December 17, 2012 - As part of the series "Art Heroes," MPR’s Marianne Combs profiles Jeanne Calvit, Interact Center for the Visual & Performing Arts founder and director, as well as numerous artists from Interact.
December 20, 2012 - On this Daily Circuit segment, MPR’s Mark Zdechlik interviews U.S. Representative Tim Walz, who says he thinks Congress could act relatively soon on legislation aimed at preventing gun violence following the horrific school shooting in Connecticut. Walz, a gun owner, hopes there will be an attempt to solve gun issue and find balance between personal liberties and safety.
January 8, 2013 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian reports that with the defeat of the marriage amendment and the Republican majorities that sponsored it, DFLers who favor marriage rights for same-sex couples see their opening in new legislative session. But opponents say the defeat of the amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman does not necessarily add up to support for same sex marriage.
January 11, 2013 - MPR’s Laura Yuen reports on local police, health, county attorney, and resource officials working together to find juvenile runaways and help the teens access social services or health care.
April 1, 2013 - MPR’s Jess Mador reports that Minnesota lawmakers Tim Walz and Amy Klobuchar are pushing legislation they say will help thousands of military veterans who were wrongly denied Veterans Administration benefits. They say thousands of veterans who may have had post-traumatic stress disorder were wrongly diagnosed.
April 3, 2013 - MPR’s Julie Siple reports that a group of Hmong leaders in the Twin Cities say more needs to be done to prevent violence within their community. A meeting at the Hmong Village in St. Paul came after several recent deadly cases, including a domestic dispute that left three people dead.
May 1, 2013 - The Minnesota Congressional delegation is in state due to congressional recess. The Daily Circuit checks in with Congressman Walz about current budget activity, The Stock Act, background checks on guns, and other federal legislation affecting the state or region. Walz also answers listener questions.
May 10, 2013 - MPR’s Tom Scheck looks at the quick turnaround in political efforts on same-sex marriage. Just two years prior, Republicans, who then controlled the Legislature, thought it would help them politically to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would ban same-sex marriage. That failed on the ballot, and now with a push from Democrat legislators, an amendment allowing same-sex marriage is poised to become law.
May 13, 2013 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports on the Minnesota Senate passage of bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state by a vote of 37-30, after more than four hours of debate. Only one Republican joined Democrats on the prevailing side, and three DFLers opposed the bill.
May 14, 2013 - All Thing’s Considered live coverage of Governor Mark Dayton signing a bill making gay marriage legal in Minnesota. It makes Minnesota the 12th state to take the step. MPR’s Tom Scheck describes the scene, as thousands of onlookers cheer.