October 3, 2005 - August Wilson moved to St. Paul in 1978 where he got his first paying job as a writer, composing educational scripts for the Science Museum of Minnesota. He lived here until 1990 and it was during that time that he began writing the set of plays that would make him famous. In 1991, Minnesota Public Radio aired a documentary about the playwright and his work. It is called "August Wilson's Sacred Book." Here is an excerpt narrated by Beth Friend.
October 19, 2005 - What do baseball great Lou Gehrig and the biblical history of the modern-day Middle East have in common? Well, admittedly, not much, except that two nationally renowned authors who wrote books on those subjects were in town Sunday to talk about their books.Jonathan Eig, author of "Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig," and Bruce Feiler, who wrote "Where God Was Born: A Journey By Land to the Roots of Religion."
November 24, 2005 - This year's edition of "Giving Thanks" includes music, poetry, stories and much more. One highlight is a rare recording of Charles Laughton in which the actor connects his personal discovery of Chartres Cathedral with an excerpt from Jack Kerouac's "The Dharma Bums" and the 104th Psalm.
December 15, 2005 - The play-writing world lost two of its titans in 2005 -- Arthur Miller in February, in August Wilson in October. The lives and works of both men were discussed at length at the times of their respective deaths, but now that we have a little distance, maybe we can talk without all the flowery language and rose-colored glasses about their legacy.
May 1, 2006 - La Velle Neal, who covers the Minnesota Twins for the Star Tribune, comments on a brutal road trip for team, leaving behind a 3-12 record. In one three-game stint, the Twins were outscored 33-1.
May 11, 2006 - Dominic Papatola, MPR arts commentator and St. Paul Pioneer Press theater critic, discusses the potrayal of contemporary social issues at local theaters.
July 28, 2006 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham talks with baseball writer La Velle Neal about the winning-streak Minnesota Twins as they go up against the Detroit Tigers, the best team in Major League Baseball. Neal highlights Twins player Nick Punto and playoff chances for the team.
August 25, 2006 - Between visits to the spin art booth and cookie stand, Minneapolis poet Leslie Ball sat down, took a look around, and wrote this.
August 28, 2006 - It was a bit rainy this morning at the Minnesota State Fair, so Minneapolis poet Leslie Ball headed inside, where she got a demonstration of a trade from the past; that of woodworking.
August 29, 2006 - Minneapolis Leslie Bell visits the Miracle of Birth Center where you can see all sorts of farm animals giving birth…including sheep.