March 12, 1999 - Midday presents a MPR documentary special by MPR’s Lynette Nyman about the Hmong people in Minnesota, called “This Is Home: The Hmong in Minnesota.” Program explores the ways members of St. Paul's Hmong community wrestle with issues of culture and identity, with maintaining ties to the past, and seeking to thrive in modern urban America.
March 15, 1999 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman profiles the play "Hmong! The C-I-A's Secret Army" being staged at the Great American History Theatre in St Paul. The play is based on a screen play written by Lee Vang, a Hmong American in Minnesota. The production tells the story of the ‘secret war’ in Laos through a real-life love story.
March 17, 1999 - A profile of St. Paul composer Eric Stokes, who died in a car accident at the age of 68. Report includes a portion of Composer’s Voice 1993 interview with Stokes.
March 17, 1999 - Crop disease and low prices are taking a financial and emotional toll on farmers in the region. Many are struggling with depression. Lowell Nelson was a successful farmer near Moorhead for more than 30 years. At one time his net worth was more than a million dollars. Now, he's broke and for the first time in his life won't be working in the fields this spring. He's also getting treatment for his depression.
March 18, 1999 - Almost every American has a photographic record of important moments in life. But what do these pictures, videotapes and home movies tell us about our selves and our families? Do they represent truth or do they disguise reality? Independent filmmaker and author Michelle Citron says they do both. Citron says to understand the messages behind the images... we need to challenge ourselves to look a bit closer at those endless videos of children's birthday parties and family vacations. Citron says like most American families, she has had ample opportunity to do just that.
March 18, 1999 - A Native American Cultural center struggling to get off the ground in Detroit Lakes is being evicted from the house it's using as a temporary office. City officials say it's an question of zoning regulations. But those who started the center say racism keeps them from finding a home in the community.
March 22, 1999 - St. John's University in Collegeville unveiled the first page of an equisite handwritten Bible today at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. It will take six years to finish the new St. John's bible commissioned at a cost of about $3 million dollars. The University calls it a Bible for the 21st century. It's a Roman Catholic text based on the widely used "New Revised Standard Version." Queen Elizabeth's calligrapher, Donald Jackson, will oversee the massive project and its team of international calligraphers. He says the new St. John's Bible will still use a traditional text...but it will be coupled with non-traditional images likely to appeal to today's readers.
March 23, 1999 - The Brooklyn Park City Council is expected to vote tonight to approve an outdoor Amphitheatre project for the Minnesota Orchestra. The 19-thousand seat amphitheater would host about 50 summer concerts. Eighteen would be orchestra performances, the rest would be pop music. But whether it's Pachobel or Prince, neighbors are concerned it'll be just plain noisy. Brian Timerson handles noise problems for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. He says any amphitheater will probably require special permission to exceed legal noise limits.
March 24, 1999 - The Brooklyn Park City Council has approved an outdoor amphitheater for the Minnesota Orchestra. The decision was welcomed by Orchestra officials, but the project faced strong opposition from many area residents who fear the venue will host noisy pop music acts.
March 25, 1999 - The Minnesota House has voted 94 to 37 for a hunting and trapping season for the gray wolf once the animal comes off the endangered species list. Members approved the bill at the urging of Northern Minnesota legislators who said wolves in their districts are coming into increasing conflict with people. Minnesota wolves are expected to be removed from federal protection sometime in the year 2000.