April 26, 2016 - MPR’s Tom Weber highlights state legislators paying tribute to Prince after his death on April 21st, 2016. Segment includes audio of state representatives Peggy Flanagan and Mike Freiberg performing “Purple Rain” on the floor of the Minnesota House.
April 27, 2016 - MPR’s Marianne Combs visits musician Gaelynn Lea. The Duluth fiddler recently won National Public Radio's Tiny Desk Contest, and as a result is performing in cities across the country. Lea is using the exposure both to build her career and to raise awareness about issues for people with disabilities.
May 1, 2016 - A block party to honor Minnesota music icon Prince drew hundreds to South Minneapolis. At Sabathani Community Center, formally Bryant Junior High, DJs played famous Prince records and food vendors served carnival treats.
May 4, 2016 - A dozen years before the beginning of the Second World War, the Nazis began what would become the unparalleled slaughter of Europe’s “undesirables,” most of whom were Jews. Millions would die, but there were survivors as well, each with a unique story. Classical MPR’s Mindy Ratner has gathered a collection of conversations with some of those touched directly by the Holocaust and those conversations form the basis of Kaddish: Reflections on the Holocaust in Music and Words.
May 4, 2016 - MPR’s Laura Yuen followed Diamond Syas, a Black student at Kennedy High School in Bloomington, for the course of a school year to see what it would take for her to make it to graduation day.
May 9, 2016 - MPR’s Euan Kerr speaks with Freya Manfred, daughter of author Frederick Manfred, about her father’s book “Lord Grizzly.”
May 11, 2016 - On this episode of New Classical Tracks, Classical Host Julie Amacher talks with classical violinist Leonidas Kavakos. The two discuss his album recording “Virtuoso.”
May 13, 2016 - MPR’s Marriane Combs reports on "Seeds of Change" exhibit at Museum of American Art in downtown St. Paul. The exhibit focuses on the creation of a Hmong collective farm and illustrates how the project is allowing farmers to plan — and plant — for the future.
May 16, 2016 - As part of MPR's “Trouble in the Water” series, MPR’s Mark Zdechlik reports on the Whitewater River, a waterway that symbolizes trouble in Minnesota waters.
May 17, 2016 - As part of MPR's “Trouble in the Water” series, MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on farming as a big part of Minnesota's clean water problem, and the potential solution of environmental stewardship by farmers.