October 4, 2001 - Magda Saikali, in her 40s and orginally born in Egypt grew up in Minnesota and has been here over 30 years. She owns an international clothing shop in St. Paul and is a spokeswoman for Teaching and Learning Islam, an educational community outreach group. Muslim women in Minnesota say they've been targets of discrimination and backlash since the terrorist attacks on September 11th. Many women who practice Islam wear the heijab, or headscarf, to demonstrate their belief in modesty. This show of faith makes them easy to single out for personal harrrassment...and many Muslim women say they are afraid to leave their homes.
October 1, 2001 - Driving past the state offices this morning you'll notice workers out in front carrying picket signs. Members of AFSCME Council 6 and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees are on strike. They walked off the job at six this morning after contract talks broke down over the weekend. The Govenor says his administration made a fair offer to the unions. John Wodele is the govenor's spokesman.
September 28, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with National Guard spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Denny Shields about the various special requests being asked of the guard to perform. In addition to providing security at the Twin Cities International Airport, about 1,000 guard members could end up filling in for state workers if they go on strike.
September 28, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with climatologist Mark Seeley, who provides insights on the value of warm dirt. Summer severe weather topics are also discussed.
September 20, 2001 - MOE Q/A WORD SHOULD COME SOON ON HOW MANY NORTHWEST AIRLINES WORKERS WILL BE LAID OFF. AN OFFICIAL WITH THE MECHANICS UNION SAYS THE AIRLINE IS STILL GOING OVER NUMBERS....ALTHOUGH THE STAR TRIBUNE REPORTS THIS MORNING THAT STATE OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT LAYOFFS OF ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND MINNESOTA NORTHWEST EMPLOYEES. IF THAT HAPPENS, THAT COULD PUT A BIG STRAIN ON THE STATE'S DISLOCATED WORKER'S PROGRAM. PAUL MOE, THE PROGRAM'S DIRECTOR, SAYS HE'S BEEN TALKING WITH NORTHWEST, BUT CAN'T CONFIRM WHAT THE FINAL NUMBER OF LAYOFFS WILL BE. oc:
September 7, 2001 - Cathy Wurzer visits St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, which is installing a 1927 Casavant pipe organ, one of the largest of its kind in the upper Midwest. The instrument was restored by Schantz Organ Company in Ohio. It has more than 7,000 original and restored pipes, the smallest the size of a pencil...the largest 32-feet high weighing over 1,000 pounds.
September 3, 2001 - For the final day of the 2001 Minnesota State Fair, MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Jerry Hammer, executive vice president of the State Fair, about the attendance and overview of how this year’s State Fair has gone.
August 28, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Dave Kinney, a reporter with The Newark Star Ledger, about Governor Ventura’s appearance at a New Jersey political fundraiser. Ventura campaigned for Bill Schulter, a Republican state senator, who is running as a New Jersey gubernatorial candidate as an Independent.
August 23, 2001 - One of the new exhibits at the State Fair is the Miracle of Birth Center. Eight cows, 12 sows, and 16 ewes are set to give birth, while fairgoers watch. It's a kind of animal maternity ward. Dr. Mary Olson, a vet, says timing the births to coincide with the fair is a little tricky.
August 21, 2001 - OK. IF YOU'RE DRIVING RIGHT NOW, AND IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE WHO PUTS ON MAKESUP...OR FIDDLES WITH YOUR PHONE...YOU'RE ASKED, BY THE STATE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT TO KNOCK IT OFF. THE STATE IS KICKING OFF A NEW PUBLIC AWARNESS CAMPAIGN ON THE DANGERS OF DRIVING WHILE DISTRACTED. STATE PATROL LIEUTENANT, MARK PETERSON, SAYS MORE AND MORE CRASHES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO DRIVERS NOT PAYING ATTENTION. OC: Thank you