Almanac Producer's Blog

Almanac Highlights January 30, 2009

The Monologue
Cartoon Essayist David Gillette has a notion.

The Ethics of a Flu Pandemic
The Minnesota Center for Health Care Ethics is partnering with the Department of Health to come up with a plan to prioritize scarce resources during a possible flu pandemic.  Ellie Garrett from the Center for Health Care Ethics is our guest.

ACLU Sues TIZA School
Is TIZA a religious school?  That's the basis of a lawsuit filed recently by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.  We debate the issues with Chuck Samuelson with the ACLU and Joe Nathan with the Humphrey Institute.

Did You Know?
Did you know that Mary Lahammer has some pooch advice for our nation's First Family?

Congressman Tim Walz
We've been checking in with members of Congress this month.  First District Congressman Tim Walz joins us in Studio B.

Concussions in Girls Hockey
HealthEast is studying how often girl hockey players receive concussions on the ice.  HealthEast physical therapist Roxanne Julius and Stillwater player Kristina King talk to Cathy and Eric.

Federal and State Budgets
Our Mary Lahammer reports on the Governor's Budget released this week.. and the federal stimulus package out of Washington. 

Budget React
We focus on one area of Governor Pawlenty's proposed budget... cuts in aid to cities and other local units of government.  Phil Krinkie with the Taxpayers League of Minnesota squares off against DFL House member Melissa Hortman.

The Wrapup
Last week's Index File answer.... and this week's question.  Plus some show-ending music by Queen Ida of Zydeco fame who appeared in a KTCA music special this week back in 1984. 

Almanac Highlights January 23, 2009

The Week's Monologue
Jim Ragsdale was in D.C. this week for the inaugural.  And he's never seen anything like it.

Governor Pawlenty One on One
Tim Pawlenty sat down this week with our Mary Lahammer to preview his state budget.

Congressman Erik Paulsen
We've been checking in with members of Congress this month.  This week we visit with our state's newest member in the House of Representatives. 

Weather with Paul Douglas
Paul stops by for his monthly weather chat.  Paul assesses this year's winter.

The Bunny Clogs
Adam Levy (of Honeydogs fame) stops by with his daughters to sing some children's tunes. 

Sports with Larry Fitzgerald Sr.
Larry Sr. stops by for his semi-regular sports chat.  We'll talk up the Super Bowl... hoops around town... and the Twins.

The Senate Lawsuit
Mary Lahammer has a report on the developments this week in the Norm Coleman versus Al Franken lawsuit.

This Week's Political Panel
Republicans Sarah Janecek and Andy Brehm sit down with Democrats Mike Hatch and Sen. Kathy Saltzman (DFL-Woodbury) to discuss the week's big political stories.

The Wrapup
What was going on with Lake Minnetonka in 1911?  And what was debated at the legislature in 1927?  All that, your viewer comments and some show ending music by the Bunny Clogs. 

Almanac Highlights January 16, 2009

This Week's Monologue
Ah, winter.  That's Susie Jones' topic this week.

Strib Money Woes
We talk about the Star Tribune's filing for Chapter 11 with Jane Kirtley, journalism professor at the U of M. 

Did You Know?
Did you know that sometimes lawmakers and members of the media mix it up at the capitol?

Chief Justice Eric Magnuson
The head of Minnesota's Supreme Court organized a lobbying effort this week to try to increase funding for the state courts system.  We'll hear from the Chief Justice about this plan.

Spider John Koerner Live!
Legendary folk-blues artist Spider John Koerner performs for us in Studio B as a preview of the first-ever Winter Carnival Blues Festival at Roy Wilkins Auditorium on January 23.

Instant Runoff Voting
Know how it works?  Didn't think so.  If you live in Minneapolis you may have to learn quickly.  David Schultz of Hamline University tells us how IRV works. 

Congressman Keith Ellison
We check in with Minnesota's 5th District congressman on the eve of next week's historic inauguration.

The State of our State
Mary Lahammer is back with a report on Tim Pawlenty's State of the State address Thursday... and other happenings at the capitol.

The Wrapup
Who played the role of Gertie Cummings in the Ordway's production of "Oklahoma" in 1998?  Find out and hear another tune by Spider John. 

Almanac Highlights January 9, 2009

The Monologue
Dominic Papatola takes a crack at the Senate race. 

Senate Leaders
The legislative session started up this week, we check in with Minnesota Senate Leaders Tarryl Clark and David Senjem. 

Did You Know?
Political reporter Mary Lahammer tells us about a certain political holiday gift of a colleague.

Losing Work
National unemployment numbers were released Friday and America lost more jobs in 2008 than in any year since 1945.  We explore the health of the national and regional economy with Jeanne Boeh, head of the Economics Department at Augsburg College.

Make: television
That's the name of a new national show produced by tpt that will debut across the country this weekend on many PBS stations.  We learn about the show and peek at some video with Bill Gurstelle, a technology guru who is a writer and producer on the program. 

The Week at the State Capitol
Mary Lahammer fills us in on the Senate recount and other happenings in St. Paul this week. 

Political Scientist Panel
Our political scientists are back and give us their thoughts on happenings here in Minnesota and out in D.C.  Guests this week include Larry Jacobs and Kathryn Pearson from the U of M, Stacey Hunter Hecht from Bethel University and Steve Schier from Carleton College.

The Wrapup
We finally get around to answering that Graves Hotel Index File question.  Then we ask you a new Minnesota history question.  And we end the section with a reprise performance by Willie Murphy.   

Almanac Highlights January 2, 2009

The Monologue
Sheletta Brundidge is thinking about the New Year.  Perhaps too much. 

Leaders of the House
The Minnesota Legislature gavels into session Tuesday January 6 and we get a preview from House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert.

Preview of Almanac: At the Capitol
Next Wednesday night at 7 on the statewide Minnesota Channel the 8th season of our sister program "Almanac: At the Capitol" starts up.  We get a sneak peek from show host Mary Lahammer.

Kate DiCamillo
The award-winning author --and one of our favorite guests-- stops by Studio B to join Eric and Cathy. 

Jazz Trio "Framework" Live in Studio
The Twin Cities jazz trio Framework joins us. Drummer Jay Epstein, guitarist Chris Olson and bassist Chris Bates make up the group. You can catch Framework at the Artists Quarter in St. Paul on Thursday January 22.

A Census of the People
Federal census workers will start to canvass Minnesota neighborhoods next month in prep for the 2010 Census.  Find out why an accurate count is a big deal from Census Official Rick Freimuth. 

The Political Panel
The latest on the U.S. Senate recount and a preview of the 2009 legislative session from this week's panelists:  Democrats Mike Hatch and Ember Reichgott Junge are joined by Republicans Phil Krinkie and David Strom. 

Another Live Tune by Framework
The jazz trio treats us to another selection.