November 8, 2001 - As part of Mainstreet Radio’s “Harvest of Frustration” series, Dan Gunderson reports on how sugar beet farmers in Minnesota and North Dakota are hopeful the 2001 harvest marks a turn for the better. In the past couple of years, sugar prices fell to 20 year lows, turning what was once seen as guaranteed big money into just another break even crop.
November 8, 2001 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone is planning to introduce legislation that would revoke major league baseball's antitrust exemption. The Democrat hopes the move will help prevent the elimination of the Twins. Baseball owners voted Tuesday to fold two financially weak teams. The Twins and the Montreal Expos are reportedly at the top of that list. Wellstone says the owners vote interferes with competition:
November 9, 2001 - MPR’s Chris Julin profiles Tasha Turk, a 15-year-old girl that also happens to be the best classical soprano in the town of Two Harbors. Turk got her start singing to livestock. She's come a long way…she'll be in Boston recording for a national radio show.
November 12, 2001 - Major League Baseball owners vote to eliminate two teams before the beginning of next season prompted many listeners to call Morning Edition’s comment line. Host Cathy Wurzer presents a snippet of the commentaries left within the in-box.
November 13, 2001 - If Major League Baseball goes through with plans to eliminate the Minnesota Twins and the Montreal Expos, it will mark a historic moment for the game. This would be the first league contraction in 100 years and the end of one of the charter members of the American League. MPR’s Jim Bickal interviews Bill James, one of the country's leading authorities on the history of baseball and author of the book The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.
November 13, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews Fay Vincent, Major League Baseball's former commissioner, who weighs in on MLB’s owner vote to contract two teams.
November 14, 2001 - On this special edition of Midday, Gary Eichten hosts and moderates MPR's Color of Justice Forum, held at the Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis. Panelists include St. Paul Police Chief Bill Finney, DFL State Senator Jane Ranum, Republican State Representative and Minneapolis Police Inspector Rich Stanek, Hennepin County Judge Tanya Bransford, Hennepin County Public Defender Leonardo Castro, and Minnesota Corrections Commissioner Sheryl Ramstad-Hvass.
November 15, 2001 - A collection of reports from the MPR special series "The Color of Justice," which investigates the racial disparity in Minnesota’s criminal justice system. This Midday program includes reports by MPR’s Dan Olson, Brandt Williams, and Elizabeth Stawicki, as well as various interviews and commentary of officials, academics, and community members.
November 15, 2001 - State Senator Becky Lourey (LORR-ee) officially entered the 2002 governor's race today (THURSDAY). The DFL'er from northern Minnesota says she's running for governor because the state needs a leader, not a celebrity. Governor Ventura hasn't said whether he's running for a second term. A year before the election, Lourey is the first Democrat to formally announce a gubernatorial bid, but she won't be the last. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
November 15, 2001 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that Hennepin County District Judge Harry Crump says he'll announce soon whether he'll require the Twins to play baseball in the Metrodome next year (2002). Crump heard arguments from the the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the Attorney General's office, and the Minnesota Twins.