November 2, 2009 - As part of MPR News series “Stress-Testing the Recovery,” MPR’s Bob Kelleher profiles Hibbing, an area in northeastern Minnesota which has the highest jobless rate of any city in the state.
November 3, 2009 - As part of MPR News series “Stress-Testing the Recovery,” MPR’s Tom Roberston profiles Bemidji, a city with the state’s third highest peak in unemployment.
November 4, 2009 - As part of MPR News series “Stress-Testing the Recovery,” MPR’s Elizabeth Baier profiles Albert Lea, where the pain of the manufacturing slump is acute. The state's important manufacturing sector has lost nearly 43,000 jobs since the start of the recession -- more than any other major industry.
November 5, 2009 - As part of MPR News series “Stress-Testing the Recovery,” MPR’s Annie Baxter profiles Brainerd, where the unemployment rate catapulted to 21 percent earlier in 2009 -- the highest spike among Minnesota's large cities.
November 19, 2009 - On this Midday, an episode of “Ask the President.” Bill Kling joins Midday host Gary Eichten in the studio to answer listener questions about MPR and about the future of news.
January 11, 2010 - MPR’s Steven John interviews U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar about China’s use of cadmium in children's items. The chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning Asian manufacturers against the use of cadmium in children's items. That's after lab tests found that Chinese manufacturers were substituting the heavy metal in place of lead in cheap charm bracelets and pendants being sold in this country. Cadmium is known to cause cancer, and, like lead, it can hinder brain development in the children. Senator Amy Klobuchar led the fight to ban lead from toys manufactured in China. She's traveling in southern Minnesota today and we caught up with her.
March 10, 2010 - Later today the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will discuss a bill that would tighten the rules on copper-nickel mines. The question has taken on some urgency, as a half-dozen companies are now making plans to open such mines in northeastern Minnesota. Stephanie Hemphill reports.
March 22, 2010 - Two national experts explain all the details and broader policies of the health insurance reform bill passed and expected to sign by President Obama.
March 23, 2010 - Twins catcher Joe Mauer officially signs a new $184 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, keeping him in a Twins uniform for another eight years The team and Mauer announced they had agreed to terms that will make the All-Star catcher one of the highest paid players in the game.
March 26, 2010 - On this Midday program, a collection of reports in which MPR News explores how changing our food culture could help cure obesity.