April 14, 2017 - MPR’s Tim Nelson reports that the original deep fried cheese curd stand at the Minnesota State Fair is going away. The founder, who started the craze in 1975, says he's too old to keep it going and the State Fair decided not to let his family take it over. Fair officials say they're looking for something new.
April 17, 2017 - MPR’s Elizabeth Dunbar reports on the repeated flooding conditions found in the Red River Valley. Dunbar interviews several scientists who have studied climate and hydrology in the Red River basin.
April 20, 2017 - Although Prince's death had a profound impact on fans of all racial backgrounds, for some black Minnesotans his loss was especially meaningful. MPR’s Doualy Xaykaothao talks with two local musicians who reflect on Prince on a personal level.
April 24, 2017 - MPR’s Mat Sepic reports on 35 Minnesota deaths from opioids in April 2016. While the one death of Prince is well known, the others are not. Sepic talks with a few family members of those others lost to the opioid epidemic.
April 24, 2017 - MPR’s Emma Sapong reports on the black women entrepreneurs entering the markets of hair extensions and other products tailored to African American women. The industry for Black hair products has been run largely by South Koreans, but efforts of Black business store owners are changing that.
May 10, 2017 - As part of MPR Day in Mankato, All Things Considered’s Tom Crann talks with Minnesota's 1st District Congressman Tim Walz at the historic Kato Ballroom. Topics include the unique aspects of his district, Affordable Care Act, and Trump’s firing of FBI director.
May 18, 2017 - MPR’s Marianne Combs profiles Vietnamese American spoken word artist Bao Phi, who talks of the how racial trauma affects both his poetry and life. Phi also discusses his collection, “Thousand Star Hotel.”
May 25, 2017 - MPR presents 74 Seconds: The Traffic Stop, a step by step through a fatal traffic stop, which went from flashing lights to firing shots in just 74 seconds.
May 30, 2017 - MPR’s Euan Kerr profiles Chasity Brown, a Twin Cities based singer songwriter. Brown talks about the making of her album “Silhouette of Sirens," a collection of musical snapshots of her life drawing on country and soul music. She also says as a biracial queer woman of color living in this day and age, she can't help but be political.
June 7, 2017 - MPR's Marianne Combs interviews poet and spoken word artist Bao Phi about his new book of poetry "Thousand Star Hotel," in which he reflects on his youth living in Minneapolis and discusses the legacy of trauma.