October 8, 1998 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports that representatives from several Hmong organizations met with policy makers and elected officials to discuss ways to respond to a wave of violence in the Hmong community. The group hopes to craft a series of legislative proposals to present to lawmakers in next year's session.
October 6, 1998 - A new production at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis brings a bit of Minnesota's Iron Range to 18th-century Italy, or perhaps its the other way around. "The Venetian Twins" is a classic Italian farce relying on the age-old formula of two twin siblings who are constantly mistaken for one another. In the Guthrie production, an internationally known director of Shakespeare and a popular Minnesota writer have teamed up to give the play a truly regional flavor.
September 28, 1998 - A new installation at the Soap Factory art gallery in Minneapolis is giving visitors a chance to consider how they respond to art. The small, three-room exhibit is called "Potential Space," and it's designed to create a place where the artist's intentions aren't nearly as important as the viewer's perceptions.
September 7, 1998 - Negotiators for Northwest Airlines and the Pilots Union took Labor Day off today, after a weekend of federally mediated "exploratory talks" in Chicago yielded no progress. The Air Line Pilots Association decided to give some of its members a break from the walkout by holding a morale-building picnic at a Minneapolis park. As Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports, some of the pilots and their families found themselves developing a new appreciation for Labor Day.
July 24, 1998 - One of the leading figures in the life of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis has died. Former Artistic Director Garland Wright died of cancer Wednesday night in New York City. He was 52. Wright is being remembered as an artistic visionary who also contributed significantly to the Theater's financial stability.
July 7, 1998 - Kurt Johnson, chair of the Twin Cities Project on Media and the Public, discusses its new report on restoring trust in the media and improving the quality of local news reporting. Johnson also answers listener questions.
June 11, 1998 - The month of June is officially "Picture File" month at the Minneapolis Public Library. The "Picture File" is a sprawling collection of pictures and images dating back to the turn of the century. It's widely used by artists, graphic designers and advertisers but relatively unknown to the general public. The library has launched a campaign to get the word out about what a vast and fascinating resource the "Picture File" is. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
June 8, 1998 - A coalition of Hmong agencies and Ramsey County have announced a 10-year plan to curb violence in the Hmong community. While the plan is more a call to action than a series of concrete recommendation, organziers say it is historic because it represents the first time the Hmong community has acknowledged violence is a problem. MPR’s Chris Roberts talks with some of those involved with plan.
May 29, 1998 - [WARNING! THIS PIECE MAY BE HOT! PLAY IN AUDITION AND CHECK LEVELS BEFORE AIRING.] If you're new to the Twin Cities and are looking for a way to get around, a map might be helpful, or maybe a guidebook which tells you where all the notable landmarks are. If you're interested in a publication that goes quite a bit deeper, you may consider picking up "A Definitive Guide to the Twin Cities, in Poetry and Prose." Its publishers describe it as the only guide to the Twin Cities that focuses on the experiences of its inhabitants. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
May 25, 1998 - As a special Memorial Day program, Larry Powell, photo-journalist and Vietnam veteran discusses his photo essay book “Hunger of the Heart: Communion at the Wall”. Powell shares his experience in Vietnam and perceptions of the wall. He also answers listener questions.