December 16, 1996 - Hour 2 of Midmorning, featuring a "double header" of Voices of Minnesota with playwright Barbara Fields, best known for her adaptation of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" for the Guthrie Theatre. Also hear from Mike Nelson, the host of the TV show, "Mystery Science Theatre 3000." Arne Fogel discusses a new 2 cd set, "Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters: The Complete Recordings" on the MCA label.
December 16, 1996 - Last week, Governor Carlson unveiled a plan that could nearly double the state's spending on the arts. In an effort to underscore how the arts have become a billion-dollar industry in Minnesota Carlson proposed a 12-million dollar initiative. But commentator Randall Davidson says the Governor is interested in boosting a different industry ... one that currently plays under the Metrodome. He says the Governor's pitch is really about two things: the proposed new Twins stadium and a finesse of public arts policy that will have profound impact in the short- and long-term.
December 16, 1996 - Clearing snow and ice covered roads is a routine part of Minnesota winters. Snowplow operators who clean the state's roads say the job is often thankless, especially when they hear more complaints from drivers than appreciation. Road crews with the Minnesota Department of Transportation call themselves snowfighters. They say they take pride in their committment to clearing ice and snow, and their efforts to develop efficient, tax-dollar saving, ways to clean roads.
December 23, 1996 - On this Voices of Minnesota feature, an interview with St. Paul jazz vocalist Roberta Davis. Subjects of racism, family and the complexity of jazz are discussed.
December 23, 1996 - Midday presents a Voices of Minnesota program, highlighting conversations with businessman Fred Myers, who started a St. Paul company that employs chronic alcoholics; and Roberta Davis, one of Minnesota's foremost jazz vocalists.
December 24, 1996 - MPR’s Eric Friesen interviews local composer Stephen Paulus and poet Kevin Crossley-Holland about carols. They have collaborated on the creating the piece “Pilgrim Jesus” for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge.
December 24, 1996 - MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews local singer/songwriter Stuart Davis on his unique holiday show "Break from the Relatives."
December 30, 1996 - Hour 2 of Midmorning, featuring Voices of Minnesota with Nathaniel Khaliq, the president of St. Paul's NAACP. He's a longtime community activist and anti-drug crusader.
January 6, 1997 - Hour 2 of Midmorning, a Voices of Minnesota with the Director of St. Paul's Ordway Musical Theatre, Kevin McCollum. The current production is "Rent". Fiction writer Rick Moody who has written "The Ring of Brightest Angels Around Heaven," a collection of short stories about strange and perverted people. The title story is set in the East Village of New York and populated by on-the-edge young people. His previous books are "The Ice Storm" and "Garden State."
January 7, 1997 - Grammy nominations came out today, but a record producer -- not a singer or band -- got the most nominations. Kenneth Baby Face Edmonds, who produced the soundtrack for "Waiting to Exhale", got an even dozen. Music critic Jim DeRogatis is not a fan of the Grammies, and he was not surprised by the list unveiled today. No big Minnesota names are nominated for pop music Grammys this year -- no Bob Dylan, Prince, or Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. But Garrison Keillor is nominated in the spoken word or nonmusical album, for "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn;" and former "Saturday Night Live" funnyman Al Franken, a Twin Cities native, is up for a Grammy.