Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page A1

NEWSPAPEROFTHETWINCITIES Tuesday JANUARY 7, 2003 www.startribune.com Metro Edition Please read and recycle Tuesday, January 7, 2003 Copyright 2003 Star Tribune Volume 6 sections NEWS INSIDE Information 612-673-4000 Classifieds 612-673-7000 Circulation 612-673-4343 1-800-775-4344 U.N. inspectors called spies Dropping his recent, more conciliatory tone, Saddam Hussein charged that U.N. weapons inspectors were spying on Iraq and urged Iraqis to prepare for battle. Turn to A4. Weather High: Low: Sunrise: 7:50 Sunset: 4:48 7th day; 358 until B8 2003 BASKETBALL Coaches expect gridlock will continue Sports RACE ISON lucrative morning market is up for grabs Variety SCORES NHL L.A.

3 Wild 2 BIG 10 WOMEN Penn St. 83 Gophers. 53 Saluting spirit, Pawlenty takes helm INSIDE: Hatch lays down the gauntlet as constitutional officers are sworn in. Page B2 Tom Tribune Accompanied by his wife, Mary, and their daughters, Anna and Mara, Tim Pawlenty became governor of Minnesota on Monday. Administering the oath of office at St.

Landmark Center was Kathleen Blatz, chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Carlos Tribune Former Gov. Jesse Ventura waved to the Landmark Center crowd. Richard Tribune The Shoe Tree on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus is particularly noticeable in winter. challenges bring great progress and Minnesota will once again rise to the Gov.

Tim Pawlenty The pairs multiply, but when we ask why, it seems that no one has a clue. Stimulus plan gets more punch By Kevin Diaz and Rob Hotakainen Star Tribune Washington Bureau Correspondents WASHINGTON, D.C. With war in the air, Republicans in control of the House and Senate, and a GOP leadership battle just settled, much of Capitol Hill is looking to the politician most likely to set the agenda for Congress in 2003. The consensus pick: President Bush. As they open the 108th Congress today, federal lawmakers say that the war on terrorism and confrontations with Iraq and North Korea could dominate the attention for the foreseeable future.

The second-most urgent issue on minds is the economy. By Dane Smith Star Tribune Staff Writer Gov. Tim Pawlenty officially took command of state government Monday but promised in a simple and modest inauguration ceremony at the Landmark Center in St. Paul to the best out of and not to impose changes by himself. The background for that pledge is the largest projected budget shortfall in at least two decades, and Pawlenty sought in a brief inaugural address to buoy citizens with the observation that they have always weathered cri- ses and emerged better than ever.

Praising Minnesotans for their ingenuity in coming up with innovations ranging from pacemakers to new iron-ore mining processes to snowmobiles he said that challenges bring great progress, and Minnesota will once again rise to the Pawlenty, a Republican who has promised to erase a projected $4.56 billion budget shortfall without raising taxes, said his job is to tell Minnesotans what to do or how to do CONGRESS continues onA11: War, economy will top agenda of 108th Congress There is an old tree at the that sprouts all manner of shoe Washington Post WASHINGTON, D.C. President Bush will present a $600 billion economic stimulus plan in Chicago today that is far bolder than proposals under consideration only a week ago, hoping to answer Democratic criticism that he has done too little to boost the economy and conservative concern that his new economic team will be overly cautious. The plan would eliminate all taxes paid on corporate dividends paid to shareholders, not just cut them in half, as originally proposed. It would accelerate income tax cuts planned as far ahead as 2006, not just those scheduled for 2004 under current tax law. And it would boost the child tax credit by $400 and accelerate tax relief for married couples.

as 25 people disagree the tall tree has been the target of university shoe- throwers and at least one person who felt the urge to toss a bike off the bridge. especially showy at this time of year, when the naked canopy offers a full view of tattered Nikes, scuffed boots and ragged high-tops swinging from knotted laces in the wind. Rumor has it the shoe tree was started as a sculpture project by an art graduate student. Doubtful, says a professor. it was, it was surreptitious art and not known by the said Wayne Potratz, an art professor who specializes in sculpture.

have the stamp of anyone I remember in the By Mary Jane Smetanka Star Tribune Staff Writer This is the West Bank of the University of Minnesota, so perhaps we should call this a giant objet a living, ever-evolving tribute to human expression, as changeable as the seasons and the thousands of people who pass through campus each day. Nah. call it a scraggly tree full of rotting shoes. Art or junk, the tree near the Washington Avenue Bridge is a landmark. For at least 10 years or maybe as many BUSH continues onA6: PAWLENTY continues onA5 TREE continues onA11: The tree has been described as a landscape challenge.

ALSO INSIDE: NORM COLEMAN was named to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Page A10 AND The new senator sees areas of compromise with Democrats. Page A10 JOHN KLINE AND New congressman says this is a war Congress we are at Page A10 Speeded-up tax cuts, money for states in Bush package INSIDE: Democrats have unveiled a $136 billion economic stimulus package. They say it will create as many as 1 million jobs. A6 advance of tax-reduction plan, economists are debating whether the proposals are prudent.

D1.