September 13, 2013 - In 2012, electronic pulltabs debuted in Minnesota, to much promise. They failed. MPR’s Tim Nelson takes a look back at what went wrong, and what's next.
September 18, 2013 - Former Minnesota Governor and congressman Al Quie is celebrating a milestone today. The republican and thirty-fifth governor of the state turns 90 years old. Quie served in Congress for over 20 years, then in 1978, he was elected Governor and served one term. Al Quie joins us now tot alk about his career, and the state of things today.
September 23, 2013 - Curtis Wehmeyer, a St. Paul priest, is serving a five year prison sentence for sexually abusing two children and possessing child pornography. When he was sentenced, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis expressed regret, but assured the public that it had acted immediately. An MPR News investigation has found that top leaders knew of the priest's sexual behavior for nearly a decade before he pleaded guilty and didn't tell parishioners.
September 30, 2013 - MPR’s Elizabeth Dunbar reports about the rise of water demands and potential options in the metro area. Water conservation/restrictions, utilizing St. Paul water for other cities, and pumping water from the Mississippi River are among the ideas and efforts being discussed.
October 3, 2013 - The top deputy of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis resigned that post Thursday amid growing concerns about the church's approach to clergy sex abuse cases. The Rev. Peter Laird explained his sudden departure as vicar general in a statement posted on the archdiocese's website Thursday afternoon. "Over the last few years, this Archdiocese has made significant progress in many areas, including how we have strengthened policies and practices regarding clergy misconduct," Laird said in the statement. "I am hopeful my decision to step aside at this time, along with the formation of a new task force can help repair the trust of many, especially the victims of abuse." Archdiocese leaders, staff and priests, he added, "are sincerely committed to proactively addressing these difficult issues." Laird was featured in a Sept. 23 MPR News story detailing how the archdiocese knew of the sexual misbehavior of a priest, Fr. Curtis Wehmeyer, yet kept him in the ministry. The story reported Laird received a key 2011 memo on the allegations against Wehmeyer, who later pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two boys, ages 12 and 14, and possessing child pornography. A judge sentenced the priest to five years in prison.
October 18, 2013 - Richard Moe, Minnesota native and former chief of staff to Vice President Walter Mondale, brings readers into the world of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his latest book, "Roosevelt's Second Act." Moe explores the year 1940, what he deems a pivotal year of American history, through Roosevelt's complex character of actions and motivations as he considered pursuing a third term. Moe argues that Roosevelt's third term greatly changed d America's foreign policy and changed the way people perceived the presidency.
October 25, 2013 - Justin Miner joins MPR’s Cathy Wurzer for an interview on Morning Edition. He talks about his personal experience with ghosts and some places in Minnesota that are haunted.
October 29, 2013 - Interview with Jack El-Hai, author of the book, 'Nonstop, a turbulent history of Northwest Airlines.
November 4, 2013 - On this episode of The Daily Circuit, Kerri Miller talks with writer Garrison Keillor, who says that poets who think their art is an opportunity to communicate the bleakness of their lives should reconsider.
November 8, 2013 - When hard-living, hard-partying Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof received some very bad news in 1985, he likely had no idea that his life would inspire a movie.