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.
January 18, 1997 - The big sports story this week was the "kick felt 'round the NBA." The NBA suspended Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman for at least eleven games for kicking a courtside cameraman in this week's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The suspension will cost Rodman about one million dollars in salary and lost incentives. Weekend Edition Sports Commentator Jay Weiner says in Rodman's case the severe punishment may fit the crime.
January 20, 1997 - On this Odd Jobs feature, MPR’s Euan Kerr interviews Steve Sklar, a local throat singer. Sklar specializes in a style of music born on the windy steppes of Mongolia. He describes and performs various traditional styles of throat singing.
January 20, 1997 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire profiles Seed Academy and Harvest Preparatory School, an African American private school in North Minneapolis. The school began in 1985 as a pre-school program in its founders' house. Ten years later there are 300 students enrolled in pre-school through sixth grade.
January 20, 1997 - As urban public schools struggle to increase academic achievement among many poor and minority children, a private school in Minneapolis is succeeding where others have failed. Seed Academy and Harvest Preparatory School began ten years ago as a pre-school program in its founders' house. Today there are 300 students enrolled in pre-school through sixth grade.
January 21, 1997 - A welfare program geared at putting people to work has received early high marks. A state audit of the Minnesota Family Investment Program indicates that families in the program are escaping poverty faster than those who rely on A-F-D-C. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports from the capitol.
January 21, 1997 - Many of the residents forced to move by the closing of a Hopkins mobile home park last fall have come face to face with Minnesota's affordable housing crunch - housing costs are rising faster than a lot of peoples' wages. The mobile home residents were given a cash settlement by a developer to help them relocate. Some used the money to move to another mobile home. Others found apartments. About a third of the residents used the cash to buy a home. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. Christine Mcgovern knew it would be a stretch but she took a risk. She used her settlement of a few thousand dollars from the closing of the Hopkins mobile home park for a down payment on a house in Robinsdale. The monthly mortage payment of $600 was more than a third of her income - larger than most lenders say is prudent. Two weeks before Christmas McGovern lost
January 22, 1997 - A welfare program geared at putting people to work has received early high marks. A state audit of the Minnesota Family Investment Program indicates that families in the program are escaping poverty faster than those who rely on A-F-D-C. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports from the capitol.
January 22, 1997 - MPR's Lorna Benson reports that founders of a new Center for Cross-Cultural Health are hoping to minimize medical anxieties by better preparing Minnesota health care workers trying to deal with a cultural curveball.
January 24, 1997 - Millions of people will sit down this weekend to watch a football game. But Superbowl Thirty One will come and go, on Sunday, WITHOUT one person. However, commentator Ann Daly Goodwin says she hopes everyone who does watch the game - enjoys it!
January 24, 1997 - John Coy reads from his book Night Driving, published by Henry Holt.