January 23, 2004 - The St. Paul-based Great American History Theater's current production, "Joe", is about a former Catholic priest who becomes an advocate for poor people. The one man play is about Minneapolis activist Joe Selvaggio, the founder of Project of Pride in Living. PPL helps poor people find housing and work. Actor Jim Stowell shows Joe the rebellious Catholic priest, the protester and Joe the self-described pest as he raises money from rich people.
January 26, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports on folks in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin digging out from a near-record snowfall. After five years of wimpy winters, Duluth had several days of frigid temperatures, and now - lots of snow.
January 30, 2004 - Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist, Thomas Friedman, speaking Thursday on his experiences working in Minneapolis, Beirut, and Jerusalem. The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Friedman, a St. Louis Park native, is the author of many books, including "Longitudes and Attitudes: The World in the Age of Terrorism."
February 1, 2004 - Host Krista Tippett focuses on gathering a basic picture of what really happened in the fluid early years of Christianity. Why were some of the books early Christians read included in the Bible while others were left out? How did it happen that modern Christians inherited an erroneous view of women in the early Church, including Mary Magdalene? Voices: Luke Timothy Johnson, R.W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Bernadette Brooten, Kraft-Hiatt Professor of Christian Studies at Brandeis University, and Program Director of The Feminist Sexual Ethics Project.
February 3, 2004 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on the state of the indie record store in the age of digital. After years of slumping CD sales and the illegal downloading of songs, the music retail industry is finally embracing the digital age. Online music sales through companies such as Apple Computer, Napster and even Walmart are growing, and several major record labels are converting their music catalogs to digital. Many industry observers say the shift to digital delivery of music spells doom for the independent record store. Yet, the few such stores that remain in the Twin Cities say reports of their impending death may be premature. Roberts interviews various people in the industry, including Steve Pearson, buyer at Electric Fetus; Ryan Cameron, owner of Let it Be Records; Paul Stark, co-founder of Twin/Tone Records; and Chris Wester, managing director of Down in the Valley.
February 5, 2004 - Every year the U.S. imports more food, even though the country produces enough to feed itself, even though the country produces enough to feed itself. The tastes of American consumers are changing. Big city or small town, they're looking for food from all over the world. As Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports, many of those consumers are new arrivals to the country.
February 9, 2004 - Minnesota residents talk a lot about the great quality of life they have. The state has enjoyed a national reputation for good schools and supportive children's programs…but that image has taken a hit lately. Funding for low income daycare has been chopped and lawmakers will struggle again in 2004 to make up a deficit that could total $500 million dollars. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports that it's a situation that may leave some families, scrambling to pay the daycare bill.
February 10, 2004 - There are only a few places in the country considered hotbeds for emerging biotechnology industries and Minnesota isn't one of them. Governor Pawlenty hopes to change that with an initiative to strengthen a biotech corridor in the Twin Cities and Rochester. But some say biotech businesses could also spur economic development in rural Minnesota. Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports that leaders in Bemidji are exploring ways to develop a mini biotech cluster of their own.
February 17, 2004 - William McManus was sworn in today as the new chief of the Minneapolis Police Department. He replaces Robert Olson, who's leaving after nine years. McManus was previously the police chief in Dayton, Ohio. He says his first priority is to address any negative stereotypes about the police department.
February 23, 2004 - Ralph Nader announced Sunday that he will run as an Independent candidate in this year's presidential race. He is telling Democrats not to panic over his candidacy. He says he thinks he'll attract conservatives and other independents who are frustrated with President Bush's policies -- but that he won't lure away a lot of Democratic voters.