Almanac Producer's Blog

Almanac Highlights May 9, 2008

The Monologue
Dr. Mark DePaolis has prom on his mind. 

Minnesota Turns 150
Our state's sesquicentennial activities kick off Sunday on Statehood Day.  We hear about the festivities --and why we should care about them-- from Jane Leonard, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission.

Transportation Bill Stalls
A squabble over making seat belt use a primary traffic offense is causing lawmakers to rethink the legislature's big Transportation Bill.  We hear from two house members with different ideas about what the bill should do: Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville).

Did You Know?
Did you know that Rep. Cy Thao was "elected" homecoming king in the State House?

Sports with Larry Fitzgerald
Larry stops by for his monthly sports chat.  On the bill... the Twins... the Vikes... and Tubby's hoopsters. 

Historian Annette Atkins
Annette has the honor of being the first of several historians we will have on this month talking about what it means to them to celebrate Minnesota's 150th birthday.  Atkins is a professor of history at St. John's University/College of St. Benedict and is the author of the MHS publication "Creating Minnesota."

Where Lawmakers Stand
Ten days are left this legislative session.  Mary Lahammer gives you a scorecard on where progress stands on the session's big issues.

A Political Panel
We slice and dice the week's political news with the aid of Republicans Sarah Janecek and Fritz Knaak and DFLers Mary Jo McGuire and Blois Olson.

The Wrapup
Two Minnesota history questions (including a cheesy Lou Holtz impersonation) and show-ending tune by Tenor Daniel Montenegro who performed on Almanac five years ago this week.

Almanac Highlights May 2, 2008

Cash for 35W Victims
Lawmakers have reached an agreement on how to compensate victims of the 35W Bridge collapse.  We hear a report from Mary Lahammer and then State Senator Ron Latz joins us live.

Al Franken Explains
Mary Lahammer sits down with the U.S. Senate candidate as he explains his tax issues. 

Nelson-Pallmeyer
There IS another DFLer seeking party endorsement for the Senate.  He's St. Thomas professor Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.  He sits down at the table with Cathy and Eric to talk about Franken and his own campaign.

Canterbury Opens
And it's the only place in the state you can wager on Saturday's Kentucky Derby.  We talk some horse flesh with Dark Star of WCCO Radio fame.

Sam Miltich and the Clearwater Hot Club
Sam is a northern MInnesota jazz artist who will be performing at next weekend's Grand Marais Jazz Festival.  Sam will play a tune for us.  For more info on the festival check out grandmaraisjazzfest.com

The New 35W Bridge
Videographer Gabe Cheifetz recently toured the site of the new bridge for a story in an upcoming edition of MinnPost.com  Gabe stops by Studio B to show us some of what he shot and to talk about what he learned.

Did You Know?
Did you know that State House member Neil Peterson's love of bow ties led to fashion statement on the House floor this week? 

This Week's Political Panel
Loads of news from the state capitol... a twist in the Senate race... all topics of conversation with this week's panel.  Republicans Phil Krinkie and Andy Brehm match wits with Democrats Jane Ranum and Mike Hatch.

The Wrapup
We answer last week's question about the 1954 Minneapolis Symphony and ask a new one concerning the 1984 Spring Gopher football game.  Then we hear another tune by the Sam Miltich Trio.