April 7, 2004 - CATHY Three Minnesotans and a Minnesota organization will be honored tonight at the 8th annual Ann Bancroft Awards, which recognize the achievements of girls and women. One of the winners is a 17-year-old African-American student. Tsione Wolde-Michael (see OWN wold --like mold-- michael) is the daughter of Ethiopian immigrants. She attends Totino-Grace High School in Fridley... where she's worked to promote tolerance and fight discrimination. Wolde-Michael founded the school's first Diversity Club. Last year, she was chosen to spend a summer at Yale as part of the "Junior Statesmen of America Program." Tsione Wolde-Michael says after she arrived at Totino Grace... she had second-thoughts about staying there.
May 18, 2004 - MPR’s Chris Julin interviews three same-sex couples in Duluth about their thoughts on marriage. Gay men and lesbians don't speak with one voice on the subject. Some of them don't want to get married, and even those who do have different ideas about what marriage is.
May 28, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post profiles Cody Rogahn and Jonathan Yarbrough, a couple from west-central Minnesota that became one of the first same-sex couples to take advantage of the new Massachusetts law allowing gay couples to wed.
June 7, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter reports that for thirty years, St. Cloud has had an ordinance on its books that forbids immigrants from driving taxis. It wasn't enforced; in fact, most people had forgotten about it. City officials were embarrassed to learn of the ordinance recently, and promptly swore they'd get rid of it. The matter is under consideration in the city council, but even so, Somalis say they can't get jobs as taxi drivers...and they're wondering why.
August 30, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports that Minnesota court records show Native Americans living in some northern counties are arrested at a rate far higher than any other race. That's got the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota.
December 10, 2004 - MPR’s David Molpus interviews Cheryl Thomas, who runs Women's Human Rights Program at the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights. Thomas discusses the domestic violence facing women in immigrant communities here in Minnesota.
December 14, 2004 - MPR’s Lorna Benson reports on a panel discussion at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute designed to debunk misperceptions about immigrants. The panel of Twin Cities community leaders say they're discouraged by the attitudes of Minnesotans who are fed up with immigrants. A new study has found that many Minnesotans believe immigrants are a drain on public services and that they shun assimilation. The opinions were strongest among people living in the outer-ring suburbs.
December 16, 2004 - As part of the series A Mirror on Morality, MPR’s Lorna Benson talks with six parishioners from Macalester Plymouth United Church in St. Paul about the 2004 elections. Five are gay, the other a lesbian. Exit polls suggest that many Christians cast their ballots based on moral concerns, including strong opposition to gay marriage. The six discuss that "moral values" influenced their voting too - just in a different way.
April 7, 2005 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports that the Minnesota Senate upended an attempt to force a vote on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. The legislation would allow voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
September 19, 2005 - MPR’s Catherine Winter and Stephanie Hemphill present an American RadioWorks documentary titled “No Place for a Woman.” The documentary explores the legal landmark and legacy for women’s rights in the northern Minnesota’s Iron Range.