December 22, 2003 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Eddie Roth, an editorial writer for the Dayton Daily News, about his take on Dayton Police Chief William McManus. At a committee meeting today, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak is expected to officially nominate Dayton, Ohio Police Chief William McManus as his pick to be the city's next police chief. McManus will need to be confirmed by the Minneapolis City Council. Eddie Roth discusses impact of McManus’s two year tenure in Dayton.
January 2, 2004 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson a day before he leaves his position. Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson's contract expires tomorrow, after a nine-year tenure. When he took over the police department, crime was high, and some people started calling the city Murderapolis. But Olson brought a new approach to crime fighting, including an initiative called CODEFOR, which uses computers to track problems around the city in “real time" and crime went down under his watch. More recently, the department finalized a mediation agreement with parts of the community that's expected to address allegations of police misconduct, use of deadly force and other issues. During his time, Olson even survived Mayor R.T. Rybak's attempt to buy out his contract two years early. Rybak has recently named Bill McManus, Police Chief in Dayton, Ohio, to take over for Olson later this month, if McManus gets the necessary votes on the city council. Chief Olson is going to stay on the job for a while to ensure a smooth transition. As his time as Minneapolis Police Chief ends, Olson says it's still a tough job.
January 7, 2004 - Mayor R.T. Rybak's pick for police chief, William McManus, met with residents at a south Minneapolis community center last night. The mayor's office organized the meeting in anticipation of two key council actions today. With the full council vote a week and a half away, Rybak is applying pressure on those council members who are still not supporting McManus.
January 16, 2004 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on stadium discussions in the Twin Cities. More than two dozen cities, counties, and private citizens have pitched their ballpark solutions to Governor Tim Pawlenty's Stadium Screening Committee. The governor solicited outside input to help him decide what role, if any, the state might play in financing new facilities for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. The plans cover a range of sites sprinkled across the metropolitan area and offer funding options from local taxes to state dollars to casino revenues.
February 23, 2004 - Midday presents former President Jimmy Carter speaking at the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum at St. Olaf College in Northfield. Carter gives the keynote address and says Americans aren't doing enough to help people in developing countries.
February 24, 2004 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Kevin Odegard, a Minneapolis musician involved in the South Minneapolis re-recording session of Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks” album. Odegard discusses the experience and book on the subject, titled “A Simple Twist of Fate.” Segment includes music clips.
March 9, 2004 - Midday presents a report and conversation regarding Minnesota lawmaker’s debate of a bill that could lead to a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The constitution would state: "Only the union of one man and one woman will be recognized as a marriage in Minnesota."
March 15, 2004 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Bill Banfield, St. Thomas music professor, about the induction of Prince Rogers Nelson into the Rock Hall of Fame. Banfield breaks down many of the elements that make Prince a musical genius in the composition and performance.
March 25, 2004 - Midday presents excerpts from debate on bill to amend the constitution to define marriage. On March 24th, the Minnesota State House voted on a proposal that would let voters decide if the Minnesota constitution should ban same-sex marriage. The vote was 88-44 in favor of proposal.
March 25, 2004 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that the Minnesota State House passed a measure by 88-44 that would put a constitutional amendment question on the ballot in November 2004. It goes next to a Senate committee for vote, where it may be defeated.