May 16, 2005 - We know how Wal-Mart has battered its competition in the United States, in large part by buying in enormous volume from China. The world's largest retailer is also the world's largest importer of Chinese goods. Now the Arkansas-based giant is looking to China as a source of customers. But it's a competitive market. The BBC's Stephen Evans goes deep inside a Chinese Wal-Mart as part of Think Global, public radio's week of special coverage.
January 8, 2005 - {It's Weekend America on MPR--I'm GC...The last match-up of these teams threatened to disrupt Christmas Eve church services and family holiday meals. Yes, the fabled rivalry between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers continues during tomorrow's {sun} wild card game on Lambeau Field. The governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin have a wager going on the game. If the Vikings win, Governor Tim Pawlenty will dine on sausage and cheese. And if the Packers win, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle will enjoy a feast of walleye Wellington and wild rice soup. We have to admit two of our colleagues in the Minnesota Public Radio Newsroom have a history of waging their own bets. It usually involves the wearing of a spongy team hat! Midday Host Gary Eichten is a Minnesota Viking fan and has been known to sport a "cheese-head" hat when his team loses. Our Web Editor Melanie Sommer is a Packer Backer. She is the owner of the afore-mentioned cheese head hat--and has, on occasion, been forced by Mr. Eichten to wear a Vikings Helga hat complete with horns and braids. }
April 30, 2004 - In recent years, Minnesotans have placed increased emphasis on multiculturalism. Still, there's one group that often feels lost in the deluge of diversity. Deaf advocates say Minnesota's non-hearing community is three times as large as some other communities, but they say few people recognize its significant contributions to the culture. As Minnesota's Public Radio's Nikki Tundel found out, an exhibit at St. Paul's aND gallery is hoping to change that.
February 9, 2004 - In last week's state of the state speech, Governor Pawlenty asked lawmakers to explore ways to rein in the growing cost of state government. He suggested capping spending increases to an amount based on inflation and population growth. That would be consistent with a proposal by the Minnesota Taxpayer's League -- called the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights -- or TaBOR is to downsize government.
January 27, 2004 - Self contained (QUESTIONS ARE JUST PROMPTS, AD LIB AS NECESSARY) MOLPUS: Governor Tim Pawlenty today (TUESDAY) called on lawmakers to let Minnesota voters decide whether to revive capital punishment in the state. Pawlenty first proposed the idea last month after convicted Minnesota sex-offender Alfonzo Rodriguez, Jr., was arrested in connection with the disappearance of University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo joins us now from the Capitol. Michael, Minnesota hasn't had a death penalty in nearly 100 years. Why is Pawlenty raising the issue now?
January 1, 2004 - The calendar may have flipped to 2004, but we couldn't avoid reveling in 2003 for just a bit longer. We asked the reporters here at Minnesota Public Radio to pick some of their favorite stories from the past year and have been playing their selections throughout the week. Reporter Marianne Combs chose a story about the Minnesota Opera's interpretation of the "The Handmaid's Tale." Not only was the modern opera embraced by audiences and critics alike, it was also timely. Based on Margaret Atwood's novel, the production tells of a world where religion is used to justify political agendas and women are stripped of their rights. Combs says the 20-year old story bears an unsettling resemblance to what's going on in parts of the world today. Here's her story.
December 23, 2003 - According to the old stage adage, it's best to avoid working with children or animals. But Guy Wegener isn't one to follow conventional wisdom. As an actor in the national tour of Oliver, the Minnesota native shares the stage with 16 kids and one energetic 65-pound dog. Minnesota Public Radio's Nikki Tundel has the story.
December 19, 2003 - A state-run database of confidential police files has been shut down permanently over concerns it violated privacy laws. Yesterday, the board of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, a nonprofit organization that owned the network, voted to delete the millions of records accessible through the Multiple Jurisdiction Network Organization. Supporters of the database say it helped trace sexual predators. Others saw it as a state-sanctioned invasion of privacy with questionable security protections. Dennis Delmont, the association's Executive Director, says the MJNO was created in 1992 as a way to facilitate the exchange of date between agencies.
December 19, 2003 - Veteran Twin Cities Acoustic Guitarist Billy McLaughlin has reached a turning point in his career. The five-time Minnesota Music Award winner has been diagnosed with Focal Dystonia. Focal Dystonia is neurological movement disorder. In McLaughlin's case, it was brought on by years of intricate finger movements. The disorder has forced him to dramatically alter the way he plays the guitar and caused him to cut back his live performances. After 15 years of almost constant touring, McLaughlin has only a handful of concerts scheduled (for the foreseeable future), including shows in Duluth and Minneapolis this weekend. I recently spoke with Billy about his music and his future as a performer.
December 16, 2003 - With the next legislative session less than two months away, state legislators have begun stepping forward with bills addressing everything from cell phone contracts to the death penalty. One group says Minnesotans will have a hard time determining if their legislators are serving the constituents -- or themselves. The Center for Public Integrity in Washington D.C. ranked Minnesota among the bottom states when it comes to how much information lawmakers must disclose about potential conflicts of interest. Leah Rush helped conduct the study. She says one of the biggest loopholes in the state's public disclosure policy involves the declaration of spousal information. Rush says Minnesota legislators are required to report almost nothing about their significant others.