January 5, 2011 - All Things Considered’s Tom Crann checks in with U.S. Representative Tim Walz as the new session of legislators are set to be sworn in, with Republicans taking control of Congress. It is a different experience for Walz, when Democrats took control of Congress four years ago. Walz comments that all are there to serve, no matter the party affiliation.
January 5, 2011 - Former Twins pitcher Bert Blyeven finally learned that he has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. To be selected, a player needs to be listed on at least 75% of the ballots submitted by baseball writers. After 13 straight years of falling short of that threshold, Blyleven was picked by 79% of the writers this year to earn his spot in the Hall.
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.