March 17, 1998 - Steven Schier, political science professor at Carleton College, discusses poll taken in Minnesota which showed that not many people know who their U.S. Senators are. Does this matter? Why does it happen? Schier also answers listener questions.
March 17, 1998 - For fifteen years, the group Boiled in Lead has taken its unique blend of celtic, east europeon and world music around the globe, while always calling the Twin Cities home. The band has built such a rabid following, its fans are referred to as ‘leadheads.’ Founder and bass player Drew Miller talks with MPR’s Chris Roberts about release of compilation CD “Alloy.”
March 18, 1998 - Tom Peters, best-selling author and management guru, discusses his latest book The Circle of Innovation: You Can't Shrink Your Way to Greatness. Peters talks of risks of technology and realities of business economy. He also answers listener questions.
March 18, 1998 - MPR’s Chris Farrell and economist Arthur Rolnick discuss the potential concerns of deflation and answer listener questions.
March 18, 1998 - Uncovering family secrets is the theme of the latest play at the Great American History Theater in St. Paul. "Conversations about Hannah" is the story of Janie, a young woman who's trying to get her grandmother to tell her stories about family members she never knew. First-time playwright Ann Schulman drew on her own family's history as Jewish immigrants living on St. Paul's West Side in the 1930's.
March 18, 1998 - As the editor of the Hungry Mind Review for the last decade and a half Bart Schneider has been examining and critiquing books by others. Now he is experiencing the other side of the literary equation as his first novel "Blue Bossa" is published.
March 18, 1998 - Governor Carlson says he supports spending 50 million dollars in state money on a light rail transit line between downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of the America with a stop at the Twin Cities Airport. Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Airports Commission voted to spend 150 million dollars for new parking ramps, road improvements and a skyway connection between two airport concourses. This is just a small part of a 1.7 billion dollar airport expansion project that is designed to accommodate growth in airport traffic through the year 2010. After that, another billion dollars may have to be spent on a brand new terminal. John Himle sits on the airports commission.
March 19, 1998 - Dr. Donald Hensrud, professor of preventive medicine and nutrition at Mayo Medical School and Mayo Clinic, discusses vitamins and how they relate to cancer and nutrition. Hensrud also answer listener questions.
March 19, 1998 - Minneapolis playwright Kim Hines tells the story of three prominent African American women of the time who are largely unknown to most Minnesotans. Hines has written monologues portraying the life of businesswoman Amanda Lyle, social worker Gertrude Brown, and attorney Lena Smith.
March 19, 1998 - State funding for a new Saint Paul hockey arena could be in jeopardy because of questions surrounding a deal between the Minnesota Wild Hockey Team and the company it chose to oversee construction of the arena. The team awarded the construction contract to Minneapolis -based M.A. Mortensen after the company paid the team's 100-thousand dollar NHL initiation fee. We get an update from John Knapp who lobbies on behalf of the Minnesota Business Partnership at the state legislature.