March 2, 2007 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer and Sea Stachura discuss areas in southern Minnesota that are dealing with massive amounts of snow after a storm dumped as much as 30 inches of snow. This was followed by a second storm bringing more snow and wind. The impact in cities of Winona, Albert Lea, and Mankato are highlighted.
February 12, 2007 - Hend Al-Mansour is questioning her religion. She's is a Minnesota-based Arab artist, a Muslim originally from Saudi Arabia. Her latest work is on display at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter. Minnesota Public Radio's Sea Stachura reports that Al-Mansour wants to use her voice as an American and an artist to encourage debate within the Muslim community.
August 8, 2006 - George Rabasa likes to take his characters to the borders of countries and morality . He says it stems from his heritage. He was born in Maine to Spanish refugee parents and grew up in Mexico City, so crossing borders is familiar to him. Rabasa now lives in Minnesota. In his latest novel, "The Cleansing" Rabasa tells the story of three friends who met in Mexico and have haunted each other's lives for decades.
July 7, 2006 - In Minnesota's first district, near Rochester, the race for a seat in the House of Representatives is heating up. Republican Gil Gutknecht has held the seat since 1994 but Rochester recently has leaned Democratic.
June 30, 2006 - It's been almost a month since hardline Islamists overthrew warlords in Somalia's capital Mogadishu. The militia, known as the Supreme Islamic Courts Council is a grassroots organization. However the US says at least one of its leaders has ties to a terrorist organization. The Courts Union now claims authority over all of Somalia. That's over the protests of the internationally recognized Transitional Federal Government. Over 14 thousand displaced Somalis live in Minnesota. Many Somalis in the metro-area support the Islamic Courts. They are closely watching the situation because it may have an impact on their own futures. Minnesota Public Radio's Sea Stachura explains why.
May 18, 2006 - MPR’s Sea Stachura interviews numerous individuals taking part in the “sport” of Mechwars, a competition that pits homemade robots against other bot creations. Everything from Barbie dolls to gnomes are utilized as weaponry.
March 27, 2006 - The Rochester police department is looking to hire a lot of officers. This is because more than a tenth of the department is scheduled to retire by the end of the year. And by 2008 the city will need to find money to keep officers hired through the federal COPS program started during the Clinton administration. As this process begins, people within the city are talking about the department's priorities. Minnesota Public Radio's Sea Stachura reports.
March 2, 2006 - MPR’s Sea Stachura reports on life on the road for fiddle player Becky Buller. A St. James, Minnesota native, Buller is touring with bluegrass group Liberty Pike.
February 3, 2006 - For nearly a decade the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro has made the most of February's dreariness with its Ibsen festival. Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is best known for works including "A Doll's House" and "Hedda Gabler." This year is the centenial of the playwright's death. The Commonweal is marking the anniversary with a production of his final play.
December 15, 2005 - The mothers of Somali teens who have been dealing drugs have suggested something that no one expected. They say the best solution is sending them back to Somalia. MPR's Sea Stachura has more.