May 7, 2005 - MPR’s Dan Olson interviews Ric Jost, a disabled veteran who is competing in the 2005 National Veterans Wheelchair Games held in Minnesota. Jost shares how the games help build the self-confidence to cope with his disability. The event is the 25th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, but the first held in Minnesota.
May 9, 2005 - Relatives of St. Paul police sergeant Gerald Vick spoke out today about their loss. Vick was shot early Friday morning while undercover on prostitution detail in east St. Paul. Vick's brother Ken shared memories with reporters this afternoon about Jerry Vick and the "giant void" that was created by his death. Ken Vick says he respected the work his brother did. He said his brother just wanted to help people.
May 10, 2005 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and school Superintendent Thandiwe Peebles today assured Hmong community leaders they are working on school bus safety. The Minneapolis officials attended a gathering with Mai Chao Xiong, the mother of a kindergartner struck and killed by his school bus in April. The accident occurred shortly after the bus dropped 5 year old Kong Meng Vang at his stop. Peebles says she has been told such deaths have happened before in Minneapolis , but she says they won't happen again.
May 11, 2005 - Several thousand people, including hundreds of police officers from across the Upper Midwest, were in St. Paul today to honor one of their own. Funeral services for St. Paul Police Sergeant Gerald Vick were held at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church on the city's East Side. Vick was shot and killed in the line of duty last Friday.
May 13, 2005 - MPR’s Toni Randolph explores The Illusion Theater’s latest production "Undesirable Elements: Ten Years Later." The downtown Minneapolis theater explores the mixed reception immigrants and other minorities have received upon arriving to the U.S.
May 13, 2005 - St. Paul police officials say they are reviewing their department's alcohol policy in light of tests that determined Sgt. Gerald Vick had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit when he was gunned down one week ago. Officials say they knew about Vick's high blood alcohol level very soon after the shooting and that they still have a case against Harry Evans the man who's been charged with killing Vick. They insist, despite the drinking, the charge should be murder of peace officer which could put Evans in prison for the rest of his life. Lawyers with the Ramsey County Public Defenders Office say they're concerned that information about Vick's blood alcohol level is only coming out now.
May 15, 2005 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on Minneapolis DFL convention results. A 12-hour convention for the Minneapolis DFL party over the weekend failed to produce an endorsement for either Mayor R.T. Rybak or challenger Peter McLaughlin. After five ballots, McLaughlin was leading 53 percent to Rybak's 45 percent before the delegates voted to award no endorsement. The two candidates now head for the primary.
May 16, 2005 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on a new instrument, called a cleophone. Minneapolis inventor, Dave Krejci, talks about design of his new creation and the unique sounds it emits.
May 16, 2005 - MPR’s Jeff Horwich looks at lessons learned about global marketing. Horwich reports on a snafu from company giant Nike, to the success story of Minnesota company Aveda.
May 16, 2005 - Film director Robert Altman is set to direct a movie based on Garrison Keillors 'A Prairie Home Companion' over the summer. Altman who is known for such hits as "MASH", "Nashville" and "The Player" says he's long been a Keillor fan.