March 14, 2001 - Norm Coleman used his final State of the City speech to take an imaginary journey through Saint Paul in the year 2004. The technique allowed Coleman - who is not seeking a third term as mayor - to count as successes a number of projects still in the works and some that are not even that far along, including three new professional sports facilities. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
March 6, 2001 - Minneapolis is finally moving earth in preparation for light rail transit. But what about Saint Paul's transit future? Instead of laying rails, the capital city is rumbling toward a less expensive system known as a busway to connect the downtown with Bloomington. There are still plenty of questions about what such a busway might look like ... and its construction is not a sure thing. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen visited the Twin Cities' only existing busway at the University of Minnesota and filed this report...
February 23, 2001 - It's likely that no aspect of the University of Minnesota receives more publicity than its athletic teams. Supporters say intercollegiate athletics are an important part of the U of M because they build character, provide excitement, and raise the university's profile. A smaller number of critics complain that big-time college sports have become a financial risk and an academic drag. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports on athletics at the U of M...
January 25, 2001 - Police and city staff members in Saint Paul will develop recommendations over the next few weeks as to how the city should analyze racial profiling statistics the police department has been keeping since last spring. The city council met with police chief Bill Finney yesterday (Wednesday) and asked him to return in a month with specific suggestions for how the numbers should be analyzed. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
January 25, 2001 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen presents a profile of jazz organist Jack McDuff (aka Captain Jack), who died on January 24th, 2001. Segment includes recorded interview with McDuff.
January 17, 2001 - Jim Kaat, former Twins broadcaster, and Howard Sinker, MPR sports analyst, discuss Baseball Hall-of-Famer Kirby Puckett. Program also features Kirby’s retirement statement, reports on his election to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and call-in commentary from listeners.
January 16, 2001 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen provides a brief profile of baseball star Kirby Puckett, who along with Dave Winfield, have been elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Winfield is a St. Paul native whose 22-year major league career included a couple of seasons with the Minnesota Twins. But at the team offices in the Metrodome, the biggest celebration was for Puckett, who during his twelve years in Minnesota became one of the Twins' best and most popular players.
January 16, 2001 - It may be a big day for Minnesota baseball as results of this 2001's Hall of Fame balloting will be announced and two of Minnesota's own…Dave Winfield, a Saint Paul native; and Kirby Puckett, a 12-year star Twin…are strong candidates for enshrinement.
January 11, 2001 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that a citizens panel put together by the Minnesota Twins to look at the baseball team's future has finished its work. After six months of study, Minnesotans for Major League Baseball says the state risks losing the Twins unless the team gets a new ballpark combined with financial reforms in big league baseball.
January 3, 2001 - For the past couple of years, the University of Minnesota men's basketball team has garnered more attention for its academic fraud scandal than for its play on the court. But that may be changing. With most of the fallout from the scandal behind them, this year's Gophers have quietly gone about winning twelve of their first thirteen games. Tonight (Wed) they begin Big Ten Conference play, and the competition is sure to be tougher. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...