Almanac Producer's Blog

Almanac Highlights October 26, 2007

The Monologue
Dominic Papatola thinks that Minnesotans are getting arts fever.

Bridge Survivors Want Fund
Our Mary Lahammer attended a legislative hearing on Thursday where 35W bridge survivors testified about their financial hardships.

A Rare Rabies Death
A Minnesotan died of rabies this week, something that hadn't happened in years.  We try to debunk some myths about the rare disease with Dr. Joni Scheftel with the Minnesota Department of Health. 

Kevin Kling Talks Storytelling
The King of the Offbeat talks about his new collection of autobiographical stories called "The Dog Says How." 

Live Music!
We're in for a treat as Prudence Johnson, Claudia Schmidt and Ruth MacKenzie join us live to perform a selection from "Gales of November" which is starting a tour of our region.

Little World Series of 1924
Freelance writer Pat Borzi looks back at the upset victory by the St. Paul Saints over the Baltimore Orioles in the 1924 Little World Series.

Remembering Paul Wellstone
One of the topics of this week's political panel will be to talk about the stunning news five years ago this week.  Democrats Wy Spano and Dee Long  share the couch with Republicans Fritz Knaak and Andy Brehm.   

The Wrapup
What former U of M prof made world news in October of 1997?  We hear your viewer comments and then we treat you a 1982 TPT studio recording by singer/songwriter Claudia Schmidt. 

Almanac Highlights October 19, 2007

An Illustrated Monologue
If the drawing in David Gillette's essay this week isn't up to par, you can blame the Almanac staff.

Cats, Cats and More Cats
Twin Cities Human societies have hundreds of unwanted cats and the problem is getting worse.  We hear from Janelle Dixon with Animal Humane Society.

Glitch in Education Benefits for Guard Troops
General Larry Shellito testified before Congress Thursday about ways to beef up the G. I. Bill when it comes to National Guard troops. The General joins us. 

Rain, Rain, Go Away
And Paul Douglas says it will this weekend.  Paul stops by for his monthly Almanac meteorology chat to talk about the rainiest three month period in modern Twin Cities history.

Aid to Southeastern Minnesota
There are concerns this week about how aid is being distributed to flood victims in our state.  Dan McElroy --head of Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development-- answers our questions. 

Vote for Me!
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is the latest DFLer to enter next year's U.S. Senate race.  He visits with us to lay out his platform.

A Political Science Panel
Get ready for political advertising over the holidays as Iowa moves its presidential caucuses to January 3.  Yes, you read that date right.  A group of noted political scientists chat about the hurdling-towards-us 2008 presidential race.  Larry Jacobs of the U's Humphrey Institute, Steve Schier of Carleton College and Guy Charles from the U of M Law School sit down on the couch.

The Wrapup
Our weekly Minnesota history questions... your comments about last week's show... and show-ending music from the tpt vaults by Claudia Schmidt in 1982.

Almanac Highlights October 12, 2007

The Monologue
Jim Ragsdale does the honors this week.

35W Bridge Survivor
Kimberly Brown was on the 35W bridge the day it collapsed and she's asking politicians why they aren't doing more for the survivors.

New 35W Bridge
The design for the new bridge was unveiled this week. Bridge designer Linda Figg and MnDot project manager Jon Chiglo join us.

Great Joy
Author Kate DiCamillo stops by to talk about her new picture book, "Great Joy."

U of M Equine Center
The U of M Equine Center has some big news. Dr. Stephanie Valberg stops by with Hercules the horse to tell us all about it.

Rainy Lake's Native History
In the final installment of Mary Lahammer's Rainy Lake series, she takes us back to the beginning and the people who first set foot in the Northwoods thousands of years ago.

Foreclosure Auction
The housing market is in a slump, foreclosures are at record levels and there's a big auction next weekend of property. U of M law professor Prentiss Cox gives us the inside story on high risk mortgage, foreclosures and the current state of real estate.

The Panel
This week's version of the panel talks about politics near and far. Republicans Sarah Janecek and Andy Brehm square off against DFLers Wy Spano and Jane Ranum.

It's A Wrap!
Last week's history question..and answer. This week's question. Your comments. And of course a bit of music from the station archives.

Almanac Highlights October 5, 2007

The Monologue
Dr. Mark DePaolis is back.

MnDOT on the hot seat
It's been a week of more bad news for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. We'll give you a look at the Capitol hearings on the Wakota bridge and 35W bridge.

More on MnDOT
Joining us in studio are two lawmakers who were at the center of the MnDOT action this week. Rep. Joe Atkins, DFLer from Inver Grove Heights and Sen. Ray Vandeveer from Forest Lake are our guests.

Sports Round Up
Twins are done...The Wild are just beginning...and we're not sure what stage the Vikings are at. Larry Fitzgerald stops by for his monthly sports chat to bring us up to speed on the local sports scene.

Rainy Lake Series Continues
We head back up to Rainy Lake with Mary Lahammer.This week we will take a look at Minnesota’s only national park, Voyageurs National Park, and its water, land and wildlife, not to mention the geology that features some of the oldest visible rock on the planet.

Pan African Trade and Investment Summit
It's a two day conference at the Humphrey Institute, designed to encourage trade with and lure investors to Africa. Followed by an African Extravaganza at the Mall of America on Saturday to highlight the sights and sounds of Africa. Tom Gitaa, one of the event organizers, is our guest.

Coach Don Hudson
He became the first black head football coach at a predominantly white college when Macalester College gave him that job in 1971. This weekend Macalester honors Coach Don Hudson at halftime.

Twin Mayors
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak have been busy with city budgets, National Convention prep and dealing with disasters. They've taken time to stop by and check in with us for a falltime visit.

It's A Wrap!
Last week's Index File question...and answer. This week's question. Your comments. And of course some music from our archives.