January 7, 2011 - Immigrant farmers are fixtures at farmers' markets in the Twin Cities. But they don't sell as much to restaurants, grocery store chains, or direct to consumers through CSAs. In Minnesota, these are barriers that Hmong, Latino and African farmers face as they try to make a living off the land.
January 7, 2011 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Ilean Her, executive director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, about the death General Vang Pao. Hmong Americans across the country are mourning the loss of a leader.
January 7, 2011 - MPR’s Dan Olson profiles General Vang Pao, a key U.S. ally during the Vietnam War, who died in California at the age of 81. The military leader is described by admirers as a warrior chieftain of the 18 Hmong clans he helped lead. General Pao was a familiar figure in Minnesota, home to the country's second largest Hmong population, including some of his family members.
January 14, 2011 - All Things Considered’s Tom Crann speaks with U.S. Representative Tim Walz about “Congress on Your Corner” events taking place, even after the horrific event in Tucson where U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords and 18 others were shot during a constituent meeting held in a supermarket parking lot. Walz shares his belief on the importance of events and tone of dialog amongst legislators.
January 19, 2011 - MPR’s Jess Mador reports on "The Value of One Life," a photo exhibit at the Minnesota History Center that features Minnesotans who've survived serious illnesses, deadly accidents, even the Holocaust. One of the eight people featured is Koua Fong Lee. The St. Paul man spent more than 2 1/2 years in prison on a conviction of criminal vehicular homicide, after his Toyota Camry was involved in an accident that killed three people and left two others injured.
January 26, 2011 - Minnesotans Al Eisele and Bill Frenzel, each with more than 40 years of participation in Washington politics and journalism, join Midday to discuss how Minnesota's power and influence has ebbed and flowed over the years.
February 2, 2011 - MPR’s Laura Yuen reports on the 23rd annual National Conference on LGBT Equality being held in downtown Minneapolis. As part of report, Yuen talks with longtime local gay residents Tom Trisko and John Rittman, who see acceptance toward gay and lesbian couples having broadened beyond their imagination in the past three decades.
February 3, 2011 - Pete Hautman has won a National Book Award for his young adult novels, and while he loves the genre, he says there are reasons not to write young adult fiction. He explains why, and talks about his newest novel.
February 4, 2011 - MPR’s Euan Kerr reports on Minnesota guitarist Dean Magraw and tabla-player Marcus Wise, and their 30 years of collaboration culminating in CD "How the Light Gets In."
February 7, 2011 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles Minneapolis rapper and emcee Carnage the Executioner, aka Terrell Woods. Roberts interviews Carnage the Executioner about his personal life and album “Worth the Wait." Roberts also talks with others in the music industry about Carnage the Executioner’s talents.