April 29, 1998 - The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is embroiled in a controversy that is sweeping museums across the country. Last night on ABC's "Nightline" program, a French family claimed one of the M.I.A.'s paintings was stolen by the Nazis' during World War II, and belongs to them. The Institute has launched its own investigation into the history of the painting, and believes it may have uncovered evidence that conflicts with the family's claim. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts has more.
April 24, 1998 - MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews Dylan Hicks, a local songwriter. Hicks has always relied on his zany sense of humor to draw attention to himself and his music, but on his CD "Poughkeepsie" he is presenting a more serious side, and critics are responding favorably. Segment includes various music clips.
April 22, 1998 - In the 1990s, many churches are taking a more active role in addressing racial divisions in America. Black and white congregations are developing relationships with each other. Others call themselves churches of reconciliation, and deliberately seek multi-racial parishioners to inhabit their pews. Two Baptist churches in St. Paul, one african-american and the other white, have taken "reconciliation" a step further; they've merged to become one. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
April 15, 1998 - One of the stranger chapters in Minnesota criminal history is resurrected in a new documentary being shown this week at the Walker Art Center. Award-winning California filmmaker Arthur Dong's latest work, "Licensed to Kill," examines the minds and motives of seven inmates convicted of killing homosexuals. One of the prisoners interviewed is Jay Johnson, a man who had visions of becoming a gay serial killer when he shot two Minneapolis men in 1991. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports. Some people may find this story disturbing.
April 10, 1998 - A pile of bills including the largest bonding bill in the state's history is on its way to the Governor's desk. Legislators wrapped up the '98 session in the wee hours this morning, carving up the 1.9-billion dollar projected budget surplus into tax breaks and lots of public works projects. I asked capitol reporters Eric Jansen and Martin Kaste who the big winners were this session.
April 10, 1998 - At first glance, many of the photographs in the new Suburban Landscapes exhibit at the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis have the same mundane quality as an urban commute. For example, curator Colleen Sheehy points to a picture of a huge banner hanging across the back of a new home in a metro area subdivsion which reads, "model home." Seen from the highway says Sheehy, it's another banal image flashing by. On the wall in a museum the layers of meaning behind the words "model home," reveal themselves.
April 7, 1998 - The Twin Cities used to pride itself on being one of the few communities its size in the country to support two free alternative weekly newspapers. Last year, the local media landscape changed when New York-based Stern Publishing bought both City Pages and the Twin Cities Reader and consolidated them into one weekly. Soon after a new player began trying to find a niche in the market. It's called "Pulse," and this week it is celebrating its first year in business. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports.
April 3, 1998 - Chris talks with Martin Kaste to get an update on today's movement on various issues at the legislature.
April 3, 1998 - Chris Roberts talks with Art Hughes to get find out how Saint Peter is coping, five days after the tornado damaged much of the town.
April 3, 1998 - Chris talks with with Kevin Hennessey about the Twins game and his cybercast of the home opener.