July 27, 2005 - Wendy Lewis, lead singer and songwriter for the band Redstart, comes from a musical family. Both her parents are gifted musicians. Her brother Greg and Greg's son Mike are members of Redstart. So it's not surprising Lewis' favorite piece of classical music, "Adagio For Strings" by Samuel Barber, has a familial connection.
July 19, 2005 - The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Steven Copes usually turns on the CD player in the car or when he's cooking a meal for friends at home. He's drawn to music that has a lot of rhythm, and artists with very distinctive voices, including blues artist Sun House.
July 13, 2005 - Heather Barringer of Zeitgeist has a not-so-secret confession…she is a headbanger, and Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” holds a special place in her heart.
July 5, 2005 - Libby Larsen is one of Minnesota's best known composers. It turns out that for the last 10 years, Larsen has been listening to a lot of "electronica," including rave, turntable, and re-mix music.
April 26, 2005 - Julian Loscalzo, a longtime Twins fan who led the failed effort to save Metropolitan Stadium, discusses what is it about outdoor baseball that you find so attractive. Loscalzo also gives his “grade” on Minnesota Twins and Hennepin County having formally announced their agreement to finance a new baseball stadium.
March 28, 2005 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peters about his recollections of Bob Casey, who died at the age of 79. Casey was the only stadium announcer the Minnesota Twins have ever had in their 44 year history. St. Peters says Casey's style as an announcer was unique, exciting and fun.
March 25, 2005 - An MPR Special Report, titled “What Happened in Red Lake?”, details the chronology of the shooting at Red Lake, what's known about the student who killed nine people and himself, and what makes this sovereign Indian community different from other communities. The special also examines the shooting within the context of other school shootings.
February 17, 2005 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Bob Ingrassia, a reporter with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, about allegations against Sia Lo, a senior aide to St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. Lo is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly demanding a bribe from a local businessman. The allegations involve city approval for a new Hmong funeral home.
December 21, 2004 - The Minnesota Twins have reached one-year contract agreements with five players including a $5 million deal with right fielder Jacque Jones. The Twins offered arbitration to four other players, including Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana. General Manager Terry Ryan takes a few questions from MPR Morning Edition producer Jim Bickal.
November 23, 2004 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Bob Kelleher about hunter shootings in Wisconsin. A probable cause hearing is expected in Hayward Wisconsin for 36-year-old Chai Vang, the St. Paul resident accused of opening fire on a party of hunters from Rice Lake, Wisconsin on November 21st, 2004. Six people are now dead and two are recovering from their wounds.