January 23, 2007 - Governor Pawlenty took his budget proposal on the road today. He held news conferences in Rochester, Duluth, Moorhead and Mankato to outline his 34.4 billion dollar two year budget. House and Senate DFLers have been reacting cautiously to the governor's proposal. Members of Pawlenty's own party aren't as forgiving. They say he is abandoning his conservative principals by increasing spending. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
January 25, 2007 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with newly-elected U.S. Congressman Tim Walz, who represents the Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. Walz discusses his new role and speaks on topics agriculture, colleagues, veterans, and the Iraq war.
January 31, 2007 - Norman Mailer tells Hitler's story and his own.Even at 84, Norman Mailer hopes he still has one more book in him. This year Mailer released his first major work of fiction in a decade: "The Castle in the Forest," which is about the boyhood of Adolph Hitler. In a Jan. 23 discussion in New York City, Mailer said he'd like to write one more book before he dies.
February 2, 2007 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on ‘Bob Dylan's American Journey: 1956-1966’ exhibit at Weisman Art Museum. Roberts interviews curator Colleen Sheey about the collection of Dylan artifacts. Roberts also talks with longtime Dinkytown musicians “Spider” John Koerner and Tony Glover about their reflections of time with Bobby Zimmerman when he lived in Minneapolis.
February 2, 2007 - The Current’s Bill DeVille joins All Things Considered’s Tom Crann to talk about why he is excited for the Super Bowl and possible songs Prince might play.
February 5, 2007 - In this installment from The Bookshelf series, MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with State Senator Mee Moua about books that are important to her. Moua came to the United States as a Hmong refugee when she was nine years old, and she said that even though she never read books when she was young, stories were a big part of her childhood, particularly when she lived in a refugee camp in Thailand.
February 6, 2007 - Governor Pawlenty is threatening to veto a bill on embryonic stem cell research that hasn't even gotten a hearing in the Legislature yet. The proposal would allow the University of Minnesota to use state funds for embryonic stem cell research. Pawlenty says he backs some forms of stem cell research but also wants some restrictions on the science. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
February 12, 2007 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on potential Great Lakes Compact, a binding document between the eight Great Lakes states to adopt uniform state laws regulating water withdrawals. Minnesota laws are already stricter than possible compact.
February 12, 2007 - MPR’s Annie Baxter reports that All-Star catcher Joe Mauer will stay with Twins through 2010 after signing a $33 million contract. The length of contract coincides with season the team's new ballpark is scheduled to open.
February 12, 2007 - Ever thought about writing a memoir? Accomplished memoirists Patricia Hampl and Katherine Lanpher offered some advice in a forum at the Loft Literary Center.