March 8, 2006 - Joining us now is Robin Hickman, the grand neice of Gordon Parks, and who followed in his foot steps as a filmmaker.
March 9, 2006 - Governor Tim Pawlenty touted the accomplishments of his first term in his State of the State address today (Thursday). In what sounded like a test of possible themes for a reelection campaign, Pawlenty said he's completed the biggest financial turnaround in state history. The governor also said the state has regained its status as an education leader. He outlined a handful of new proposals, which Democrats dismissed as pilot programs and slogans. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
March 9, 2006 - All Things Considered’s Tom Crann interviews Lee Pao Xiong, director of Concordia's Center for Hmong Studies, about the first ever International Conference on Hmong Studies. Academics from around the world are coming to Concordia University to talk about a culture undergoing dramatic transition.
March 13, 2006 - MPR’s Annie Baxter reports on pubic memorial for former Minnesota Twin and Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett. An estimated 15,000 people gathered inside the Metrodome for a tribute of the star baseball player, who was remembered both for his play on the field and love of life.
March 14, 2006 - Public safety officials say human trafficking has come to Minnesota. They don't have enough information on exactly how many victims of this modern form of slavery are here, but they believe it's probably more than a hundred. Traffickers bring victims to the United States by fraud or coercion, and compel them to work in the sex industry or as forced laborers. A Senate anti-trafficking bill authored by DFLer Sandy Pappas is expected to get a hearing today in the Crime Prevention and Public Safety committee. The legislation is part of a move to understand the extent of human trafficking in Minnesota and how to combat the problem.
March 16, 2006 - Physicists like to theorize about all kinds of far out concepts: parallel universes, dark matter, alien civilizations and even time travel. Michio Kaku: Professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York. Kaku spoke about his book "Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions and the Future of the Cosmos," at the University of Minnesota Bookstore.
March 20, 2006 - A hearing is set for tomorrow on a bill that would allow Hmong cultural marriages to be recognized by the state of Minnesota. The measure, sponsored by DFL Senator Wes Skoglund, would give the negotiators of Hmong marriages, the Mej Koob, the authority to formalize the wedding. At the same time, it would require them to report marriages involving underage girls. Skoglund says he sees the bill as a child protection issue.
March 20, 2006 - MPR’s Toni Randolph reports on a bill making its way through the state Senate that would allow recognition of Hmong cultural marriages by the state of Minnesota. The measure would give the negotiators between families in Hmong cultural weddings the authority to perform legal marriages, but the bill is getting resistance from some Hmong leaders.
March 22, 2006 - Governor Pawlenty says it's time to move on from the controversy surrounding Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson. Pawlenty, a Republican, says he'll ask GOP party officials to back off in their criticism of the Willmar DFLer. Johnson has been under heavy fire, especially from Republicans and groups that support a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage. He has admitted "sanding off the truth" about a conversation with a Supreme Court Justice on the issue of gay marriage. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
March 22, 2006 - Dr. Jon Hallberg, a team physician for the Minnesota Twins, describes various off the field issues in the MLB, including steroid use. Hallberg also details squad’s health at spring training in Fort Myers.