Over the decades, MPR has presented the many different perspectives of Minnesota politics and politicians. This collection is home to a multitude speeches, interviews and debates on the issues of the day. Important topics of civil rights, environment, crime, budget, legislation, and campaigns are addressed.
Click on link to these well-known figures to see audio segments directly related to them: Michele Bachmann Arne Carlson Keith Ellison Hubert Humphrey Amy Klobuchar Eugene McCarthy Walter Mondale Tim Pawlenty R.T. Rybak Jesse Ventura Paul Wellstone
September 2, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty appears to be testing the national waters while in New York for the Republican National Convention. Pawlenty spoke to an influential fundraising group whose president says Pawlenty should be on a national ticket in 2008 or 2012. Pawlenty says he's not thinking about a national run - he's simply trying to tell Minnesota's story. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
September 7, 2004 -
September 15, 2004 - MPR’s Erin Galbally reports on flooding in Austin, Minnesota after a massive rainstorm in area.
September 23, 2004 - (NOTE: DATE REFERENCE IN LAST GRAPH - M.E. SHOULD CUT IT OUT IF REPLAYED FRI MORN!!) The Minnesota Lottery has a new permanent director. Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today (THURSDAY) that he's recruited Clint Harris to leave the top job at the South Dakota Lottery and take the reins of Minnesota's operation. The Minnesota Lottery has been without a permanent head since former director George Andersen committed suicide last winter. The incoming Harris says he hopes to more than double the lottery's contributions to the state within the next two decades. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
September 25, 2004 - The groundbreaking for a living memorial to Senator Paul Wellstone and his wife Sheila takes place tomorrow on the West Side of St. Paul. A new community building named for the couple will be constructed for the El Rio Vista Recreation Center and Neighborhood House. A St Paul synagogue founded Neighborhood House over 100 years ago to help Jewish settlers. It now serves mainly immigrants from Somalia, Mexico and Laos. Paul and Shelia Wellstone's son Mark joins me now.
September 27, 2004 - Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty wants to double the amount of ethanol required in gasoline sold in the state. The Governor also expects state government to cut gasoline consumption in half in the next decade. Those proposals are part of a renewable fuels initiative announced by the governor.
October 13, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty says he wants to increase K-12 education funding next year, as long as the money is linked to several key reforms. The governor plans to push the recommendations of a national panel that wants to overhaul the current systems for training and paying teachers. Pawlenty outlined his priorities for schools today (Wednesday) during a meeting with business, education and government leaders. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
October 14, 2004 - The documentary "Wellstone" will premiere tonight at 7pm at The Heights theatre in Columbia Heights as part of the Central Standard Film Festival. Through archival footage and interviews with friends and family, the film looks at Paul Wellstone's upbringing as the son of a Russian immigrant and his evolution from college professor to U.S. Senator. Wellstone grew up in northern Virginia and met his wife Shelia in high school. They got married while he was a student at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In this excerpt from the documentary, Jim Stimson, a longtime friend of the Wellstones, talks about how Paul's graduate school research changed the course of his life.
October 18, 2004 - Tomorrow (TUES) in Eveleth, officials and friends of Paul Wellstone will unveil plans for a memorial to the senator. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
October 18, 2004 - Politicians and friends of Senator Paul Wellstone will unveil plans for a memorial near Eveleth tomorrow (TUES). The memorial will be near the place where Wellstone and seven others died in a plane crash two years ago. Connie Lewis is with Wellstone Action. She says the memorial will include walking paths, and information about Wellstone's work, and about each of the others who died in the crash.