February 18, 2003 - When it comes to views against a possible war with Iraq, those with views on both sides are turning to yard signs to get their voices heard. Duluth is an example. While there are a number of signs with "say no to war with Iraq" on them....there are several places selling other signs with "say go to war with Iraq" and one VFW in Duluth is selling "say no to terrorism" signs. While views on both sides are aired, the call up of National Guard and Army reservists continues in preparation for war. Lieutenant colonel Denny Sheilds is with the Minnesota National Guard. He says 600 guard members are on active federal duty at various places around the country.
January 7, 2003 - Senator-elect Norm Coleman will be sworn-in later today in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.. Coleman, a Republican, takes the seat held by the late Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone who was killed in a plane crash just eleven days before the November election. Coleman went on to defeat Wellstone's replacement on the ballot Vice President Walter Mondale. As Senator, Coleman will be part of a new... and narrow... Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.
December 24, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with church bell ringers in the Twin Cities.
December 10, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews W. Harry Davis, prominent local civil rights activist and educator, about his autobiography, entitled "Overcoming." In it, he describes growing up in poverty, helping found the Minneapolis Urban Coalition, running a local Golden Gloves Boxing organization and serving on the Minneapolis School Board for 20 years.
November 27, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak about Tyesha Edwards shooting. Two men, ages 21 and 23, are in custody in connection with the shooting.
November 6, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer about dealing with absentee ballots and polling places being swamped by a higher than expected turnout.
November 6, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with political reporter Mark Zdechlik as voting results come in showing Minnesotans have apparently sent Republican Norm Coleman to the U.S. Senate, rejecting calls to honor Sen. Paul Wellstone's memory by putting Democrat Walter Mondale in his seat.
October 30, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Larry Jacobs, political science professor at the University of Minnesota about status of U.S. Senate race.
October 30, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Republican candidate Norm Coleman for U.S. Senate. While DFL'ers select a new candidate this evening, Republican Norm Coleman's campaign plane has just left St. Paul's Holman airfield for a fly around the state. Coleman's campaign swing, that includes International Falls, Thief River Falls and stops in Southern Minnesota. This comes as a new poll from the Star Tribune shows him behind Mondale by eight points.
October 28, 2002 - There's a lot happening around the continuing story of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's death. His funeral and that of his wife and daughter is today. Memorial services and visitations for two of his campaign staffers, Tom Lapic and Mary McEvoy, are tonight. Former Vice President Walter Mondale's name keeps coming up as a possible replacement on the ballot for Wellstone. The Republican party says it will begin campaigning in earnest by Wednesday, with the election just days away. Add to all this, some confusion over the balloting. DFL Party Chairman Mike Erlandson wants the mailing of absentee ballots to stop. Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer is handling those questions.