December 6, 2005 - 2,600 Minnesota Army National Guard troops are in Camp Shelby training for deployment in Iraq. What is on the minds of Minnesota's military personnel? Midday explores that in report profiling the Minnesota Army National Guard's First Brigade Combat Team, followed by a conversation with MPR reporter Mark Zdechlik.
December 7, 2005 - The Twin Cities are home to two of the nation's preeminent ethnic theaters. Voices of Minnesota profiles Lou Bellamy, director of the African American Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul; and Rick Shiomi, director of Minneapolis' Mu Performing Arts, which presents Asian-American theater and traditional Japanese Daiko drumming.
December 9, 2005 - MPR’s Stephanie Hemphill reports on Cheng-Khee Chee, one of Minnesota's best-known watercolor artists, who has published a book for children. It's called "Noel," and it's a free-flowing poem by Tony Johnston about the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned Christmas. Hemphill talked with the artist about the technique he used to convey the magic of an evening full of snow and Christmas bells.
December 12, 2005 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham reports on Andover’s TLC Toys, and the efforts of making wooden presents for needy children at Christmas time.
December 12, 2005 - Politicians of both parties are remembering former Democratic U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy for his activism and public service. McCarthy died Saturday in Washington, D.C. He was 89. McCarthy served two terms in the U.S. Senate, and before that five terms in the House of Representatives. But his political zenith came in 1968, when he challenged President Lyndon Johnson for the Democratic party nomination. McCarthy didn't win, but his opposition to the Vietnam War turned into a crusade that led to Johnson's withdrawl from the race. Former South Dakota Senator George McGovern was a friend of McCarthy and another opponent of the war.
December 15, 2005 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer hangs out with sports commentator Steve Rudolph as he does his “side gig” of playing music clips during Minnesota Wild games.
December 21, 2005 - MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews members of Jack Brass Band, one of the few New Orleans-style brass bands in the Upper Midwest. Erik Jacobson and Mike Olander discuss the band’s CD “You Don’t Know Me” and fellow musician friends in the brass band scene.
December 27, 2005 - James Lileks is a columnist for the Star Tribune Newspaper and the author of "Mommy Knows Worst: Highlights from the Golden Age of Bad Parenting Advice."
January 4, 2006 - A special Voices of Minnesota program, with Minnesota's highest-ranking elder statesman , Walter Mondale in the studio talking with MPR’s Gary Eichten.
January 16, 2006 - Author Nicole Kelby says she wanted to work out why she was so peculiar. During the 20 years she lived in Minnesota she worked with Dudley Riggs, Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater, Kevin Kling, and Channel 9 News. Then a few years ago, she moved back to her native Florida, in part to explore her own personality quirks. She describes the state as so undeniably beautiful that it warps people. Be that as it may, one of the results of Kelby's return is her new book, "Whale Season" which details strange going's on at a rural Florida strip bar.