January 11, 2002 - A new report provides troubling news about the status of African American men living in Hennepin County. The African American Men Project studied African American men between the ages of 18 and 30. The Hennepin County Board of Commmissioners ordered the study in 1999. The idea came from a commissioner who saw a group of African American men hanging out on the streets and wondered why they weren't in school or at work. Gary Cunningham is the director of Planning and Development for Hennepin County. He says the report finds many African-American males in Minneapolis are living in difficult conditions. Cunningham says the report also includes a number of alarming statistics.
December 21, 2001 - It's looking like Minnesota will get a white Christmas after all. A developing winter storm is on track to bring snow to most of the state by tomorrow evening. Bill Harrison is a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. He says the storm is centered over the Rockies right now:
December 21, 2001 - The white stuff can't come fast enough for Minnesota's ski industry, which has been struggling with record warmth this winter. Officials at Giants Ridge Resort in Biwawbik have been scrambbling this week to prepare their green slopes for a "Big Air" snowboard competition this weekend. Aaron Vovk (Voke) is the Events Coordinator at Giants Ridge. He says its been diffacult to make enough snow for the event:
December 20, 2001 - President Bush's choice to lead the new Transportation Security Administration pledged today to meet every deadline in the law enacted to improve airline safety. John Magaw testified before the Senate Commerce Commitee. If he's confirmed by the Senate, Magaw will serve a five year term as head of the new agency within the Department of Transportation. Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar is the ranking member on the House Transportation Committee. He says he's impressed with what he's heard so far in Magaw's senate testimony:
December 20, 2001 - From Nat King Cole asking us to picture "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" to choirs singing "Handel's Messiah"--the holiday season is a time for traditional music. I sat down with Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music host, Tom Crann, to hear the stories behind a few of those classics and some of his picks for the best of the season: Once again, you can tune into Christmas Day With Tom Crann on Christmas day from 9 to 11 right here on Minnesota Public Radio.
December 19, 2001 - The University of Minnesota has filed a motion it says significantly strengthens its fraud case against former basketball coach Clem Haskins. The University is trying to retrieve at least part of the one-point-five (m) million dollars it paid Haskins to buyout his contract. In documents filed yesterday, the University alleges that academic cheating in the men's basketball department began shortly after Haskins became coach in 1986. That's about seven years before former employee Jan Gangelhoff started writing papers for players. University attorney Lorie Gildae (Gil-DAY) says the new evidence documented in the motion falls into two categories:
November 5, 2001 - Anne Morrow Lindbergh published 13 books, recording her thoughts and experiences in memoirs, essays and poems. But a series of strokes left her unable to write or speak fluently during the last few years of her life. Lindbergh spent those days with her youngest daughter, Reeve, who describes the experience in her new book, "No More Words." She told Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham she got the title from one of her mother's poems.
October 2, 2001 - The simple tales told in St. Paul writer Jim Heynen's new collection of short stories may be a good antidote to the horrible news from the sites of the recent terrorist attacks. "The Boys' House" introduces readers to a group of mischevious Minnesota farm boys. The boys rescue pigs from a blizzard, throw tomatoes at passing cars and feed apples to a blind pony. They also build a house out of junk cast aside by adults. Critics have said Heynen's tales are as uniquely American as the writings of Mark Twain.
October 2, 2001 - The simple tales told in St. Paul writer Jim Heynen's (HIGH-nin's) new collection of short stories may be a good antidote to the horrible news from the sites of the recent terrorist attacks. THE BOYS' HOUSE introduces readers to a group of mischevious Minnesota farm boys. The boys rescue pigs from a blizzard, throw tomatoes at passing cars and feed apples to a blind pony. They also build a house out of junk cast aside by adults. Critics have said Heynen's (HIGH-nin's) tales are as uniquely American as the writings of Mark Twain. Heynen (HIGH-nin) told Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham, the boys in the book have many adventures.
September 6, 2001 - Short story writer Amy Bloom says she has no trouble getting inside the heads of her characters... even if they lead lives dramatically different than her own. Her latest collection- called "A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You,"- introduces readers to characters who are confronted with death, cancer, sex, infidelity and love. The title story focuses on a mother coming to terms with her daughter who wants to become a man. Bloom told Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham the title comes from her own life: