field of architecture has a significant impact on the environment. The University's...

University students fearful of losing their ability to buy cigarettes on campus have just received their pardon from governors. The Twin Cities Student Unions Board of Governors voted Thursday against...

A month ago at a "green" campus conference, Ann Ollila sat and listened to complaints of some students who couldn't find the campus environmental issues they were looking for on the University Web site. She...

The Twin Cities Student Unions will vote Thursday on a ban on all campus tobacco sales. On the eve of the vote, students argued about the consequences of such a ban. Those in favor cited health effects,...

A flurry of heavily bundled students could be found scurrying to classes along snow-lined University streets Monday as the Twin Cities saw its first winter storm of the season. Snowfalls of up to seven...

Each person in the United States, on average, produces 4.3 pounds of waste per day, said Ashok Singh, an associate professor in the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. In Minnesota, the number is even higher. Landfills...

Bryan Donaldson has woken each day for the last two years knowing he has a good job as community affairs assistant with the Minnesota Twins. Come December, Donaldson can expect a permanent job with the...

University students, faculty and staff already have to step outside if they want to grab a smoke. But if two Boynton Health Service committees have their say, on-campus smokers will be sent even farther...

The University's investment returns from its land grant endowment are near the top quarter of 182 colleges and universities around the country, despite seeing lower revenues last year. "The bad news is...

It's not always fun. Sometimes it gets cold and way too quiet. But when Ryan DiBrito hears something after sitting in the woods for hours, he said his adrenaline starts to flow and makes it worth the wait. It's...

Ohio's Oberlin College is looking to become climate neutral by the year 2020. The college already has a building on campus that doesn't discharge any waste water and generates more electricity than it...

Fred Clayton, an owner's representative for Facilities Management, exercises daily. At 52, he is internationally competitive in triathlons and runs around the University three days per week. Clayton is...

It's 8 a.m., and Jon Becker waits patiently at the curb, balancing on crutches as the Paratransit bus rolls up to take him to class. Becker, along with about 25 other students per day, takes advantage...

Each day, Sharriah Buche drives in circles for blocks to find a parking spot in Dinkytown. Sometimes it takes up to a half hour. Other times she can't find a spot and ends up late for class. In the next...

Juan Bates sat in the woods underneath a bridge and quietly listened to the noise of the slave traders overhead. He heard the footsteps, the chains, the dogs barking. He knew he and the rest of the students...

The University Academic Health Center saw its own share of the chaos sweeping the nation when the Minneapolis bomb squad and fire department were called in Tuesday to deal with a suspicious package. The...

The nominations are in. The votes have been tabulated, and the University's Morris campus students have tossed tradition out the window, albeit amid some controversy. For the first time in the history...

After what officials are calling the worst summer for air pollution in recent history, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is searching for solutions. Several days of high ozone levels this summer prompted...

University YMCA volunteers want more buddies, and they're willing to brave the elements to recruit them. Students involved in the "Y" Buddies program, staffed by 22 volunteers, are camping out on Northrop...

The Federal Aviation Administration released further security-enhancement regulations Monday aimed at keeping domestic airports safe. In addition to previous restrictions since the terrorist attacks Sept....

In a major step toward the addition of a new central library in downtown Minneapolis, the Central Library Implementation committee on Friday unanimously recommended Cesar Pelli and Associates to design...

Business was bad enough before Sept. 11, airline and airport officials told state legislators Tuesday. But a subsequent drop in revenue leaves the industry facing its bleakest outlook to date, they said. House...

The nominations are in; the votes have been tabulated. And the University's Morris campus' students have tossed tradition out the window. For the first time in the history of the school, the homecoming...

The Democratic House leadership appointed U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo, D-Minn., along with 24 other Democratic House members, to the Democratic Caucus' new Homeland Security Task Force on Wednesday. The homeland...

The Mall of America has 140 security cameras, 125 security personnel and a 24-hour safety dispatch to protect the thousands of visitors who shop there each day. All of these have been in place since the...

Despite the cold temperatures and the dreary skies Sunday, about 100 people committed themselves to a 28-mile bike ride to see and understand how urban sprawl has affected the Twin Cities The Tour de Sprawl...

With President George W. Bush promising last week a long war against terrorism, students across the country are considering whether they would travel thousands of miles away to fight if called to serve. For...

On any given Gophers football game day, students can be found, awash in maroon and gold, lining up to take the free shuttle to the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. The shuttle, sponsored by the men's...

University students waiting for packages from home might finally get those delayed care packages tomorrow. Slowed mail service is expected to return to normal Monday evening if the Federal Aviation Administration...

Jean Passanante was on her way to what she believed would be an average day at work as a writer for the soap opera "As the World Turns." She had no idea at the time she would become an eyewitness to what...

Ally Carnes, originally from Cape Cod, Mass., understands the weight of recent events more so than many other travelers. Carnes was originally scheduled to be on the flight - from Boston to Los Angeles...

Bus ridership at the University has increased more than 40 percent since the inception of the U-Pass, according to Lori Ann Vicich, Parking and Transportation Services spokeswoman. The pass offers students...

Former Vice President Al Gore spoke on behalf of Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and her mayoral re-election campaign in downtown Minneapolis on Monday in one of his first public speaking appearances since...

In its third ruling on the case, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overruled Wednesday the U.S. District Court's acceptance of the University's most recent appeal in a sexual discrimination lawsuit...

Recreational and professional disc golfers from around the world swarmed to St. Paul's Como Park this weekend for the 2001 Disc Golf World Championships and Flying Disc Festival. The tournament drew an...

Schools in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system are not alone in facing lower-than-expected state allocations. But they are unique in their approach to finding solutions to the shortfalls. MnSCU...

As a lifetime resident of Minneapolis, Marcus Harcus feels he has an obligation to his hometown. He is running for mayor with hopes of making a positive, constructive contribution to the city. To provide...

In the next few years the opportunity to have class held in a wetland will not be uncommon thanks to a collaboration by University students, staff and faculty aimed at restoring and preserving the Sarita...

Firefighters spent an hour and a half battling a blaze on the 13th floor of the old Federal Reserve building in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon. No injuries were reported at the building, which...

Whitney Goodrich works 10 hours per week during the academic school year and 40 hours during the summer. Growing up in Plymouth, Minn., she always had food on the table and a warm bed to sleep in at night. While...

Citing the individual's right to privacy, state District Court Judge Delila Pierce announced her decision Monday to strike down the prohibition of oral and anal sex in Minnesota. The Minnesota Civil Liberties...

With the added strain of high humidity and temperatures consistently above 90 degrees, air pollution in the Twin Cities has reached significantly high levels. These levels haven't been seen here since...

Summer school usually strikes fear into the minds of middle and high school students. This summer, however, close to 200 students at Edison High School in Minneapolis are learning more than they've ever...

Relief seems to be the most common emotion in the wake of the Fairview-University Riverside campus and Fairview-Southdale hospitals' nurses strike, as a contract ratification ended the 22-day walkout Monday. Changes...

The strong scent of incense greets first, but just as quickly takes a back seat to the overpowering visual stimuli Magus Books has to offer. A seemingly endless barrage of posters, candles, books, jewelry,...

Students at all nine public universities in Minnesota might not be getting the education they counted on, according to a study released Thursday by the Minnesota Association of Scholars. The report claims...

The St. Paul campus might see an improvement in its greenhouses by September 2002 due to the Board of Regents' commitment to provide the necessary funds. Last week the Regents proposed to request $18.7...

Navigating the University can be one of the more difficult tasks freshmen have to tackle each fall. Luckily, the University is committed to helping students find their way around quickly and efficiently. Students...

Sore throats, coughs and even the flu seem to run rampant through the halls of every dorm on campus. For this reason, Boynton Health Service is available to serve students and faculty who can't seem to...

Joanie Sutliff and Pauline Poppler have families and enjoy their days off - things that in the nursing profession have become few and far between. This Sunday, however, these striking registered nurses...

University students and faculty will see an increase in bus fares starting July 1 after the Metropolitan Council's approval of the increase Wednesday. The council approved an additional 25 cents to be...

The American Indian Movement organization met with Minneapolis School Board officials Tuesday to talk about and work to combat issues such as low American Indian graduation rates and questionable government...

While area nurses, hospitals and the Minnesota Nursing Association seek a compromise to avoid an impending nurses strike, University staff and students might remain unaffected, regardless of the outcome. Boynton...

The proposed Metro Transit bus fare increase, set to take effect July 1, has now been delayed indefinitely until the state Legislature decides on a budget plan. The Minnesota House of Representatives and...

Residential awareness and understanding combined with learning and fun Saturday when the Minneapolis Public Works department held its first-ever open house at the Currie Maintenance building in downtown...

The leaves are turning color and crepe paper is appearing on Fraternity Row. It's time once again for an age-old American tradition: Homecoming. Homecoming is traditionally the time when alumni return...