Almanac Producer's Blog

Swine Flu

The swine flu is the big news story of the week and we're working up a flu segment on Friday's show. Our Mary Lahammer had the MN Health and Education commissioners on last night's Almanac at the Capitol show and had an interesting conversation about the state's preparations for a possible outbreak. Mary has been keeping close track of the developments on this story and keeping us up to date through her blog.

Watch the show on Friday for the latest on Minnesota's response to the pandemic.

MN Health Care: 1992 - Present

Back in 1992 Governor Carlson proposed a state program to cover uninsured Minnesotans. He unveiled it in his State of the State that year.

Before a state program was in place, 7% of Minnesotans lacked health insurance. With a program in place, the figure is now 10%. Watch more of Carlson’s 1992 speech on tpt’s online Minnesota Video Vault: mnvideovault.org

Almanac Highlights April 24, 2009

The Week's Monologue
We recently put cartoonist David Gillette in a room with young political activists.  Here's what he learned. 

Minnesota's Champion Trees
Learn how to nominate a tree to the roster of Minnesota Champion Trees. In celebration of Arbor Day, Jennifer Teegarden with the Minnesota DNR explains how the process works.

Visit the Minnesota Big Tree Registry here.

A Legacy Letter
In partnership with 1000 Friends of Minnesota, tpt is launching a series of short videos of Minnesotans talking about what they treasure most about the North Star State.  Look for these Legacy Letters between programs on the statewide Minnesota Channel.

Visit the YouTube page dedicated to the Legacy Letters here.

A Taxing Week
Our Mary Lahammer fills us in on a very busy legislative week as the Senate and House unveil their tax plans. 

Tax Plans Hashed Out
We've invited House Tax Chair Ann Lenczewski, Senate Tax Chair Tom Bakk and Minnesota Revenue Commissioner Ward Einess to join us live to talk taxes. 

Iron Range:  Minnesota Building America
We bring you a clip from a new documentary on Minnesota's Iron Range that will premiere on Sunday April 26 at 7 pm on the Minnesota Channel.  The program is partnership between tpt and the Minnesota Humanities Center. 

Sports with Fitzy
Larry Fitzgerald Senior stops by to talk Viking Draft picks... the Twins' lousy start... and the merciful end to the Wolves' season. 

Did You Know?
That during slow moments at the Capitol thoughts sometimes turn to food?

The Political Scientist Panel
The poli sci profs are back for another rollicking look at the U.S. Senate Race that May Never End.  Larry Jacobs ( U of M) is joined by Steve Schier (Carleton), Stacey Hunter Hecht (Bethel) and David Schultz (Hamline). 

The Wrapup
Last week's history question... a new query for this week (check out the groovy wedding video from 1981!)... and a show-ending tune by guitarist Dean Magraw who performed on KTCA's "Arts on 2" program this week back in 1994. 

"Iron Range" preview on Friday

I had the pleasure of getting an advanced look at “Iron Range: Minnesota Building America,” a new tpt documentary we will be airing on our Minnesota Channel this Sunday. It’s interesting to see how much the Range contributed to industrial growth in this country and get a sense of its post-mining future. We worked with the Minnesota Humanities Center and Iron Range Resources to produce this show.

We are planning to run a clip of the show on Friday’s Almanac.

Legacy Letters Honor Life in Minnesota

We are planning to feature a new Legacy Letter on this week's Almanac show. The Letters project is a cooperative effort of 1000 Friends of Minnesota and tpt allowing people to capture what's special about life here by telling their stories on camera. We use these as transition pieces between shows on our Minnesota Channel and the 1000 Friends group posts them on a YouTube page dedicated to the project.

Always interesting to hear what we Minnesotans say about ourselves.

Almanac Highlights April 17, 2009

The Week's Monologue
Jim Ragsdale weighs in on the issue of fairness. 

Session Ending Strategy
How will the 2009 Minnesota legislative session end?  Almanac Political reporter Mary Lahammer talks about strategies that are emerging. 

Busy Week for the DNR
Zebra mussels to worry about... seedlings to plant... future state parks to ponder.  Minnesota DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten is our guest. 

Did You Know?
That language got a little saucy at the state capitol this week?

Congressional Check In
Congressmen John Kline and Keith Ellison join us on the couch to chat about their recent trips abroad to Afghanistan and Gaza. 

Robert Bly
In honor of the international conference honoring Minnesota poet and writer Robert Bly this week we've uncovered a clip of Bly from the newly-launched Minnesota Video Vault.  Check it out at www.mnvideovault.org

Jearlyn Steele Live!
Jearlyn is on the other side of the microphone this week as Cathy Wurzer talks to her about her new CD "Jearlyn Steele Sings the Songs From a Prairie Home Companion."  Then Jearlyn sings a tune accompanied by her brother Billy.

The Political Panel
This week's version includes Republicans Sarah Janecek and State Sen. Geoff Michel and DFLers Greg Gray and Blois Olson. 

The Wrapup
Our weekly dose of Minnesota history questions, your viewer comments and a show-ending tune by Jearlyn Steele. 

Almanac Highlights April 10, 2009

The Week's Monologue
Sheletta Brundidge wants to race.  But only on her terms.

Metro Housing Sales Up, Prices Still Down
Numbers released Friday show that Twin Cities home sales are up by 21 percent from the same time last year, but prices are down by about 23 percent.  Rae Jean Malone with the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors joins us to explain. 

Obama Council
Minnesota Rev. Peg Chemberlin was named this week to President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships  What exactly does that mean?

Easter/Passover Legislative Update
State lawmakers went home for their annual holiday break this week.  Our Mary Lahammer tells us where things stand with barely a month until the scheduled end of session. 

Live Music with Chastity Brown!
The acoustic folk-rocker joins us live to talk about her latest CD.  And then she'll perform a tune.

Minnesota History Magazine Goes Online
We introduce to the wondrous online world of 90 years worth of Minnesota History magazines.  Check it out at www.mnhs.org

Remembering Steve Cannon
The legendary Twin Cities radio personality died this week at age 81.  In 1997 on the eve of his WCCO Radio retirement, he sat down with Cathy and Eric. We play an extended clip from that interview. 

The Senate Trial Reporters Panel
We check in again with three reporters who have been living and breathing the Senate recount/trial for the past several months.  Rachel Stassen-Berger, Jay Weiner and Pat Doyle are our guests.

The Wrapup
We answer last week's history question, ask you a new one, hear your comments and then sit back and enjoy another tune by Chastity Brown. 

Almanac Highlights April 3, 2009

The Week's Monologue
Susie Jones is on Facebook.  But she's not quite sure about it. 

Talking Taxes
As legislators gear up for next week's Easter Break, our Mary Lahammer went about the Capitol on Friday seeking out lawmakers willing to talk taxes. 

Red River Update
Forecasters now say that the Red River may crest late this month at levels near last week's record levels.  We get a debrief from National Weather Service hydrologist Steve Buan and U of M climatologist Mark Seeley. 

Red Bull Update
We're working on a special project this year in which Minnesota National Guard members tell their own video stories of their deployment... while their families back home do the same.  We bring you the second installment in this series as Red Bull guard members get ready to leave for Iraq. 

Autism in Somali Community
The Minnesota Department of Health is looking into why Somali preschool children in Minneapolis receive Autism services at a very high rate.  Minnesota Heath Commissioner Sanne Magnan is joined by Idil Abdull with the Somali-American Autism Foundation.

Did You Know?
Did you know that a 91 year old angler stole the show at the Capitol this week?

Kleptomania Study
The U of M has discovered a promising treatment for people who are compulsive stealers.  Dr. Jon Grant form the U talks about the study released this week. 

The Declarations of Independents
We've assembled a panel of thoughtful moderates to ponder politics both locally and nationally.  On the couch with Cathy and Eric are Dean Barkley, Peter Hutchinson and Curt Johnson. 

The Wrapup
Two Minnesota history questions, a mystery guest and show-ending tune from the early 90s by the Minnesota blues band The Hoopsnakes. 

Red Bull deployment on Friday's Almanac

We are working on a story for Friday's show on the deployment of Minnesota's "Red Bull" National Guard Infantry Division. Tpt is working with the Guard to create a series of reports focusing on the impact deployments have on guard members and their families. The Red Bull unit maintains a very informative Web site that is worth checking out here.