May 20, 2013 - MPR presents a speech and commentary from U.S. Representative Tim Walz, a Democrat who represents Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. Walz tells the audience during a recent speech at the University of Minnesota that if America cares about national security, it needs to maintain moral authority in the world and address the complex issues involved in the use of drones.
May 22, 2013 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian profiles Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for Minnesotans United for All Families. Carlbom led organization to two historic victories: the defeat of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage last November, and the recent passage of the same-sex marriage bill.
June 28, 2013 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles several women's Hmong American flag football teams as they prepare to compete at this year's Hmong Freedom Celebration. Playing the game was a formidable cultural hurdle the young Hmong American women had to overcome, as families place a high value on women as wives, rather than competitors.
July 1, 2013 - With first same-sex wedding ceremonies taking place in Minnesota starting August 1st, 2013, MPR’s Rupa Shenoy reports the anticipation of that day was evident at Twin Cities Pride over the weekend. Instead of an area for commitment ceremonies as there has been in previous years, there was a showcase for wedding businesses that want to help couples with their plans.
July 15, 2013 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson rides along with Kevin Kenow, a research wildfile biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, who nets a loon on South Turtle Lake in Otter Tail County. Kenow is looking for special tags that track where loons travel and how deep they dive.
July 22, 2013 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian looks at discussions happening in different religious communities in the state after same-sex marriage became law. Religious institutions played a big role in the long, emotional and sometimes contentious debate Minnesotans had leading up to the Legislature's vote to legalize same-sex marriage. While churches are not required to perform same-sex weddings, Minnesota law against discrimination based on sexual orientation does apply to others who might play a role in wedding celebrations.
July 24, 2013 - A landslide killed two of the students and injured two others as they hunted fossils at the base of a Mississippi River bluff. Now, some of their parents, speaking publicly for the first time, say teachers at Peter Hobart Elementary School should have provided more information about the nature of the park.
August 1, 2013 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian reports on the first legally wed same-sex marriages performed just after midnight on August 1st, 2013. Report includes clips and interviews from ceremonies at Minneapolis City Hall.
August 9, 2013 - Is there room in the hyper-masculine hip-hop world for gay artists? Minneapolis rapper Kevin "Kaoz" Moore thinks so. MPR’s Nikki Tundel interviews Moore about being Black and gay in the rap music scene.
August 12, 2013 - MPR’s Annie Baxter reports that with the supply of homes in the Twin Cities hitting 10-year lows, homebuyers are facing stiff competition for houses. Many even encounter bidding wars for properties.