May 1, 2001 - The Twins are off to their best start in team history, going 18-and-6 in April. Tonight, they'll take on the Yankees again at the Metrodome after beating the World Champions 2 to 1 last night. Doug Mientkiewicz (mint-KAY-vich) had two hits including an RBI single in the second inning and a game-winning solo home run in the seventh inning. He extended his hitting streak to 13 games and now leads the Twins in key offensive categories with a .380 average, six home runs and 21 RBIs. Mint-KAY-vich first joined the Twins in 1999, but was sent back down to the minors after a disappointing season. At practice this afternoon at the Dome, I asked him what that experience was like:
April 26, 2001 - Food aficionados: this is your weekend. The greatest names in gastronomy are descending on the Twin Cities for the 29th annual International Association of Culinary Professionals conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Chef Walter Potenza owns an Italian restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island and he works with Bloomington-based Freshetta Frozen Pizza. He believes in preserving traditional cooking styles:
April 23, 2001 - President Bush will travel to Sweden this summer for a summit meeting between the United States and the European Union. Sweden is a new member to the E.U. and will preside over the organization this year. As Swedish Ambassador to the U.S., it's Jan Elliasson's (ehl-ee-EHS-sun) job to promote his country's interests and those of the European Union. During a two-day visit to Minnesota last week, Elliasson talked about his country's hopes for the upcoming conference. He says summit organizers don't want the conference to bog down over banana tariffs and hormone-enhanced beef at the expense of more serious and long-term issues.
April 19, 2001 - Israel came to a standstill today to remember the victims of the Nazi Holocaust. Sirens wailed for two minutes across the Jewish state to commemorate the six million Jews killed during World War Two. In the United States, President Bush spoke at ceremony in the Capitol rotunda where he described the Holocaust as one of history's great crimes. The word holocaust is never mentioned in N.M. Kelby's new novel "In the Company of Angels," but the horrific event is clearly the backdrop her young jewish character, Marie Claire, is trying to escape.
April 18, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews State Patrol Chief Anne Beers about overtime being offered in fulfilling security of the governor. Some of Jesse Ventura's State Patrol security officers are earning nearly as much per year as the governor.
April 16, 2001 - The Minnesota Twins are off to their best start ever. They're sitting at the top of the major league standings with a 9 and 2 record. Tonight, they take on the Kansas City Royals -- the only team that's beaten Minnesota this season. La Velle Neal covers the Twins for the Star Tribune. He says it's been a long time since he's seen a start like this.
April 13, 2001 - Many Granite Falls residents will take time off from the sandbag lines this weekend to celebrate the Easter holiday. Bruce Kenzel is the Pastor of Granite Falls Lutheran Church. He says his congregation will be ready for the break after a long bittersweet week:
April 12, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Winona resident Calvin Fremling, who shares memories of 1965 flood that threatened the town.
April 11, 2001 - Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson. The heaviest rain is yet to come. Meteorologist Greg Gust is with the National Weather Service in Grand Forks. He says most of the heavy rain is centered in Nebraska but it is moving into the region.
April 6, 2001 - The Minnesota Wild wrap up their inaugural season with two home games this weekend. Tonight the Wild host the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 o'clock. On Sunday afternoon, they play the Colorado Avalanche. Both games are sold out, extending the Wild's sellout streak at Xcel Energy Center to 39 games. The Wild has already broken the N-H-L expansion team attendance record and they expect to surpass 750,000 fans with Sunday's last game. The team's performance on the ice hasn't been as spectacular. Minnesota is winless in 12 games, with their last victory coming nearly a month ago, on March Ninth. Ross Bernstein, the editor of Minnesota Hockey Journal, has been following the team through its ups and downs.