November 8, 2006 - All Things Considered’s Tom Crann interviews Sam Hurd, a student at Mankato West High School West, who took a geography class with Tim Walz as his teacher. Hurd describes the experience, noting Walz as both ‘worldy’ and ‘normal guy.’
November 8, 2006 - In one of the state's biggest election upsets, Minnesota's 1st Congressional District has gone democratic, with first time candidate Tim Walz winning the race with 53% of the vote. He defeated Republican six-term incumbent Gil Gutknecht.
November 14, 2006 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Ilean Her, executive director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, about a new census report that shows that while some minority groups are struggling economically, the Hmong community in Minnesota has made significant gains. Their per capita income jumped up fifty percent over the last five years.
November 17, 2006 - It’s been thirty years since Hmong began arriving in Minnesota. MPR's Toni Randolph interviews Leng Wong, one of the first arrivals that came in the mid-70s. That small initial group now is a community of more than 50-thousand strong.
November 21, 2006 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minnesota’s Justin Morneau has been named the American League's Most Valuable Player. Morneau's selection by the Baseball Writers of America comes a week after Johan Santana was named the league's Cy Young award winner. Morneau led New York’s Derek Jeter and the Red Sox's David Ortiz for the honor.
November 22, 2006 - What's a person to do if they're a new American and this is their first Thanksgiving? MPR’s Greta Cunningham spoke to some students at the Lincoln Adult Education Center in Minneapolis as they mark their first encounters with turkeys and pumpkin pies.
November 23, 2006 - MPR’s Steven John talks with Edwin and Irina Haller of Duluth. Several Russian immigrants gathered this evening for a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner at their home, including Alexander Chohnuhshoff.
December 1, 2006 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles Doomtree, a new hip hop collective hitting the Twin Cities music scene. Roberts interviews members of the group on the collective’s creation. Roberts also talks with local music critic about the group.
December 1, 2006 - On this World AIDS Day, Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Andy Ansell, a health education coordinator with the Minnesota AIDS Project. Andy's been living with HIV for 19 years and shares his experience.
December 4, 2006 - A new foundation has awarded three Minnesota artists with substantial grants. United States Artists is a new organization dedicated to supporting America's finest living artists. Starting this year it plans to award 50 grants of 50-thousand dollars each. Minnesota recipients include theater director Dominique Serrand, and writers Susan Power and Sandra Benitez . Benitez says she's thrilled that there's a new foundation directly supporting artists.