April 15, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Potter discusses CODEFOR with Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. Since Minneapolis began its CODEFOR policing strategy in February of 1998, violent crime in the city is down 16%, property offenses are down 18%, and crimes against persons are down 12%. Sayles Belton says one key is focusing on so-called nuisance crimes.
April 20, 1998 - U.S. Attorney David Lillehaug discusses his ideas to reduce crime in the highest-crime Minneapolis neighborhoods, including the Phillips neighborhood. Lillehaug also answers listener questions.
September 30, 1998 - Robert Olson, Minneapolis police chief, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about the decrease in crime in Minneapolis, and the elements of effective police work. Topics include downtown nightlife and higher arrest rates. Olson also answers listener questions.
April 13, 1999 - MPR’s Eric Jansen reports on community complaints regarding Minneapolis Police Department’s CODEFOR program. Minneapolis’ mayor and police chief say CODEFOR has dramatically reduced crime in the city. Critics and civil rights groups claim the computer-assisted program that targets neighborhoods based on crime patterns encourages police harassment and makes some residents feel like prisoners in their own homes.
June 7, 2001 - MPR presents a report entitled Postcard From A Lynching, which looks at the history of a 1920 murder of three Black men in Duluth by a local mob. It’s a history that many in Duluth tried to forget… but others fought to bring the horrific lynching to light in the community and bring dignity to the slain men. [Content Warning: some content, language, and statements used in this story may be triggering to listeners]
November 2, 2001 - Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, gives an update on the anthrax threat in the United States.
March 27, 2003 - MPR's Elizabeth Stawicki reports on trial opening of a Minnesota baseball giant, just blocks from where fans in 1987 and 1991 crowned him a World Series hero. Kirby Puckett, whose talents propelled him from Twins star to Hall-of-Fame great faces sexual assault charges that have tarnished his once clean image. Puckett has pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal sexual conduct, false imprisonment, and misdemeanor assault.
May 1, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio’s Chris Julin reports that the Two Harbors rooster is back, but it's in rough shape. In the week prior, somebody stole the larger-than-life statue of a rooster from its perch next to the highway. The bird is a landmark on the drive up the north shore of Lake Superior.
August 5, 2003 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Don Samuels, Minneapolis City Council member, about crime control and “National Night Out.” Samuels has worked to fight crime and violence in the city and says he's pleased Governor Tim Pawlenty will deploy 12 members of the State Patrol's Special Response Team to Minneapolis to help combat a spike in violence. The announcement follows several shootings in the city, including the critical wounding of a 19-month-old girl in North Minneapolis.
December 29, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio’s Chris Julin reports from Duluth, about the Woodland Hills treatment program and the efforts of incorporating ballet to help kids untangle themselves from drugs and crime.