April 25, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that the Minnesota Senate passed a bill that would require students to recite the pledge of allegiance in school at least once a week. Supporters say the bill would help teach patriotism to children, but opponents say the state shouldn't force students to recite the pledge.
April 26, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Pastor Anita Hill about the year since being ordained by St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church. Hill is a lesbian woman in a committed relationship, and that puts the church out of line with the ELCA. Reverend Hill has continued ministering to her congregation despite the debate around her ordination.
June 1, 2002 - An American RadioWorks special report presents the documentary “Fast Food and Animal Rights: McDonald's New Farm,” which looks at how McDonald’s has launched the first campaign of its kind to pressure slaughterhouses that provide their meat to dispatch the animals more humanely…and executives say they couldn't have done it without Temple Grandin.
June 11, 2002 - American RadioWorks presents a documentary short “Kay Fulton’s Diary.” Fulton began this intimate diary of a sister who loses a brother to terrorism in the weeks leading up to the subesquent execution of terrorist.
June 17, 2002 - MPR’s Jeff Horwich reports on soccer culture in St. Cloud, where sport and community are inseparable for ethnic teams. Immigrants who've come to Minnesota have brought their favorite game along with them.
June 25, 2002 - State climatologist Bruce Watson explains the concept of wet-dry cycle and how recent heavy rains are part of a long term weather cycle. 8 inches of rain fell in the metro area on the night of June 24, 2002. Watson says the month ranks among the top ten soggiest on record.
July 15, 2002 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews Minnesota author Brian Malloy about his debut novel "The Year of Ice," which is set in the Twin Cities in 1978. The story revolves around 17-year-old Kevin Doyle, a boy struggling with the death of his mother, his isolation from his father, and coming to terms with his sexuality.
August 14, 2002 - It's tough to break into farming nowadays, and even tougher if you're an immigrant. MPR’s Rob Schmitz reports on Minnesota Food Association, which assists immigrant farmers in areas like production techniques, marketing, and management skills. Unfortunately, federal budget cuts have had a negative impact on program.
August 15, 2002 - In Fairbault, Gregg Bongard, a U.S. Department of Agriculture employee, is making a special effort to reach out to Minnesota's growing immigrant population. In the second part of his series on immigrant farmers, MPR’s Rob Schmitz reports that Bongard thinks he's discovered a new approach to farming that could change the face of agriculture in the United States.
August 21, 2002 - MPR’s Marissa Helms reports that Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood is home to a growing international community. Though the area grew by just one percent over the past 10 years, U.S. census figures show a significant quadrupling of immigrant populations.