December 13, 2002 - Award-winning children's book author Mary Casanova takes young readers into the world of 18th century Versailles in her new book "Cecile: Gates of Gold". Casanova's previous books have mostly been set in Minnesota's north woods--a setting inspired by her own backyard near the Canadian border. Her latest book follows 12-year-old Cecile in the court of Versailles in the year 1711. Mary Casanova spoke to Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham and said it was a challenge to convey the grandeur of Versailles.
December 16, 2002 - Curt Johnson, former executive director of the Citizens League, former chief of staff to Gov. Arne Carlson, and former chair of the Metropolitan Council, answers questions surrounding the state budget. The early stages of the budget debate have put people into two camps: those who say the state has to raise taxes to solve the budget shortfall and those who say the state spends too much and it's time to cut back. Is it possible for the state to reform the way it delivers services? Can Minnesota preserve the quality of service government provides, but cut the cost of providing those services?
December 17, 2002 - MPR’s Laura McCallum examines Governor Jesse Ventura’s legacy, taking a look at taxes, state budget, education, light rail, deficit, and judiciary.
December 19, 2002 - Over the past 20 years, the memoir has become one of the most popular and influential forms of literature. Patricia Hampl is credited with pioneering the memoir with her groundbreaking work, "A Romantic Education," published in 1981. She is currently a University of Minnesota Regents professor. Eva Hoffman is the author of three critically acclaimed works of nonfiction, including her widely read memoir about the immigration experience, "Lost in Translation." She is also winning rave reviews for her new novel, "The Secret."Patricia Hampl and Eva Hoffman discuss the memoir as a literary form. This broadcast is part of the University of Minnesota's "Great Conversations" series, and is called "The Art of Remembering."
December 20, 2002 - MPR’s Annie Feidt reports on a group of Hmong teenage girls from St. Paul leaving for Thailand and Laos to retrace the journey their parents took to this country. They're calling their trip "the Homeland Project."
December 24, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with church bell ringers in the Twin Cities.
January 7, 2003 - MPR’s Euan Kerr interviews local musician David Levin about his CD "Zuni." Levin is part of a song circle, a group of individual musicians who meet to play their own songs, and to accompany one another.
January 14, 2003 - As part of the series “A Lesson on Learning: Behind No Child Left Behind,” MPR reporter Dan Olson reports on varied views of parents on the federal education law and it’s impacts.
January 17, 2003 - Many state agencies are looking for ways to trim their budgets in light of Governor Tim Pawlenty's proposal for fixing the $356 million shortfall in fiscal year. One of those agencies is the Metropolitan Council, which takes a $2.6 million cut in the governor's plan. Peter Bell, the new chair for the Met Council, talks about future plans and budget priorities.
January 17, 2003 - Five Hmong high school girls from St. Paul are back from a two-week trip to Thailand and Laos. They called the trip the Homeland Project. The girls hoped seeing their parents' homeland and meeting relatives they had only heard about would help them understand the deep cultural gap that separates them from their parents. MPR’s Greta Cuningham interviews three members of the group, Soua Yang, Cindy Xiong, and adult chaperone Gunnar Liden.