May 8, 2001 - The Minnesota Senate approved a Health and Human Services funding bill with an abortion provision that Governor Jesse Ventura has promised to veto. Supporters of legalized abortion say funding for essential state services is being held hostage to abortion politics and possibly creating a deadlock or forcing a special session. But abortion foes say their plan to create a 24-hour waiting period for abortions is moderate and deserves the governor's signature.
May 9, 2001 - On his third day in Minnesota, the Dalai Lama addressed a joint meeting of the Minnesota Legislature, touching on his constant themes of human rights, faith and each person's responsibility to make personal change. He also met with Governor Ventura, and made his third public speech at the University of Minnesota.
May 14, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on the stalemate over an abortion waiting period that continues at the Capitol. A massive health and human services spending bill that contains the controversial provision is languishing on Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum's desk, delaying an almost-certain gubernatorial veto. Both sides in the abortion debate are accusing each other of playing politics.
June 5, 2001 - MPR’s Bill Catlin reports on the “Gay Index.” The vigorous debate over Minnesota's economic future in a high tech world has featured a variety of prescriptions for prosperity -- like using tax dollars to invest in Minnesota start-ups, and more state spending on high tech research. Now, some controversial new research from Carnegie-Mellon University suggests cities that want to promote high tech industry should make themselves attractive to gay men.
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]
August 1, 2001 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show same-sex households account for nearly one percent of all Minnesota couples. The 2000’ Census figures provide the agency's most accurate count yet of same-sex couples. Advocates and officials alike say the numbers still don't accurately track the true number of gays and lesbians, but are an important marker nonetheless.
August 1, 2001 - MPR’s Kaomi Goetz reports that some members of Minneapolis immigrant communities are asking whether they're getting undue scrutiny from city inspectors.
August 6, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Kow Lee, a 29-year-old Hmong woman, about time limits attached to welfare and struggles for finding employment. Lee came to the U.S. 10 years ago, is divorced, and has 7 children ranging from ages 4 months to 9 years old. Speaking through an interpreter, Kow Lee says raising children in America is very hard.
August 14, 2001 - Mainstreet Radio's Laurel Druley reports on housing struggles some migrant workers find themselves in while working in the southern Minnesota town of Plainview. Four months out of the year, the population of 3,190 grows by more than 200 residents. Migrant workers come to town to can peas and corn at Lakeside Foods. But while the work is there, housing is not, leaving many temporary workers searching for a place to call home.
August 17, 2001 - With an upcoming KKK rally scheduled to happen in Minneapolis/ St.Paul, Mark Potok, of Klanwatch at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery Alabama, discusses current status of the KKK in the United States. Potok states that he does not see much activity in Minnesota. He also presents recommendations on how to counter event and hate group activity.