August 26, 2002 - Just as much a part of the State Fair as midway rides, 4-H displays and food of all kinds, are politicians working potential voters. MPR’s Mark Zdechlik checks in on what the four major party endorsed candidates for U.S. Senate are talking about at the Fair.
August 27, 2002 - Foreigners have traveled to the Mayo Clinic for nearly a hundred years. Over time, patients from the Middle East have emerged as some the clinic's most important clientele. Traditionally summer brings visitors from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia to Rochester for treatment. But since September 11th, the number of visitors is down at least 50-percent. That's largely because international visitors face long delays in receiving visas for travel to the U.S. Mayo isn't the only local business missing out. Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally has this report.
August 29, 2002 - A live Mainstreet Radio special from the Minnesota State Fair. Dr. Val Farmer, a psychologist specializing in rural mental health, takes questions from fair-goers and MPR listeners about mental health and farming.
August 30, 2002 - The major party candidates for governor reacted positively to news that a new baseball labor agreement will apparently prevent Major League Baseball from eliminating the Minnesota Twins for the next four years. The candidates learned of the tentative agreement shortly before appearing in an Minnesota Public Radio debate at the State Fair.
August 30, 2002 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik reports on Minnesota U.S. Senate debate held at the Minnesota State Fair. Segment includes clips from the four candidates as they debated topics including healthcare, taxes, and the war with Iraq, amongst others.
September 2, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Dr. Chip Bolman about the fifty-year anniversary of first open heart surgery. The world's first successful open-heart surgery was performed at the University of Minnesota. A team led by Doctor F. John Lewis operated on a five-year-old girl who was born with a hole in her heart. The girl survived and grew up to have two kids of her own. Since then, advances in medicine and medical technology have revolutionized the treatment available to people with heart trouble.
September 13, 2002 - Officials at the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center are alarmed at the number of birds they've seen with symptoms of west nile virus. Until a year ago, only about a dozen bird species were known to be hosts to the virus, primarily crows and blue jays. But the National Wildlife Health Center now estimates between 110 and 120 bird species have been infected. The Raptor Center's Dr. Patrick Redig says it seems like the most recent epidemic got its foothold in southern Ohio, and then advanced quickly to the Midwest. Redig says its too early to determine the extent of the West Nile outbreak in Minnesota's bird population:
September 18, 2002 - Republican Norm Coleman and DFL Senator Paul Wellstone are both claiming victory with the most recent polls showing Minnesota's US Senate race remains very tight. A Minnesota Public Radio-St. Paul Pioneer Press poll shows Wellstone with 47 percent support, Coleman with 44 percent. Because that falls within the three percentage point margin of error, the race is a statistical tie. Wellstone backers say they're pleased months of what they call negative attacks have not eroded the incumbent's support. Coleman's camp claims the Republican is in good shape because he's been able to keep up with Wellstone even though Wellstone has outspent him.
September 18, 2002 - The University of Illinois is reporting the first West Nile virus death in a dog in the United States. Officials at the school say the eight-year old Irish Setter-golden retriever mix may have had another immunity compromising infection that contributed to his death. The virus primarily attacks birds, but mosquitoes can pass it to humans, horses and other hosts. The only other documented case of West Nile in a dog occured in Botswana in 1978. Dr. Jeff Bender is an assistant professor of veterinary public health at the University of Minnesota. He says pet owners shouldn't worry:
September 20, 2002 - You can also listen to the full debate on your computer by visiting our Campaign 2002 page at Minnesota-Public-Radio-dot-org.