April 3, 2010 - The Minnesota Twins christened Target Field with an 8-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The exhibition game gave Twins players and staff a chance to get used to their new digs.
April 5, 2010 - The Vatican responds to charges that bishops and Pope Benedict himself did not act to prevent priests from sexually abusing children, saying that outsiders are persecuting church. Critics say secrecy still shrouds action against abuse perpetrators. Two who have worked to address the sex abuse problem within the Catholic church offer their perspectives.
April 8, 2010 - Nick Hayes, professor of history at Saint John's University in Collegeville, joins Midday in the studio to talk about his memoir "And One Fine Morning: Memories of My Father." The book traces his family origins and his father's story, including his father's experience growing up Catholic in Protestant Minneapolis.
April 9, 2010 - MPR’s Euan Kerr travels to Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins, with two baseball fans wanting to “grade” the ballpark. Accessibility is a major design element of the new facility and these baseball fans utilizing wheelchairs are particularly pleased about the new Twins ballpark.
April 12, 2010 - This is National Library Week, and one of the people out talking about the importance of libraries is Neil Gaiman. He's the award-winning author of "Coraline", "The Graveyard Book", several film scripts, and the Sandman comic book. Gaiman, who lives just outside the Twin Cities metro, is serving as honorary chair for the event. He told Euan Kerr he knows through personal experience libraries are more vital now than ever.
April 13, 2010 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on Duluth band Trampled by Turtles and their album “Palomino.” The band features banjo, mandolin and fiddle players but no drummer. It's built like a traditional bluegrass band, but presents a distinctly hybrid version based on a frenetic sound.
April 13, 2010 - After nearly three decades inside the Metrodome, the Twins move outdoors and beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2 behind hometown star Joe Mauer in the first regular-season game at their new ballpark, Target Field.
April 14, 2010 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer inteviews Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, a food writer for Minnesota Monthly, about Hmong food. Grumdahl discusses Hmongtown Marketplace and Hmong BBQ.
April 16, 2010 - A Minnesota attorney's battle against clergy child abuse has brought him to the gates of the Vatican. Jeffrey Anderson's recent disclosure of church documents that led all the way to the Pope is the latest development in his 30-year legal campaign. The effort has made him a millionaire. It's also made him reviled by some of the Catholic church's most faithful.
April 19, 2010 - Pope Benedict's response to recent revelations about sexual abuse by Catholic clergy has drawn a mixed reaction. Last week the Vatican declared that abuse allegations must be turned over to local law enforcement officials. And over the weekend the pope had an emotional meeting in Malta with victims of sexual abuse by priests. Skeptics say the pope needs to hold church officials accountable for protecting pedophile clerics. The pope's supporters include many Minnesota Catholics who say the church has made considerable progress over the last decade.