A holiday like no other, April Fools’ Day is a time of mischief and silliness…and Minnesota Public Radio has joined the fun on more than one occasion. Enjoy these handful of ‘tales.‘
April 1, 1986 - MPR’s Euan Kerr profile on a new scientific development that may have significant implications on fishing…fish herding. A very Minnesotan celebration of April Fools’ Day.
April 1, 1993 - Minnesota author Michael Fedo recalls a childhood memory of April Fools’ Day in a story reading.
April 1, 1994 - In a First Friday parody of trend topics, Iconoculture’s Vickie Abrahamson talks about genetics and couples deciding what their children are going to look like, and forecasts trends in their babies.
April 1, 1998 - MPR’s Euan Kerr presents yet another April Fools’ Day treat. In a secret location just a few miles over the Minnesota border into Wisconsin. Kerr interviews Milt Whiting, who is an attempting to bring the little known, but possibly illegal, European practice of fish-grooming to the Midwest.
April 1, 1999 - On this special date, MPR’s Amy Radil reports that the Duluth Port Authority is scrambling to respond to unconfirmed reports of whale sightings in the Duluth Ship Canal. Biologists speculate a scarce food supply has driven a whale far inland during the spring breeding season. Authorities are trying to determine whether the whale poses a shipping hazard and how the marine mammal made its lengthy journey.
April 1, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minnesota Public Radio has announced plans to expand its programming by creating a third statewide network to compliment its existing news and music channels. The new network will be all silent…and in stereo!