Almanac Producer's Blog

Almanac Highlights February 29, 2008

A David Gillette Monologue
David takes his illustrator's pen and puts it to use pondering the future.

A Notable Week at the Capitol
Mary Lahammer recaps all the big happenings. 

Legislative Leaders Live!
The remarkable week at the state capitol is put into perspective when Eric and Cathy interview House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, Asst. Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem. 

Weather with Paul
Paul Douglas stops by for his monthly weather chat.  He looks back at the winter and ahead to warmer weather.  And Paul always bring tape with groovy graphics.

Did You Know?
Did you know that Governor Pawlenty had a little fun at the expense of MPR this Week?

Flu Shots for Children
The CDC now says that all school-age children in America should receive annual flu shots.  Patsy Stinchfield is a member of the CDC Advisory Committee that came up with the recommendation.

Comic Books and More Comic Books
John Borger has collected comics his whole life amassing a collection of more than one hundred thousand.  His decision to donate them to the U of M is the subject of an upcoming story in MinnPost.com.  John Borger joins us as does his wife Judy (the writer of the MinnPost article).

The Wrapup
What happened to the Northrop Auditorium curtain back in February of 1966?  Hear the answer... viewer comments... and show-ending music from local bluegrass star Becky Schlegel. 
 

Almanac Highlights February 22, 2008

The Monologue
Jim Ragsdale wants your vote.  But you won't believe the office he's seeking.

Lots Shakin' In St. Paul
Mary Lahammer recaps for all of us the busy week at the state capitol as lawmakers grapple with the big transportation bill... a bill that Governor Pawlenty vetoed Friday afternoon.

The State of Minnesota Highways
Legislative Auditor James Nobles issued a report this week on Minnesota highways and bridges.  And some of the findings --to use his words-- are grim.

Did You Know?
Meet the youngest member of the legislative community courtesy of Senator Katie Sieben. 

Central Corridor Rail
Yeah, no one likes the name.  But the Met Council deadline on the newest Twin Cities light rail line is next week.  Hear how the deal is starting to take final form.  Our guests are Met Council head Peter Bell, U of M official Kathy O'Brien and Ramsey Co. Commissioner Tony Bennett.

Pitchers and Catchers Report
That means that Almanac sports guy Larry Fitzgerald is back for his monthly visit.

Jacob's Well
It's a family memoir written by Joe Amato published this month by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.  In the book, Amato makes the case for rethinking how family histories are written. 

A Political Panel
Will the veto of the transportation bill stand?  That's one topic we deliver to the political panel this week.  Democrats Wy Spano and Ember Reichgott Junge square off against Republicans Sarah Janecek and Phil Krinkie.

The Wrapup
We ask about art... and the curtain at the U of M's Northrop Auditorium.  That must mean it's Index File time.  Then we end the show with a musical treat, a clip from the tpt archives of folkie Bill Staines from 2000. 

 

Almanac Highlights February 15, 2008

A Dr. Mark Monologue
Scrubs are the topic. 

Northwest Airlines Hearings Soon?
That's what a leading Senator says may take place in St. Paul as early as next week.  Senator James Metzen is our guest. 

Foreclosure Mess
Is it possible that the picture is actually worse than this week's sobering report?  Prentiss Cox from the U of M gives us his take. 

New Online Features
David Gillette and Mary Lahammer walk us through a host of new features on our Session 2008 website. 

School Busing History
Dan Bergin takes a look at historic efforts in Minneapolis in the 1970s to desegregate schools there.  This clip is from an upcoming Minnesota Channel documentary called "Close the Gap" done in conjunction with the Itasca Project. 

More Record Highs and Lows
U of M Meteorologist and Weather Kingpin Mark Seeley drops by to talk about the new weather records that were added to the National Weather Service database this week. 

A Quick First Week of Session
And Mary Lahammer brings you all the fastbreaking items.

The Political Panel
What's the state of our state?  We hear from panelists Fritz Knaak, Andy Brehm, Blois Olson and Jane Ranum. 

The Wrapup
Who was that noted MN Daily writer?  And what famed artist came to the Twin Cities in March of 2001? 

Almanac Highlights February 8, 2008

The Monologue
Sheletta Brundidge has her toddler son on her mind.

Wheat Hits Record Price
Food inflation is a big issue these days and wheat is one reason why.  We hear from Ed Ussett from the U of M.

Primary vs. Caucus
Should Minnesota adopt a Presidential Primary?  DFL Party officials are open to changing from a caucus system, Republican brass are against it.  Republican Party Chair Ron Carey engages in debate with Donna Cassutt, Associate Chair of the Minnesota DFL.

Colorblind
That's the name of a documentary that will air Sunday night at 10 on Twin Cities Public Television.  The documentary tells the story of a class of elementary students who lived through the Detroit Riots of 1967.  Twin Citian Paul Nancarrow is one of the students featured in the documentary.

Spaghetti Western String Company
The Twin Cities group plays some bluegrass instruments... but that's not bluegrass they're playing!  The SWSCo performs for us live in Studio B in prep of their Feb 9th CD release party at the Cedar Cultural Center.

When Lawmakers Run for Higher Office
Mary Lahammer looks at how lawmakers balance holding one office while running for another.

A Political Science Panel
Super Tuesday was the Super Bowl for political junkies.  We gather four political scientists to get their take on what the results mean for Minnesotans.  Larry Jacobs, Steve Schier, Stacey Hunter Hecht and Dan Hofrenning join Mary and Eric on the couch. 

The Wrapup
Eric answers last week's history question and reads another one.  Then we hear another tune by the Spaghetti Western String Company.

Almanac Highlights February 1, 2008

The Monologue
Bick Smith steps up to the mike tonight.

Carol Molnau
Our state's MNDOT Commissioner sat down with our Mary Lahammer in the wake of a new statewide poll showing low approval ratings. 

MinnPost Goes to Iraq
Pulitizer prize winning reporter John Camp and photojournalist Eric Bowen spent most of January in Iraq for the website MinnPost.com.  The two join us on the couch and talk about their trip. 

Hmong in Minnesota
It's the latest in the People of Minnesota series by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.  Author Chia Youyee Vang talks about how she put the history book together.

Democrats Running for President
Hear from local supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in advance of Tuesday's caucuses.  Mayor R. T. Rybak (Obama) squares off with State Senator Tarryl Clark (Clinton). 

Pawlenty and McCain
With John McCain's fortunes improving, talk about Tim Pawlenty's national future has increased.  Mary Lahammer explores the topic.

Republicans Running for President
We hear from supporters of the four major Republican candidates:  Republican National Committee Member Brian Sullivan (Romney)... State Senator Geoff Michel (McCain)... Peter Hong (Huckabee)... Marianne Stebbins (Paul).

Wrapup
Two Minnesota history questions... your viewer comments... and a show-ending tune by the Minneapolis group Crazy Betty.