November 15, 2013 - Daily Circuit host Tom Weber and MPR reporter Jennifer Vogel present an MPR Special “Rethinking a Company Town." The border town of International Falls lost 265 jobs at its mainstay paper mill on the Rainy River. It was an economic blow that is forcing the city to examine whether it can or should forge a future different from its past.
October 9, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger takes a look back to 1989, when 500 union supporters rioted in the northern border town of International Falls. The city's largest employer, Boise Cascade, was building a huge expansion of their papermill…and bringing in thousands of non-union workers to do it. The town was divided: while local businesses boomed like never before, union workers and their families felt betrayed.
August 12, 1992 - MPR’s Jim Wishner talks with Bob Anderson and Padee Yang about Hmong American Partnership, a nonprofit social service and community development organization. The two discuss the unique challenges for Hmong as they adapt to life in the United States.
December 30, 1990 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports from the northern border town of International Falls, as Boise Cascade, the city's largest employer, finishes up a huge expansion of their papermill. The development, which utilized non-union workers, caused bitter feelings in the town. In 1989, 500 union supporters rioted in International Falls after Boise Cascade brought in the thousands of non-union workers to do it. The town was divided as local businesses flourished with increase of people, but union workers and their families were left feeling betrayed.
January 1, 1990 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on issues revolving around ESL langauge learning in the Hmong community. Roberts interviews eductators and advocates on the reasons behind the language problem, and the challenges that result.