February 6, 2002 - Local leaders and policy makers are gathering in St. Paul today for a conference on workforce development. The group will discuss ways to help low-wage workers and improve the workforce at the same time. Elaine Ryan, the Government Affairs Director for a Washington DC-based group that represents state and local human service agencies, will present the keynote address. She'll discuss how welfare reform has affected the workforce, and she's on the line now. That's Elaine Ryan who's in St. Paul today to give the keynote address at a conference on workforce development. By the way, Governor Ventura will be at the conference as well. He's expected to make an announcement about how he's merging two departments: Trade and Economic Development, and Economic Security.
February 6, 2002 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews Chinese American composer and conductor Tan Dun. He is in the Twin Cities to conduct The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in two performances of the Crouching Tiger Concerto.
February 8, 2002 - MPR’s Tim Post reports that St. Cloud will host its first film festival. A newly formed Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Allies group is sponsoring the free festival. The group hopes the series of films followed by discussions will educate the St. Cloud community about issues of sexuality. Festival organizers say it won't be an activist event, but they hope it will help change some opinions in St. Cloud.
February 8, 2002 - A statewide program for troubled youth that's been operating for more than 20 years may be eliminated. Governor Ventura's budget has no funding for the youth intervention program. Law enforcement officials say the program has helped thousands of kids turn their lives around. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
February 8, 2002 -
February 11, 2002 - MPR Classical Music Host Brian Newhouse talks with Minnesota Orchestra Manager Bob Neu about the orchestra holding a gala unveiling of its centennial season.
February 11, 2002 - Former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman officially kicks off his campaign this morning with a rally at Harriet Island. Coleman, a Republican and so far the the only major challenger faced by DFL incumbent Paul Wellstone, will embark on a statewide tour later in the day, telling Minnesotans he can do for the state what he did for St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports... BACKANNOUNCE: Tomorrow listen for Mark's report on the early stages of Senator Paul Wellstone's reelection campaign.
February 11, 2002 - Former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman held a series of news conferences around Minnesota today, formally launching his bid for U.S. Senate. Coleman, a Republican is challenging DFL incumbent Paul Wellstone. A new poll conducted by the Star Tribune, shows the two are in a dead heat. With the Senate so closely divided, the race for Minnesota's seat is expected to become a national battleground, and to break campaign spending records. Already the two sides are attacking each other in radio ads. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
February 11, 2002 - Rob Horton is 12 years old and lives with his father at the Kentucky Star Hotel in Lister, Florida. Ever since his mother died six months ago, he has a sadness so big he imagines that he can stuff it in a suitcase. He has a secret too, would you believe a real tiger locked in a cage in the woods? You'll find out more about Rob Horton, his sadness and his secret when you read "The Tiger Rising" nominated for a National Book award for children's literature and our next selection for Talking Volumes, the joint book club of MPR, the Loft Literary Center and the Star Tribune. Kate DiCamillo is the author of The Tiger Rising. She has a flair for children's stories that involve animals, her first book, Because of Winn-Dixie, featured a friendly dog and got a friendly nod from critics and librarians who gave it a Newbery honor award.
February 12, 2002 - As part of the American RadioWorks project called "Radio Fights Jim Crow," MPR’s Brandt Williams talks with older African Americans in Minnesota about their memories of segregation in the feature “Up South.”