January 19, 2009 - Former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell gives the keynote address at Martin Luther King Day breakfast in Minneapolis. He reflects on how the struggle for civil rights changed his own life, and is still transforming the country.
January 19, 2009 - MPR listeners and special guests discuss what it means on this MLK Day as Barack Obama, the the nation's first Black U.S. president, is to be inaugurated in the coming day.
February 13, 2009 - The Pawlenty administration says Minnesota is on track to meet its ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Officials reported to a legislative committee Thursday, as required by state law. Some legislators aren't so sure emissions are improving, and they said the governor should be providing more leadership. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
February 18, 2009 - MPR’s Kerri miller interviews Lori Montgomery, a financial reporter for the Washington Post, and Cheryl Peterson, the manager of the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity foreclosure counseling service in Minneapolis.
February 18, 2009 - In its latest effort to stem the financial crisis, the Obama administration announced the details of a $75 billion plan to help struggling homeowners. The plan is more ambitious than initially expected - and more expensive. It aims to aid borrowers who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are currently worth, and borrowers who are on the verge of foreclosure. Afterwards, Ben Bernanke speaks at the National Press Club live here on Midday with Gary Eichten
March 4, 2009 - Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing costs for Minnesota government. Governor Tim Pawlenty says it's critical to slow the growth in healthcare spending. He wants to reduce the cost of Minnesota Care, the state-funded insurance program. He's also proposing cuts to medicaid reimbursements. This week, Minnesota Public Radio is exploring the effects of the state budget crisis from the perspective of one community, Fergus Falls. It's the largest city in Otter Tail County. This is the latest installment in our series, "The State Budget in Your Backyard." As Dan Gunderson reports, balancing the state budget could mean big changes for the people covered by Minnesota Care and the hospitals that treat them.
March 17, 2009 - Two senior statesmen reflect on public life and civic engagement. Former Vice President Walter Mondale and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger discuss their experiences in public life and the need for civic engagement.
March 26, 2009 - MPR’s Tim Post interviews various students, college administrators, and politicians on how they feel about attendees of private for-profit institutions being restricted from the State Grant Program. such institutions include business schools, truck driving schools, and barber colleges.
March 26, 2009 - As Minnesota lawmakers spar over the state's education budget, Midday broadcasts education experts Kati Haycock and Rudy Crew discussing what Minnesota can do to close the achievement gap between white students and students of color. At Minnesota Meeting, a project of The Minneapolis Foundation, the two nationally recognized experts discuss this issue.
April 3, 2009 - Excerpt of Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak commenting on 2006 police shooting death. Rybak says city officials believe allegations of misconduct in the 2006 police shooting death of a 19-year-old man are false. Earlier this week, a lawyer representing the family of Fong Lee, filed affidavits which contradict police claims that Lee had a gun when Officer Jason Andersen shot and killed him. The documents also raise the possibility that the gun found next to Lee's body was planted by another police officer. Rybak urges people to be patient and let the legal process take its course.