Almanac: TPT's weekly public affairs program

Almanac Hosts: Eric Eskola and Cathy Wurzer

REALVIDEO ARCHIVE HOME

Get the Free RealPlayer (link is in upper right corner)

< Prev | Next >

RealVideo Archive - 2003 (January to March)

Entire Almanac for January 3, 2003	Watch the show
Lt. Governor-Transportation Commish Molnau Carol Molnau comes along to tell us about her interesting, new hyphenated life.	View the clip
Almanac: At the Capitol Mary Lahammer previews the second season of "Almanac: At the Capitol." AATC can be seen each Wednesday night --starting January 8-- on TPT 17, TPT 2 and many other Minnesota Public TV stations.	View the clip
Ventura in Perspective: Part Four Mary Lahammer brings us the fourth and final installment in her series of reports on the legacy of Jesse Ventura. The topic of this week's report is the Ventura family's passion for privacy.	View the clip
The New Guy at the Humphrey Institute J. Brian Atwood makes his first Almanac appearance. We take the opportunity to chat about what promises to be an important year in international relations.	View the clip
The Restoration of the Cathedral of St. Paul We give you a glimpse of the documentary that will air Sunday the 5th chronicling the multi-million dollar restoration of the big copper domed cathedral in St. Paul. The doc "A Crowning Achievement" will air Sunday, January 5 at 7pm on Tpt 2.	View the clip
This Week's Political Panel It'll be a lively bunch. Republicans Linda Runbeck and Dave Bishop square off against DFLers Wy Spano and Greg Gray.	View the clip
The Wrapup Just who was L. Howard Bennett? Find out and then tell us what NFL history was made by the Minnesota North Stars on January 4, 1984. All that and some show-ending music courtesy of Prince who had his first solo performance this week back in 1978.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for January 10, 2003	Watch the show
Monolog Dominic Papatola has the honors this week..and he's got a special message for our first guest.	View the clip
Governor Tim Pawlenty Live! Our newly-sworn-in governor sits at the Almanac table with Cathy and Eric.	View the clip
Minnesota's First Families Mary Lahammer says hello to the Pawlenty family...and goodbye to the Venturas.	View the clip
Wacky Winter Weather Bruce Watson stops by for a mid-winter visit to help us make sense of shorts weather in January.	View the clip
No room at the Jail Officials say state prisons will be full by July. Asst. Commissioner Dennis Benson tells us how we got here...and what options exist to solve this problem.	View the clip
The Opening Gavel Mary Lahammer gives us a look at the first week of the session, complete with the largest incoming class the Capitol has seen in decades.	View the clip
Legislative Leaders Live! Our state's four top legislative leaders join us for a session preview.	View the clip
Index File Time Last week's answer...this week's question...and a bit of Bob Dylan to end it all.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for January 17, 2003	Watch the show
Commissioner Merriam Gene Merriam was Governor Pawlenty's choice Friday to head the state's Department of Natural Resources. The former lawmaker from Anoka is our guest.	View the clip
Commissioner Yecke Governor Pawlenty named a new Education Commissioner Thursday. Hear her talk about how the first order of the day will be to dismantle the Profile of Learning.	View the clip
Former Finance Commishes For a different perspective on the state's budget woes, we've rounded up two former state finanace commissioners. Former Perpich era commissioner Tom Triplett joins us... as does Carlson era chief finance guy John Gunyou.	View the clip
It isn't Ted Mondale's Met Council Anymore The Pawlenty choice to head the Met Council is Peter Bell. Peter joins us to talk about his different vision for what the Metropolitan Council should do.	View the clip
Sports with Fitzy Larry Fitzgerald pays us a visit to chat Wild... Gophers... Vikes and Timber Puppies.	View the clip
Ethanol End Around This week's proposed ethanol subsidy cuts weren't very popular. Mary Lahammer reports on a grass-roots effort to resist the cuts.	View the clip
This Week's Political Panel To talk about the budget-cutting week that was. Republicans Sarah Janecek and Brian Sullivan take on Democrats D. J. Leary and Andy Dawkins.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for January 24, 2003	Watch the show
The Monolog Doctor Mark Paolis gives us his take on buying drugs in Canada. Don't worry, it's funny.	View the clip
Commissioner Stanek We continue to do our part to introduce you to all the major players in the Tim Pawlenty administration. Rich Stanek was named Thursday as Minnesota's Commissioner of Public Safety. He joins us.	View the clip
The Politics of Terrorism Political Reporter Deluxe Mary Lahammer has the report from our state capitol.	View the clip
Jerry Blakey He got elected... changed parties... ran for Mayor... now Jerry Blakey is stepping down after a decade on the St. Paul City Council. Tonight we hear him out.	View the clip
It's For the Birds! The DNR wants you to send in postcards telling them about your favorite Minnesota birds. J.G. Preston and Joan Galli from the DNR will be along to tell you more.	View the clip
Hispanics Make History This week the U.S. Census announced that Hispanics are now the largest minority group in the United States. We talk about our state's growing Latino population with Ytmar Santiago with Minnesota Chicano Latino Affairs Council.	View the clip
Minnesota's Talking This week TPT and the Star Tribune teamed up to produce a television special focusing on America's response to terrorism. We stopped by one of the discussion groups set up in conjunction with the broadcast and bring you a report.	View the clip
The First Term Legislators Panel It's an Almanac tradition to bring you the thoughts of our state's newest lawmakers. Find out the four legislators we picked to sit on the couch.	View the clip
The Wrapup Two, count them two, history questions... a fan phone call... and a Frank Sinatra-Tommy Dorsey tune from 1942. Life is grand.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for January 31, 2003	Watch the show
Commissioner Goodno On Thursday the Pawlenty administration announced an overhaul of our state welfare system. It'll be the job of Human Services Commissioner Kevin Goodno to sell that plan to lawmakers. The commissioner joins us.	View the clip
Public Workers Pay Freeze? It's a frosty idea to some... but Senator Dick Day says a two year freeze of all the state's public employees could save the state one billion dollars. Senator Dick Day squares off with freeze opponent Rep. Matt Entenza.	View the clip
Lawmaker Pay Cut? Do you detect a theme here? We debrief the State Senator who has proposed a pay cut for state lawmakers.	View the clip
Feeding Deer Backyard feeding of deer in St. Paul may soon make you a scofflaw. We'll have a debate for you.	View the clip
Lawmaker turned Governor Our Mary Lahammer takes a look at how smooth --or rough-- the transition has been from Rep Pawlenty to Guv Pawlenty.	View the clip
Former Lawmakers Panel How is the state budget cutting going? Who better to judge than four sharp former state legislators? We've lined up Republicans David Jennings and Tom Workman and DFLers Dee Long and Mary Jo McGuire to give us some perspective here.	View the clip
The Wrapup Not one but TWO history questions involving the singing of the National Anthem before sporting events. All that and a musical tribute to Buddy Holly who performed this very night in 1959 in Duluth. Three days later he would be dead. But we're not going to dwell on that... instead we're going to play a tune for ya.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for February 7, 2003	Watch the show
A J.G. Monolog J.G. Preston does the honors this week. The topic? Jesse Ventura's new radio show.	View the clip
Governor Pawlenty Live! Friday is the deadline the governor has set for lawmakers to fix the first phase of the budget shortfall. If they don't meet this deadline he will unallot. After his big day, Governor Tim Pawlenty joins us live in Studio B.	View the clip
Council Member Don Samuels He won a hard-fought city council race in Minneapolis on Tuesday. He tells us how he plans to represent North and Northeast Minneapolis.	View the clip
Weather with Doug Paul Douglas talks about the return of winter. It's part of Paul's weekly Almanac weather chat.	View the clip
How We Got Here Our Mary Lahammer brings us up to date on this week's developments that led to Friday's unallotment.	View the clip
This Week's Political Panel We booked Democrats Wy Spano and Blois and Republicans Mary Krinkie and Tom Horner discuss the week's BIG happenings.	View the clip
The Wrapup What famed duo visited the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in November of 1989? You'll have to wait a week to find out the answer to that one. But we WILL tell you the answer to last week's qusetion about Super Bowl IV.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for February 14, 2003	Watch the show
Monolog Dr. Mark DePaolis does the honors this week.	View the clip
Smallpox Vaccinations The first phase of smallpox vaccinations started in Minnesota this week. State epidemiologist Harry Hull joins us to talk about the controversy, secrecy and publicity surrounding the vaccine.	View the clip
Gay Rights A bill was introduced to repeal human rights protections for gays and lesbians. Rep. Arlon Lindner, the bill's author, sits on the couch with his staunchest opponent, Sen. Scott Dibble.	View the clip
MIA Love Tour Come along as Evan Mauer from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts gives us a tour of romantic images from their vast art collections.	View the clip
Rallying round the Capitol Mary Lahammer gives us an inside look at the groups who came to the Capitol this week to plead for budget cutting mercy.	View the clip
African Americans in Minnesota Our look at "The People of Minnesota" series published by the Minnesota Historical Society continues this week as we visit with author and local historian David Taylor.	View the clip
Former Lawmakers Governor's budget release postponed...Local governments spar with the state auditor...our esteemed group of former lawmakers give us their two cents worth. Linda Runbeck, Fritz Knaak, Greg Gray and Deanna Weiner fill up our couch tonight.	View the clip
Index File Time Find out who the dynamic duo was that visited the Minneapolis Institute of Arts? Plus a brand new history question, a special viewer comment and this week's Minnesota Musical History.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for February 21, 2003	Watch the show
This Week's Monolog Dominic Papatola reminds us that not EVERYTHING wrong in the world can be pinned on terrorism.	View the clip
Remembering Orville Freeman Orville Freeman was a Minnesota Governor and a U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He also was a war hero. Freeman died Thursday evening at the age of 84. Former Vice President Walter Mondale joins us in studio to remember his friend.	View the clip
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Round Two Last summer our Mary Lahammer gave candidate Tim Pawlenty one hundred crisp dollar bills and put him through a budget exercise. Now that Governor Pawlenty has put forth his real state budget... Mary puts him through the exercise a second time.	View the clip
Legislative Leaders React Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum and Asst. Senate Majority Leader Steve Kelley debate the governor's budget proposal.	View the clip
W. Harry Davis Minneapolis' West Central Academy was renamed this week to honor Harry Davis, a pioneering civil rights leader. Davis has recently published his autobiography ("Overcoming") and joins us to reflect on his long and remarkable life.	View the clip
Senator Mark Dayton Our State's Senior Senator joins us to talk about Iraq and other matters.	View the clip
Congressional Check In Two members of our state's delegation are our studio guests: Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Congressman John Kline.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for February 28, 2003	Watch the show
The Monolog Our J.G. Preston has an idea about that proposed Hussein-Bush debate.	View the clip
Remembering Orville Freeman Coverage of Thursday's ceremony at the Capitol and Friday's funeral of our state's first Democratic Farmer Labor Party governor. Mary Lahammer reports.	View the clip
Conceal Carry Legislation There's another move to change our state's conceal-carry gun law. We'll have a lively debate between supporter Linda Boudreau and opponent Wes Skoglund.	View the clip
Sports with Fitzy Our sports guy Larry Fitzgerald is back for his monthly Almanac chat. In his real life Larry is a reporter for the Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder newspaper.	View the clip
Masopust to You!! It's the Czech Mardi Gras and it's happening Sunday through Monday in Montgomery. We'll give you a taste of what to expect. For more info call 507-364-5577.	View the clip
60 Years of Barry Zevan! Barry Zevan the Weatherman is celebrating his 60th year in broadcasting. Zevan first appear on radio in Pittsburgh in 1943 as a singer and child actor. He's worked as a singer, actor, and TV and radio personality ever since. He's got photos, stories and rare footage of his famed peekaboo forecasts.	View the clip
Da Panel A Commissioner resigns... a former Governor is buried... new polls are out... lots to talk about this week with D. J. Leary, Greg Gray, Sarah Janecek and Linda Runbeck.	View the clip
The Wrapup Two --count them-- two history questions... plus we hear loud and clearly from the town of Richfield.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for March 7, 2003	Watch the show
Commissioner Yecke Our state's new Education Commissioner comes on board to talk about the work this week of a citizen commission. The commission's goal: to rewrite our state's math and reading standards. Find out more about the commission and the upcoming public hearings at http://cfl.state.mn.us	View the clip
The Former Finance Guys We check in with two former State Finance Commissioners to get their take on Governor Pawlenty's budget plan. John Gunyou and Tom Triplett are our guests.	View the clip
President Bruininks The newly inaugurated U of M President went to the capitol for the first time this week in his new, official capacity. We'll ask him what he learned.	View the clip
Almanac: At the Capitol Online Our J.G. Preston walks you through a way for you to get Mary Lahammer's daily reports from the state capitol. It's all on the Almanac: At the Capitol website.	View the clip
Sex Abuse Legislation Our Mary Lahammer talks about new efforts by sex abuse survivors to change Minnesota law.	View the clip
A Week of Politics... ... will be discussed by this week's Political Panel. Republicans Brian Sullivan and Tom Horner square off against DFLers Dee Long and Dan Cramer.	View the clip
THE Wrapup Accept no imitations, this is the original. Two history questions and a revisit of last week's polka music by Larry Novotny. And yes, you'll want this info: the show-ending music this week is Dave Dudley singing "Rolaids, Doan's Pills and Preparation H."	View the clip

Entire Almanac for March 14, 2003	Watch the show
This Week's Monolog But Doctor DePaolis looks more like Doctor Demento.	View the clip
Senator Norm Coleman Our state's newest Senator talks about a possible war, the economy and the comments of state lawmaker Arlon Lindner.	View the clip
Mayor R. T. Rybak It's been a tough budget week for Minneapoilis. The city's mayor joins us to talk about cuts to fire and police and other services.	View the clip
Those Cuddly Camp Ripley Bears They are cute but they also represent interesting science. Our Mary Lahammer brings you a most unusual report.	View the clip
Forgetting Ireland Author Bridget Connelly has written a book about her ancestor's experience as an Irish immigrant settler in Graceville, Minnesota. Much of it is a troubling story.	View the clip
Irish Music It's an Irish two-fer tonight! Twin Cities musician Tom Dahill does the honors. To find out more about where you can see Tom this Irish holiday weekend check out: www.IrishMusicAndDanceAssociation.org	View the clip
The First Termers Panel Our panel of first term lawmakers sit down on the couch for their second visit. We review the week's political news through their fresh eyes. Republicans Julianne Ortman and Lynne Osterman join Democrats Cy Thao and Dan Sparks on the set.	View the clip
The Wrapup Two whiz-bang history questions, your viewer comments and another live Irish tune.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for March 21, 2003	Watch the show
Minnesota Security Governor Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota Homeland Security Director Rich Stanek join us live to talk about how the war in Iraq could affect us here at home.	View the clip
Twin Cities Reporters Abroad We hear from the two Minnesota Media outlets --the Star Tribune and KSTP-TV-- with reporters in the Middle East covering the war. Star Tribune editor Anders Gyllenhaal is our guest as is KSTP newsroom executive Mark Ginther.	View the clip
Small Town Life Joe Amato is one of the editors of a new volume published by the Minnesota Historical Society called "A Place Called Home"... an examination of small town life in the American Midwest. Joe is an old favorite of Almanac, being a frequent guest over the years.	View the clip
Minnesota's Outstanding Older Worker J.G. Preston will learn all about a group called Experience Works which each year sponsors a contest that names Minnesota's Outstanding Older Worker. You can nominate someone for the honor yourself. The group has a toll free number so you can get nomination forms: 1-800-450-5627.	View the clip
Legislative Leaders Not ALL the news this week came from the Middle East. We hear from state legislative leaders about the goings on at the capitol. Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger, Senate Minority Leader Dick Day, House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen and House Minority Leader Matt Entenza sit down on the Almanac couch.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for March 28, 2003	Watch the show
Congressman Mark Kennedy Our state's Sixth District Member of Congress joins us live to talk about global events. It's part of a series of conversations last month and this month with our Minnesota Congressional delegation.	View the clip
Global Health Woes A mystery pneumonia... smallpox vaccine problems... and worries about biochemical warfare and terrorism. We check in with Minnesota Epidemiologist Harry Hull.	View the clip
Patriotism at the Capitol Our Mary Lahammer reports on how the war in Iraq is touching on legislation at the State Capitol.	View the clip
State of the Airlines Joel Denney from U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray joins us to look at the financial woes of the airline industry, and possible solutions.	View the clip
How About Those Gopher Hoopsters?? Not the men and the second-rate NIT... but the women in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Former gopher player now TV sports commentator Lea B. Olsen joins us.	View the clip
A Bite of Cookie Jazz singer Cookie Coleman will be performing as part of the Minnesota Orchestra's Weekender Pop Series' tribute to Pop Standards on April 6. Cookie will perform live in our studio. Check out her website: http://www.cococompany.com	View the clip
The Political Panel The week's big state news is analyzed by this week's panel: Republicans Mary Krinkie and Fritz Knaak and Democrats Wy Spano and Ember Reichgott Junge.	View the clip
The Wrapup We call it the wrapup. History questions... your comments... and another live tune courtesy of Cookie Coleman.	View the clip