February 5, 2007 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on a Wisconsin hunter's death and the designation of a hate crime. An issue of the nation's Hmong newspaper "Hmong Today" asks in bold headline whether death was an accident or a hate crime. Prosecutors in northeastern Wisconsin have charged James Nichols, who is white, with killing Cha Vang, who's Hmong. Nichols has claimed self-defense.
February 5, 2007 - In this installment from The Bookshelf series, MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with State Senator Mee Moua about books that are important to her. Moua came to the United States as a Hmong refugee when she was nine years old, and she said that even though she never read books when she was young, stories were a big part of her childhood, particularly when she lived in a refugee camp in Thailand.
February 12, 2007 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on potential Great Lakes Compact, a binding document between the eight Great Lakes states to adopt uniform state laws regulating water withdrawals. Minnesota laws are already stricter than possible compact.
February 12, 2007 - Ever thought about writing a memoir? Accomplished memoirists Patricia Hampl and Katherine Lanpher offered some advice in a forum at the Loft Literary Center.
February 14, 2007 - MPR’s Stephanie Hemphil profiles Joseph Kalar, a long-lost regional poet. Hemphill interviews Duluth poet Barton Sutter, who admires Kalar’s poetry; and poet Ted Genoways, who put together a collection of Kalar’s work, titled “Papermill.”
February 16, 2007 - MPR’s Chris Roberts talks with members of the band Army Defense, based out of Golden Valley. Army Defense has produced 20 albums containing 492 songs, but the players design each project primarily for their own entertainment, just because they get a kick out of going to such lengths. Segment includes music clips.
February 20, 2007 - DFLers Larry Pogemiller: Senate majority leader; and Larry Pogemiller, Speaker of the House, provide a Capitol progress report on where things stand almost two months into the session.
February 23, 2007 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports that researchers in Duluth say Lake Superior is quickly warming, even faster than the climate around the lake. They believe decreased lake ice over that last couple decades is behind the warming. With the water temperature change comes concerns over future impact for the local environment and lake species.
February 26, 2007 - Republican Norm Coleman, Minnesota's senior U.S. Senator, discusses the war in Iraq and other major issues facing Congress. He also takes questions from MPR listeners.
February 26, 2007 - MPR’s Stephanie Hemphill reports that commercial fishermen along the North Shore of Lake Superior could be allowed to bring more lake trout to market. A bill addressing the issue received a first hearing. Commercial trout fishing has been essentially banned on Lake Superior since the 1960s.