April 26, 2001 - As part of Mainstreet Radio series Broken Trust: Civil Rights in Indian Country, MPR’s Bob Rhea reports on the fight for religious freedom of Native Americans, including those incarcerated.
April 26, 2001 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports that Minnesota counties are concerned about a legislative proposal to cut off cash welfare payments to thousands of Minnesotans starting next summer. County officials fear they will be responsible for paying the cost of caring for those who lose state assistance. Advocacy groups say many of Minnesota’s working poor will forced to seek charity to survive….but the author of the House bill says those concerns are largely unfounded.
April 27, 2001 - Midday presents a collection of Mainstreet Radio stories from MPR's Indian civil rights series Broken Trust: Civil Rights in Indian Country, followed by an interview with Joe Day, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. Day shares his thoughts and answers listener questions.
April 27, 2001 - As part of Mainstreet Radio series Broken Trust: Civil Rights in Indian Country, MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on free speech within the Indian reservation.
May 1, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson visits the Metrodome during a Minnesota Twins practice to chat with players, including Doug Mientkiewicz, who joined the Twins in 1999. Mientkiewicz was sent back down to the minors after a disappointing season, but has since come back strong. In the early 2001 season, He has a 13 game hitting streak and leads the Twins in key offensive categories: .380 average, six home runs, and 21 RBIs.
May 2, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter, who has been with the team since he was drafted right out of high school in 1993. Hunter says he didn't get serious about baseball until he turned 15, because he was obsessed with another sport…football.
May 3, 2001 - One of Minnesota's award-winning children's authors is out with a new book. Kate Dicamillo's won the Newbery Honor for her first story, "Because of Winn-Dixie." Now she's written "The Tiger Rising," which follows a boy named Rob, his friend Sistine, and a live tiger Rob finds while walking through the Florida woods. Dicamillo says her main goal was to write a good story.
May 7, 2001 - MPR’s Tasya Rosenfeld talks with Blois Olson about Minneapolis DFL convention. Supporters of Sharon Sayles Belton are questioning what went wrong for the mayor at the Minneapolis DFL endorsing convention. Newcomer R.T. Rybak pulled off a political upset, finishing with a dozen more votes than the mayor. It wasn't enough to reach the 60 percent necessary for party endorsement, but it did prevent the endorsement from going to Sayles Belton or city councilmember Lisa McDonald.
May 7, 2001 - MPR’s Marisa Helms reports on a two day conference on Tibetan medicine, which coincides with Dalai Lama's visit to Minnesota. The healing practices are one of the oldest forms of medicine, dating back to the 4th century AD. The main components involve dietary and lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, and massage. Minnesota has the country's second-largest Tibetan Buddhist community.
May 7, 2001 - The Minnesota Twins may be back at the State Capitol to jumpstart their push for a new stadium. Last month, the ballpark legislation was tabled in a House committee, leading many lawmakers to declare the proposal dead. But the unexpected strength of the team on the field may be turning public sentiment…and some legislators are taking notice.