Almanac Producer's Blog

Almanac Highlights August 28, 2009

An Illustrated Monologue
David Gillette wanted to know how the earth's moon came to be and went out to find the answer.

Is MnDOT Failing to Hire Enough Minorities?
The Minnesota State Baptist Convention thinks so and organized a protest this week to publicize the cause.  The Rev. Randy Staten is with the group and joins us live.  MnDOT declined our request to provide a guest for this discussion.

Chilly Winds A Blowing
Paul Douglas stops by for his monthly meteorological chat.  The weekend's cool forecast is one topic of conversation. 

More Twister Stories from Mary Lahammer
Mary continues her series of reports on Minnesota's Deadliest Tornadoes as she brings us part two of the story of how a powerful storm forever changed her family's course. 

Woodworking for Wildlife
That's the name of a popular book by DNR wildlife specialist Carrol Henderson.  The book has been re-issued and is the perfect excuse to learn about making bird houses that birds will actually benefit from.  Author Carrol Henderson is our guest.

Sports with Fitzy
Larry Fitzgerald Sr. stops by to catch us up on the busy world of sports.  Larry writes for the Spokesman Recorder newspaper and does radio work for the National Programming Network. 

Remembering Paul Gilmore
Theater man Paul Gilmore is one of the many tales along the road of historic Highway 61. 

Congressman John Kline
We ask Minnesota's Second District congressman why he doesn't believe in traditional town hall meetings.  It's part of our check-in with members of congress during the August recess. 

The Wrapup
Our weekly dose of Minnesota history... your comments about football star/turned teacher Randall McDaniel... and some show-ending music courtesy of Beau Kinstler. 

Almanac Highlights August 21, 2009

The Monologue
Dominic Papatola has some thoughts about the guy in purple wearing the number 4.

More Trouble for Metro Gang Strike Force
A new report this week raises even more troubling questions about the now-disbanded Metro Gang Strike Force.  Andy Luger is the co-author of the State Report and is our guest. 

An Historic Court Case
This week the St. Paul Jaycees celebrated the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the right of their group to allow female members.   Twin Cities Jaycee chapters had worked with the State Human Rights Department to bring about the change.  William Mitchell Law School prof Raleigh Levine explains why the case remains important.

Minnesota's Deadliest Tornadoes
That's the name of a documentary that Mary Lahammer has been working on this summer.  The program will air on tpt on October 8th.  Mary gives us a sneak peek at one of the deadly storms, a story with a strong personal connection. 

Randall McDaniel
We talk about the power of education with newly-inducted NFL Hall of Fame lineman Randall McDaniel.  In his post-playing career, McDaniel is proud to a be a special education instructor. 

The Art of Living Dangerously
Are Americans too complacent?  Author William Gurstelle thinks so.  He's written the book "Absinthe & Flamethrowers" in which he shows Americans how to safely increase risk-taking through science experiments.  Gurstelle is a contributing editor to Make magazine and worked on the tpt PBS program Make: Television. 

The Week's Political Panel
We touch on the big local and national political news of the week with Democrats Denise Cardinal and Wy Spano and Republicans Andy Brehm and Brian Sullivan.

The Wrapup
We bring you two Minnesota history questions along with a classic show-ending performance by Richfield's own group The Castaways who sang their 1965 hit "Liar, Liar" on Almanac back in 1997. 

Almanac Highlights August 14, 2009

A Musical Monologue
The PGA Championship at Hazeltine is on the minds of Dan Wascoe and Baibi Vegners.

It's the Economy
Jeanne Boeh is back again for an update on the economy in light of Friday's numbers about inflation and industrial production.  Boeh teaches economics at Augsburg College.

Congressman Tim Walz
The First District Congressman joins us for the first of four visits this month by Minnesota's members of Congress.  Health care will be one of the topics we touch on. 

Medical Credit Cards
This week Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson sued a Lakeville clinic because of the way it was using medical credit cards.  AG Swanson talks about the case and the broader issue.

Touring the Minnesota Tribal Nations Plaza
Mary Lahammer nabs a rare interview with Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Stanley R. Crooks at the new plaza outside of the U of M's TCF Stadium.  Crooks gives Mary a tour of the plaza that honors our state's eleven Indian tribes.

Middle Eastern Dance
The Jawaahir Dance Company stops by Studio B to give us a taste of the works they will be performing at the Southern Theater between now and August 23.  Find out more at www.jawaahir.org

A Panel of Independents
We seek a centrist political perspective this week from a group of supporters of the Independence Party.  Former Senator Dean Barkley, former IP Party Chair Jim Moore and ex-Citizens League head Curt Johnson are our guests.

The Wrapup
Our usual weekly dose of Minnesota history, an amusing exchange of emails between a viewer and meteorologist Mark Seeley and a show-ending tune by the Sixties Twin Cities band "The Underbeats" who performed on tpt back in 1997.  

Almanac Highlights August 7, 2009

The Week's Monologue
Sheletta Brundidge has something to say about friendship in these digital times.

GOP Candidates Square Off
Thursday night in Rochester nine Republicans who are running for governor faced off before party loyalists.  Our Mary Lahammer was there and has a report. 

Yes, It Rained Friday
... In many parts of the state, but there's still a long-term drought in much of our region.  Mark Seeley tracks these things closely.  He's a meteorologist at the U of M. 

Maria Isa Live!
You can call her music Hip-Hop or Reggae or Dancehall.  You can also call her a rising star.  Maria and her Twin Cities-based band bring her unique sound to Studio B. 

Pledge
Yes, it's that time of year again.  Here's your chance to support your local PBS station.  Take a look, we have some great Almanac premiums. 

New Stuff at The Ordway
The Ordway is turning 25 soon and the theater decided it was time for a new stage floor.  We talk with Ordway head Patricia Mitchell about the stage renovation and plans for the upcoming anniversary year. 

A Political Panel
Big votes in Washington and rumblings in Governor and Congressional races back home.  This week's version of the political panel includes Republicans Sarah Janecek and Dan Dorman and DFLers Mike Hatch and Dee Long.

The Wrapup
We thought last week was the week we would ask a history question that everyone got right.  Alas, it was not meant to be. Most of you however had no trouble identifying the newsmaker from August of 2007.  How about this week's question concerning the 6th game of the 1987 World Series?  We also have another live tune by Maria Isa.