September 5, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland presents a profile of Bill Janklow's political career. He's been South Dakota’s attorney general, governor and now the state's sole U.S. representative. To some he's a hero: a champion for the underdog, and a great leader in the face of fires, floods and tornadoes. But to others he's a bully, who doesn't just beat his opponents, he obliterates them.
September 5, 2003 - MPR's Brandt Williams reports on lower attendance for home Twins games in 2003. Some baseball insiders are wondering where the fans are. Attendance at the Metrodome is behind 2002, and TV ratings are down significantly. Team officials say they're not worried about the numbers and say they expect crowds to increase as the season draws to a close.
September 12, 2003 - Johnny Cash, "The Man in Black" who became a towering figure in American music with such hits as Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk the Line and A Boy Named Sue, died Friday. He was 71. Featured guests include: Public Radio's American Routes host Nick Spitzer; Ken Hippler, host of the country music show, Good and Country, on KFAI.
September 16, 2003 - All Things Considered’s David Molpus interviews Gorden Wittenmyer, who covers the Twins for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, about big series against Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox. The Twins’ chief rival for the American League Central Division crown is in town for the first game of a three-game series.
September 18, 2003 - The Twins will be trying to sweep their three game series with the Chicago White Sox when the teams take the field in the Metrodome. With a 4-2 victory the previous night, the Twins fattened their Central Division lead over the White Sox to two-and-a-half games.
September 18, 2003 - On his 80th birthday, former Minnesota Governor Al Quie joins MPR Midday host Gary Eichten to discuss his life and political career. Quie also answers listener questions.
September 19, 2003 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports on Minnesota Twins completion of a three game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 5-3 victory at the Metrodome. The win gives the Twins a three-and-a-half game lead over the White Sox in their race for the division title and a spot in the playoffs.
September 19, 2003 - Attorney General John Ashcroft brushed aside critics of the USA Patriot Act on Friday, saying the United States was freer and safer than it was two years ago. "American is more secure today than two years ago, and it's safer and freer than at any time in the history of human freedom," he said.
September 24, 2003 - The Minnesota Twins clinched the Central Division title and made the MLB playoffs for second straight year. The Twins 4-1 victory over Cleveland at the Metrodome, coupled with losses by Kansas City and Chicago, clinched the division title. After the Twins game ended, fans watched the end of the other games on the Metrodome scoreboard and then celebrated the title. LaVelle Neal, who covers the Twins for the Star Tribune, was there and joins Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer to describe the scene.
September 24, 2003 - Author Tracy Kidder has made his name by writing about ordinary people's lives and finding drama where few others would think to look. He established himself with "The Soul of a New Machine," a book detailing the human interactions behind the rush to create a new computer. It won Kidder both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, and has since become the definitive book about the technology industry. He's also written about building a home, school children, a nursing home and the town of Northhampton, Massachusetts. Kidder's latest work, however, details the extraordinary. "Mountains Beyond Mountains" tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer, an infectious-disease specialist and anthropologist who's made caring for the world's poorest and sickest his life's work. Kidder followed him to Peru, Cuba, Siberia and Haiti, chronicling his tireless efforts to bring medicine to those most in need.