January 26, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports on folks in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin digging out from a near-record snowfall. After five years of wimpy winters, Duluth had several days of frigid temperatures, and now - lots of snow.
February 3, 2004 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on the state of the indie record store in the age of digital. After years of slumping CD sales and the illegal downloading of songs, the music retail industry is finally embracing the digital age. Online music sales through companies such as Apple Computer, Napster and even Walmart are growing, and several major record labels are converting their music catalogs to digital. Many industry observers say the shift to digital delivery of music spells doom for the independent record store. Yet, the few such stores that remain in the Twin Cities say reports of their impending death may be premature. Roberts interviews various people in the industry, including Steve Pearson, buyer at Electric Fetus; Ryan Cameron, owner of Let it Be Records; Paul Stark, co-founder of Twin/Tone Records; and Chris Wester, managing director of Down in the Valley.
February 5, 2004 - Every year the U.S. imports more food, even though the country produces enough to feed itself, even though the country produces enough to feed itself. The tastes of American consumers are changing. Big city or small town, they're looking for food from all over the world. As Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports, many of those consumers are new arrivals to the country.
February 9, 2004 - Minnesota residents talk a lot about the great quality of life they have. The state has enjoyed a national reputation for good schools and supportive children's programs…but that image has taken a hit lately. Funding for low income daycare has been chopped and lawmakers will struggle again in 2004 to make up a deficit that could total $500 million dollars. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports that it's a situation that may leave some families, scrambling to pay the daycare bill.
February 10, 2004 - There are only a few places in the country considered hotbeds for emerging biotechnology industries and Minnesota isn't one of them. Governor Pawlenty hopes to change that with an initiative to strengthen a biotech corridor in the Twin Cities and Rochester. But some say biotech businesses could also spur economic development in rural Minnesota. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports that leaders in Bemidji are exploring ways to develop a mini biotech cluster of their own.
February 16, 2004 - What compells someone to run for president? Host Gary Eichten and his guest explore the characteristics of the men who have served as commander in chief.Guest: William Doyle, president historian and author of "Inside the Oval Office: The White House Tapes from FDR to Clinton."
February 24, 2004 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Kevin Odegard, a Minneapolis musician involved in the South Minneapolis re-recording session of Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks” album. Odegard discusses the experience and book on the subject, titled “A Simple Twist of Fate.” Segment includes music clips.
February 24, 2004 - Photographer Jim Brandenburg reflects on his friend, Paul Gruchow, who died on February 22nd, 2004 in Duluth. Gruchow was 56 years old. Brandenburg worked with Gruchow at the Worthington newspaper and later collaborated with him on several books. He says he was inspired by his friend and co-worker.
February 24, 2004 - Gruchow made countless appearances on Minnesota Public Radio. In October of 1997, he was a guest on the Midmorning program. He spoke about how the natural environment impacted him as a person.
February 25, 2004 - Author and Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent, Judith Miller, on the threat of biological warfare. She is the author of "Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War".