March 11, 1999 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman presents a series titled “This Is Home: The Hmong in Minnesota.” In this part, Nyman reports on an increasing number of Hmong Americans returning to visit their homeland of Laos…or Thailand, where refugee camps became home for thousands after the war ended in 1975 and Laos became a communist country.
March 12, 1999 - Tom Gillaspy, Minnesota state demographer; and Jane Graupman, of the International Institute of Minnesota, provide an update on immigrants in Minnesota, how many there are, where they are coming from now, where they have come from in the recent past and throughout history. Gillaspy and Graupman also answer listener questions.
March 12, 1999 - MPR’s Vaughn Ormseth takes a look at Einojuhani Rautavaara, one of Finland’s best-loved composers. Rautavaara has come to Minnesota with new work, "Finlands Spirit: Rautavaara." The premiere is sponsored by the Plymouth Music series, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and St. Olaf College.
March 12, 1999 - The University of Minnesota's men's basketball team was eliminated yesterday in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Their season ended on a controversial note as four players -- including two starters -- were declared ineligible for the game after allegations of academic fraud surfaced earlier this week.
March 12, 1999 -
March 12, 1999 - Midday presents a MPR documentary special by MPR’s Lynette Nyman about the Hmong people in Minnesota, called “This Is Home: The Hmong in Minnesota.” Program explores the ways members of St. Paul's Hmong community wrestle with issues of culture and identity, with maintaining ties to the past, and seeking to thrive in modern urban America.
March 15, 1999 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman profiles the play "Hmong! The C-I-A's Secret Army" being staged at the Great American History Theatre in St Paul. The play is based on a screen play written by Lee Vang, a Hmong American in Minnesota. The production tells the story of the ‘secret war’ in Laos through a real-life love story.
March 16, 1999 - Chris Farrell, MPR's senior business and economics editor, discusses big news on Wall Street…the first time in history the DOW went over 10,000. Farrell also answers listener questions.
March 17, 1999 - A profile of St. Paul composer Eric Stokes, who died in a car accident at the age of 68. Report includes a portion of Composer’s Voice 1993 interview with Stokes.
March 17, 1999 - Crop disease and low prices are taking a financial and emotional toll on farmers in the region. Many are struggling with depression. Lowell Nelson was a successful farmer near Moorhead for more than 30 years. At one time his net worth was more than a million dollars. Now, he's broke and for the first time in his life won't be working in the fields this spring. He's also getting treatment for his depression.