July 22, 2003 - The 30-year-old Stillwater bridge controversy is drawing the attention of Congress and the Bush administration. They want the environmental stalemate solved. Traffic tie-ups at the old, two lane bridge are growing. One reason is the explosive growth in Wisconsin's St. Croix County. The Sierra Club says the congestion can be remedied in part by funnelling more Wisconsin drivers to the nearby I-94 bridge. Supporters of a new Stillwater bridge say the Sierra Club plan doesn't deal with population growth in western Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
July 21, 2003 - Friends of the late Ken Dayton remember him as a retailer who believed it was good business to give back to the community. Dayton died this past weekend at age 80. His philanthropic philosophy became a national model. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
July 9, 2003 - Get ready for a light rail rerun. A controversy similar to the one over building the Hiawatha light rail line is brewing in the southwest suburbs. Proponents will likely recommend today Wednesday that planning proceed on a light rail line from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie. Opponents say light rail is too expensive compared to the alternatives. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
July 4, 2003 - The 200th anniversary this year of the Louisiana Purchase is taking a back seat to the Lewis and Clark bicentennial observance. However, the Louisiana Purchase which included part of what would become Minnesota is arguably a bigger deal - literally. In one stroke the size of the country was doubled. And as Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports, behind the transaction lurks a tale of geopolitics and intrigue.
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May 26, 2003 - Police say the number of illegal guns on Minneapolis' streets is increasing. As well, the quality of the guns is better and they pack more firepower. Still in place, police say, is a strategy developed five years ago to quell gun violence in neighborhoods. However, the supply of guns available to criminals is hampering efforts to make neighborhoods safe. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
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May 2, 2003 - MPR’s Dan Olson profiles the music known as Mariachi, and one of Minnesota's best-known Mariachi bands, Mariachi Flor y Canto, as they prepare to perform in the state's biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration on St. Paul's West Side.