February 3, 2009 - A rare, original oral history of Indian life has surfaced in the Twin Cities. It's one of the oldest known examples of it's kind. In 1910, Lakota Chief Martin White Horse dictated stories about his community, located on a reservation in South Dakota. After the oral history, called a winter count, was typed up, the transcript went into storage. There it lay for decades, forgotten about. The descendants of the white woman who typed up the document rediscovered it last summer, and opened up a window to the history of the Lakota and to their own family.
December 23, 2008 - A group of about 50 Native Americans will ride on horseback into the Mankato area later this week. Their arrival will mark the end of a nearly 300 mile trip to mark the 146th anniversary of the largest mass execution in U.S. history. The group has endured blizzards and long stretches of below zero temperatures in their journey from the Missouri River to the Minnesota River. They saddled up again this morning in southwest Minnesota for one of the last legs of what they call a ride of reconciliation. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
August 6, 2008 - MPR’s Mark Steil reports on The Farmfest Congressional Forum near Redwood Falls. Two incumbents were there, Democrats Collin Peterson and Tim Walz; as well as a number of challengers from several congressional races around the state. During the forum at the annual agricultural show, the candidates spent most of their time on the federal farm program and the nation's energy policy.
July 2, 2008 - MPR’s Mark Steil reports on Ali Bernard, the first Minnesota female Olympian to come out of the state's high school wrestling program.
December 12, 2007 - Today is the one year anniversary of a federal immigration raid on the Swift meatpacking plant in Worthington. Officers arrested 239 illegal immigrants in the southwest Minnesota city. It was part of a nationwide action. Latinos in Worthington say they're still recovering from the raid. Other people say the raid didn't go far enough.
August 6, 2007 - Underwater searchers expect help today from the FBI as they continue to look for victims of last week's Minneapolis bridge collapse. The FBI dive team could be the first of two units from the federal government to help. The Interstate-35W bridge went down last Wednesday, at least 8 people remain missing. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
August 4, 2007 - Divers continued searching the Mississippi River today for victims of Wedneday's bridge collapse. The divers' work took place in treacherous conditions amid the rubble of the former bridge. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil has the latest on the search.
May 29, 2007 - One of the largest employers in southwest Minnesota is part of the sale today of the Swift & Company meatpacking business. A Brazilian company bought Swift in a $1.4 billion deal. The sale comes five months after a major immigration raid on a half dozen Swift plants across the U.S. Company officials say the raid was not a factor in the decision to sell the business. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
March 2, 2007 - MPR’s Mark Steil talks with a stranded traveler and a state official about the dangers of whiteout conditions during blizzard in southern Minnesota.
February 21, 2007 - MPR’s Mark Steil reports on local discussions on federal farm dollars and how subsidies are spent. Southern Minnesota farmers told Minnesota 1st District Representative Tim Walz they want changes made in the legislation to help small farmers. The meeting in Worthington is one of several Walz will hold. It's a discussion which touches just about anyone who owns farmland anywhere in the U.S.