April 28, 2005 - New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has come to the conclusion that Christopher Columbus had it all wrong. He says the world isn't round, at least not anymore. In his new book, "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century," Friedman argues that communication technology has leveled the international economic playing field, allowing people from Brainerd to Bangalore to compete on a more or less even footing. Thomas Friedman is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, a bestselling author and a native of St. Louis Park, Minn.
April 29, 2005 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke interviews local jazz saxophonist Jeremy Walker, founder of the band Jazz is Now! Orchestra. Walker discusses the band and his love for jazz. Gehrke also interviews jazz saxophonist Ted Nash about group.
May 3, 2005 - With less than three weeks to go before the end of the Legislative session, a number of spending bills are making their way through both the House and Senate -- but the two chambers are far apart on how to balance the state budget in the face of a projected deficit. Joining us now to talk about the budget and other Legislative issues is Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. That is Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. For all the latest Capitol news, go to the Session 2005 page of our website at Minnesota Public Radio dot org.
May 4, 2005 - Duluth cookbook author Bea Ojakangas has won an award from the James Beard Foundation in New York City. Chefs and food writers around the country voted to induct Ojakangas into the Cookbook Hall of Fame. They cited her "Great Scandinavian Baking Book" as having lasting impact in the field. She published it 15 years ago, after research on recipes in the Scandinavian countries.
May 5, 2005 - Governor Tim Pawlenty today (THURS) blasted a Senate DFL plan to raise taxes on upper-income Minnesotans. The Senate tax bill would create a temporary eleven percent top income tax rate. Senate Democrats who support the plan say it asks Minnesotans who benefitted from the economic boom of the 90s to help balance the budget. But not all Senate Democrats back the plan, as Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 12, 2005 - Despite pressure from party leaders, a handful of House Republicans who broke party ranks on the gas tax late last night held firm today (Thu) when the plan came up for final approval. The gas tax would go up ten cents a gallon under the transportation bill the Minnesota House passed on a 72 to 61 vote. The move is in open defiance of Governor Pawlenty's "no new taxes pledge." Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
May 12, 2005 - (NOTE FROM KHOO: As of 10:30pm last night, the governor and Sviggum were planning to reconvene budget talks at 10am Thursday. It's not clear whether Johnson will attend or will continue with his fly-around. The governor's office says Johnson has been invited to attend the meeting, but they haven't heard yet whether he'll accept. Johnson himself and his staff had left by the time the meeting broke up last night, so he wasn't able to answer the question directly. I point all of this out because this story indicates Johnson WILL stick to the tour, and that may no longer be accurate.) With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, Governor Pawlenty is urging legislative leaders to reach a budget deal. The call came as the House was passing a vastly different tax bill than the one that passed the Senate last week. And taxes aren't the only issue on which the House and Senate are far apart. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 15, 2005 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on Minneapolis DFL convention results. A 12-hour convention for the Minneapolis DFL party over the weekend failed to produce an endorsement for either Mayor R.T. Rybak or challenger Peter McLaughlin. After five ballots, McLaughlin was leading 53 percent to Rybak's 45 percent before the delegates voted to award no endorsement. The two candidates now head for the primary.
May 16, 2005 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on a new instrument, called a cleophone. Minneapolis inventor, Dave Krejci, talks about design of his new creation and the unique sounds it emits.
May 16, 2005 - MPR’s Jeff Horwich looks at lessons learned about global marketing. Horwich reports on a snafu from company giant Nike, to the success story of Minnesota company Aveda.