January 19, 2009 - MPR listeners and special guests discuss what it means on this MLK Day as Barack Obama, the the nation's first Black U.S. president, is to be inaugurated in the coming day.
January 23, 2009 - As part of a weekly NewsCut focus, MPR’s Bob Collins embarks on a set of college tours to see how the tough economy is impacting young people. In this segment, Collins visits Vermillion Community College in Ely, Minnesota.
January 26, 2009 - It's been a good day for local writers. Both of the top awards from the American Library Association, the Newbery and Randolph Caldecott medals went to books with Minnesota and Wisconsin connections. The Newbery Medal for Children's literature went to Neil Gaiman for "The Graveyard Book." It's the story of a young boy adopted by the ghosts and other supernatural spirits who live in an old cemetary. Gaiman who lives in Western Wisconsin is known for his work writing comic books, novels, and film scripts. He is in Los Angeles for the release of the film adaptation of another of his children's books "Coraline." He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr he was still a little stunned.
January 26, 2009 - Another local author in a good mood today is Susan Marie Swanson. She's the author of this year's Caldecott Award-winning best *picture book*. It's called the "The House in the Night" and the winning illustrations in it were done by Beth Krommes.
January 29, 2009 - As part of a weekly NewsCut focus, MPR’s Bob Collins embarks on a set of college tours to see how the tough economy is impacting young people. In this segment, Collins visits Minneapolis Community and Technical College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
February 4, 2009 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with St. Paul Pioneer Press theater critic and self-described poetry rube Dominic Papatola about the state of poetry in Minnesota. They also discuss Graywolf Press book of poetry by Elizabeth Alexander, who recited one of her works at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
February 9, 2009 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson visits a few hardy souls in Twin Valley playing a softball game with a decidedly Minnesota twist. The Moonshiners Snowmobile Club team use their snowmobiles to "run" around the bases.
February 12, 2009 - As part of a weekly NewsCut focus, MPR’s Bob Collins embarks on a set of college tours to see how the tough economy is impacting young people. In this segment, Collins visits the Worthington Campus of Minneapolis Community and Technical College in Worthington, Minnesota.
February 12, 2009 - Interview excerpt with Penumbra Theatre’s Lou Bellamy on the organization’s budget cuts and plan to postpone its final production of the current season until the 2009-2010 season, while preserving its important programs.
February 12, 2009 - The Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, the largest professional African American theater in the country, announced its trimming budget by almost a quarter and pushing a major production into next year as a result of the economic downturn.