MPR News Features are news segments created for various long-form programming, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, amongst others. Features run the gambit of interviews, reports, profiles, and coverage.
December 30, 1996 - Changes in federal law that take effect January first make it illegal to delay or deny an adoption based on race. Those who lobbied for the change say it will help speed the process of finding permanent homes for black children... by allowing white families to adopt them more easily. Critics say removing race as a factor in adoption is naive and misguided.
December 30, 1996 - A group of volunteers is working to help strengthen the spiritual and cultural foundation of male and female Native American jail inmates in Beltrami County. The group that sponsors the program is called the Northern Minnesota Religious Freedom Council. The volunteers who visit the jail are Native Americans themselves and include spiritual elders, a musician, a chemical dependency counselor and a story teller. The group was founded three years ago and is hoping to expand its program so volunteers can begin programs for Native inmates in neighboring counties.
December 31, 1996 - Officials at the Minnesota department of transportation say they'll fight in both the courts and the U.S congress to see a proposed 60 million dollar bridge built over the Saint Croix River near Stillwater. On Monday, the U.S. park service announced it would block the bridge, using the park service's authority under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
December 31, 1996 - The metal grates were already down this morning on a few restaurants in the basement of Town Square in downtown Saint Paul. The basement of the mall will be made over into state offices, part of a 2-and-a-half year, forty-million dollar makeover of Town Square and The World Trade Center. The Town Square basement wasn't a very glamorous lunchroom, but it was always busy around noon, and provided more than a few livelihoods.
January 1, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger visits Mille Lacs, and reports on the perplexing nature of ice fishing.
January 3, 1997 - Kent Nerburn, "January" and "Benediction" from "A Haunting Reverence."
January 4, 1997 - Faith Sullivan's latest book, "The Empress of One" was born out of frustration and rejection. Her best-selling novel The Cape Ann was printed by a New York publisher. But when Sullivan submitted the sequel to her story, it was roundly rejected by her publisher. That reaction plummented Faith Sullivan into a depression and into a writing block. But the encouragement of local Milkweed Editions publisher--Emilie Buchwald--prompted Sullivan to embark on a new project.
January 9, 1997 - for fri am State Human Services Commissioner David Doth (dawth) has outlined the Department's plans for Welfare Reform legislation this session. Doth says a big emphasis will be placed on putting welfare recipients to WORK: Doth says the Governor is planning to outline his budget priorities for programs that will make it EASIER for people to move off of welfare and into jobs...programs that will likely get more funding include child care, health care and job training. Sun 28-MAY 21:10:58 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
January 10, 1997 - The state's non-profit sector is hoping to gain the ear of state lawmakers this session as they work through welfare reform. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, as services cutbacks occur and restrictions tighten...non-profits are bracing for an even BIGGER role in maintaining the social welfare of the state's people. As the state legislature shapes major policy for the next two years in this budget session, leaders of various non-profit organizations want to be at the table. Various complex issues such as welfare reform affect non-profits since THEY are often on the front line.... providing services as diverse as health CARE, education, transportation and welfare. In the case of WELFARE reform...many non-profits expect to be fulfilling f
January 10, 1997 - Susan Carol Hauser's latest book is titled "Full Moon: Reflections on Turning 50," published by Papier Mache Press.