Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page B1

hh RWBGY X1234567 The latest: Negotiations dragged on among Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders over a global agreement to end the session and craft a new two-year, $35 billion budget. Still to be worked out are budget bills on education, health and human services, transportation and more. Coming up: Optimism reigned that a deal could be struck by to- day. Once it is, frenzied floor action will follow, and today could be the longest day of the session.

Former leader suspended: Former Senate Majority Leader John law license was suspended by the Supreme Court over mishandling of a money. B7 twin cities region STARTRIBUNE.COM/LOCALSATURDAY, MAY 19, 2007 SECTION CAPITOL COUNTDOWN ELIZABETH FLORES A Chinook helicopter carried a T-28 plane in for landing at the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard on Friday. The plane, which was flown to Minnesota by the Pennsylvania Guard, will be placed in the Air Guard Museum. The 133rd Airlift Wing flew the T-28 in the 1950s. Health care expertise lands her a royal title By MAURA LERNER The first hint came in January, when the British Consulate left a cryptic phone message for Sheila Leatherman at her south Minneapolis home.

is either really good or really she remembers telling her family. Turns out, it was even better than she imagined. The British government has awarded her one of its highest honors: the title of Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. CBE, in Royal-speak. Queen Elizabeth II personally approved the award, which was announced Friday, to honor Leatherman for her work advising the British government on how to improve its famed National Health Service.

1 This south Minneapolis British honoree now has something in common with Elton John, J.R.R. Tolkien and Eric Clapton. Honor continues: Only 23 Americans have received the honor since 2001. B5 Special delivery Father is charged in death of toddler By CHAO XIONG Sonja Navarro spread mementos of her 13-month-old daughter across her lap and sofa Friday as tears welled up in her eyes: a lock of chestnut hair tied with a yellow bow, a tiny handprint on white paper next to own inked palm, pictures of the toddler lying still and quiet. The keepsakes of Nevaeh Rae Jones, who called every animal and danced to rap music, were all made Wednesday, the same day doctors said she was brain dead from apparently being shaken.

father, Jamie A. Andrews, 25, of Andover, was charged Friday afternoon with two counts of second- degree murder in her death. 1 Jamie A. Andrews of Andover is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the apparent shaking death. Girl continues: soaked that little girl with my mother says.

B7 Family photo Nevaeh Rae Jones on her first birthday. be a stranger who approaches kids in parks As if there problems enough for contemporary parents, it appears they now have to save their kids from those who would save their kids. A few days ago, former Minneapolis City Council President Jackie Cherryhomes went to the park near her north Minneapolis home to collect her 10-year-old daughter. As she approached Farview Park at the end of the beautiful spring day, she noticed that several children, including her daughter, were in conversation with four adults she recognize. geeky white guys and a Cherryhomes said.

She said the conversation that ensued went something like this: are she asked. from a one said. she asked. te one answered. she asked.

and she was told. doug grow columnist Grow continues: got permits from the Cherryhomes was told. B6 The talks and the clock continue to run at Capitol ByPATRICIA LOPEZ, NORM DRAPER and PAT DOYLE Star Tribune staff writers Negotiations between Gov. Tim Pawlenty and key legislators continued into Friday night over major spending bills on education, economic development, health and social services as time was running short in the legislative session. Yet legislators continued to voice optimism that an overall deal could be struck late Friday night or today.

Still, progress seemed to be slow. revenue is where it was this morning, and the spending is where it was this said Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, chairman of the Senate Taxes Committee, after emerging from a negotiation session with Pawlenty at 7 p.m. While Pawlenty and the leaders would not talk about details, elements of a global deal appeared to involve a small pot of additional revenue that DFLers say could come from reducing tax loopholes and better enforcement. Bakk said the governor was still resisting a DFL push to get what DFLers described as hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue by tightening tax enforcement and closing loopholes for corporations with foreign operations.

not willing to Bakk said. But Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, said negotiators were pretty on bills to fund state government, higher education and economic development, while further apart on a bill for health and human services. Negotiators took a break shortly after 10 p.m. and were expected to meet again in the office an hour later.

1 Budget discussions between Pawlenty and DFL leaders on major spending bills ran into the night. Legislators spoke of optimism. TODAY AT THE LEGISLATURE Session continues: Kelliher says. B7 COMMENTS Contact representative Kate Parry at 612-673-4450 or Jon Stewart cracks up the crowd and himself B2 Two boys hit by gunfire at a St. Paul basketball court B4 Giving to the Uof is for the birds.

givin g.umn.edu Scientists at the University of Minnesota are at the forefront of the race to discover a vaccine to prevent the worldwide spread of bird u. A vaccine could help sa ve human lives all over the world. So every donation you give to the truly does make a difference..