September 20, 2005 - State supreme court justices, attorneys, and social workers from across the country convene in Bloomington for a national summit on how to improve America's child protection systems. Why are the systems perceived to be broken, and how might they be fixed?
September 23, 2005 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews Minnesota author Louise Erdrich about her book “The Painted Drum.” The story is of a New Hampshire woman, an Ojibwe Indian and a Native American drum.
October 6, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on first mayoral debate between candidates Mayor R.T. Rybak and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin since the September 13th primary. The two candidates sparred over city spending, public transportation, and crime. The candidates also fielded questions from residents of the high rises along Cedar Avenue where the debate took place.
October 28, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck summary report on MPR Minneapolis mayoral debate. With less than two weeks before the November 8th election, the two candidates running for mayor of Minneapolis are having some heated exchanges over who's better prepared to lead the city. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin sparred in a debate sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. They discussed issues of crime, city finances, and smoking bans.
October 31, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that a University of Minnesota poll shows Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak leading Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin by nine percentage points in the race for mayor of Minneapolis. Rybak's lead is greater than the poll's margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points. Rybak says the survey proves he's the best candidate to lead the city over the next four years. But McLaughlin says he's encouraged that the mayor has support from less than a majority of those polled.
November 1, 2005 - The death of civil rights icon Rosa Parks has reminded America of the racism in its not-so-distant past. During the days of the Jim Crow South, Minnesota was thought of as an island of tolerance…Was it? Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with W. Harry Davis and Janabelle Taylor, two well-known Black community figures in the Twin Cities.
November 2, 2005 - The Steelworkers Union will support Attorney General Mike Hatch in his race for governor, and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in her run for U.S. Senate. Both candidates were in Duluth to accept the endorsements. Amy Klobuchar's family is from the Iron Range; her grandfather worked in the mines. She says the Steelworkers' endorsement carries weight throughout the state.
November 2, 2005 - The Steelworkers Union is backing Attorney General Mike Hatch in his race for governor, and Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in her run for U.S. Senate.
November 2, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on political spending in last week of Minneapolis mayoral race. With less than a week to go before voters elect the next mayor of Minneapolis, incumbent Mayor R.T. Rybak is leading Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin in fundraising. Rybak has raised nearly three hundred & thirty thousand dollars, thirty-six thousand more than his challenger. McLaughlin... who's also trailing in the polls... is spending his money on television ads that will run between now and election day.
November 9, 2005 - The citizens of Minnesota's two largest cities cast resounding votes in their mayoral elections, sweeping Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak to a second term and choosing Chris Coleman as the next St. Paul Mayor over incumbent Randy Kelly. What will the election mean for the Twin Cities?