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.
December 15, 2003 - An Iraqi-born professor at St. Cloud State University says he initially felt a sense of joy and relief to see Saddam Hussein in custody. But Abbas Mehdi (AH'-bus MEH'-dee) says he now has mixed feelings about the capture of the former Iraqi president. Mehdi (MEH'-dee) talked to Minnesota Public Radio's Mike Mulcahy (mull KAY hee) on this morning's Midday program.
December 15, 2003 - In Iraq, the news of Saddam Hussein's capture was greeted with celebration by some and protests by others. Minnesotans we talked to today had equally mixed opinions about the capture of the former Iraqi president. Those reactions to the capture of Saddam Hussein were gathered today by Brandt Williams in the Twin Cities and Stephanie Hemphill in Duluth.
December 9, 2003 - Grand Forks officials today released details of the case against the man accused of kidnapping Dru Sjodin. Governors Pawlenty and Hoevan also met in Grand Forks to pledge support for further searches for the missing 22-year old student. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson is in Grand Forks and joins me on the line.
November 26, 2003 - The diabetes defense might be unusual, but Minneapolis defense attorney Joe Friedberg says it's entirely legitimate. That was Minneapolis defense attorney Joe Friedberg.
November 25, 2003 - Authorities have dismissed charges against a couple who fled Minnesota after being charged with child abuse in 1984. Edward and Karri LaBois were arrested outside of Salt Lake City earlier this month. Nineteen years ago, the two were accused of abusing their 4-year-old daughter in their home in Minnetonka. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar says there isn't sufficient evidence to move the case forward.
November 20, 2003 - University of Minnesota sociology professor Kathleen Hull says the debate over same-sex marriage involves deeply held convictions and traditions across many boundaries of life
November 19, 2003 - Columbia Heights is trying to figure out what to do about the approximately 45 deer that have made themselves at home in the Twin Cities suburb. The herd resides on a 76-acre enclosed area owned by the Minneapolis Water Works. The land houses one of the state's largest water treatment plants and doesn't provide enough space or food for the dozens of deer that occupy it. Yesterday a task force recommended that the deer population be reduced by bow hunters. City Manager Walt Fehst says it's not uncommon to hear about deer popping up in the metro area. But he says the situation in Columbia Heights is unique.
November 19, 2003 - The Massachusetts Supreme Court yesterday struck down a ban on gay and lesbian marriage. The court gave lawmakers six months to change state laws, a move that could make Massachusetts the first state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage. Phil Duran is the Legal Policy Analyst at OutFront Minnesota, the largest organization serving the state's gay-lesbian-bisexual and trans-gender communities. He says the Massachusetts ruling has revived debate about same-sex marriage in Minnesota, but will have little impact on the state's gay and lesbian couples.