January 3, 2006 - Governor Tim Pawlenty is taking his push for slowing illegal immigration to a new level. The governor is expected to announce a major reform plan today in St. Paul and follow it up by flying around the state to repeat his message in cities across the state. The new proposal come a month after the governor released a controversial report on the costs of illegal immigration. Critics say the report ignored the benefits that immigrants bring to communities and the economy. One of the Governor's stops today will be in Worthington, where immigrants make up a big part of the work-force. Joining us on the line is the mayor of Worthington, Alan Oberloh.
January 3, 2006 - Local police and sheriff's offices would get some extra responsibilities under the governor's proposal. Brian Schlueter is the Sheriff of Otter Tail County, where a recent murder case underscored his frustration with undocumented, or "improperly documented" immigrants.
January 3, 2006 - MPR’s Marisa Helms reports on Chris Coleman being sworn in as the 45th mayor of St. Paul. In his first speech as mayor, Coleman emphasized the city's growing diversity and the need for citizen involvement and cooperation.
January 4, 2006 - Immigration issues have moved to the forefront of political debate in recent weeks, thanks largely to Governor Pawlenty. It began last month when Pawlenty released what has become a controversial report on the costs associated with illegal immigration. And it continued yesterday when the governor outlined a series of proposals to identify and crack down on illegal immigration in Minnesota. Political observers say Pawlenty is tapping into an issue that concerns many Minnesotans, but he could alienate Latino voters in the process. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
January 4, 2006 - A special Voices of Minnesota program, with Minnesota's highest-ranking elder statesman , Walter Mondale in the studio talking with MPR’s Gary Eichten.
January 16, 2006 - Author Nicole Kelby says she wanted to work out why she was so peculiar. During the 20 years she lived in Minnesota she worked with Dudley Riggs, Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater, Kevin Kling, and Channel 9 News. Then a few years ago, she moved back to her native Florida, in part to explore her own personality quirks. She describes the state as so undeniably beautiful that it warps people. Be that as it may, one of the results of Kelby's return is her new book, "Whale Season" which details strange going's on at a rural Florida strip bar.
January 16, 2006 - Author Nicole Kelby says she wanted to work out why she was so peculiar. During the 20 years she lived in Minnesota she worked with Dudley Riggs, Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater, Kevin Kling, and Channel 9 News. Then a few years ago, she moved back to her native Florida, in part to explore her own personality quirks. She describes the state as so undeniably beautiful that it warps people. Be that as it may, one of the results of Kelby's return is her new book, "Whale Season" which details strange going's on at a rural Florida strip bar.
January 20, 2006 - Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports on child advocate Patty Wetterling withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race and endorsing Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar. Wetterling said she made her decision so the DFL party would unite behind Klobuchar. While many political experts are calling Klobuchar the party's clear front-runner, fellow DFLer Ford Bell says he's in the race until the end.
January 23, 2006 - Local music critic Chris Riemenschneider joins Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer to talk about what makes The Current different from other radio stations. Riemenschneider discusses the revolutionary and eclectic nature of the initial playlists.
January 24, 2006 - Family and friends of the late Senator Eugene McCarthy gathered at St. John's University in Collegeville for a memorial yesterday. This is an excerpt of Walter Mondale speaking at memorial service.