Entire Almanac for April 4, 2003

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American Refugee Committee
Hugh Parmer heads up the Twin Cities based American Refugee Committee. The organization is poised to help refugees from the war.

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The Saintly City
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly stops by studio B for a State of the City preview.

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Sports with Fitzy
Larry Fitzgerald stops by to talk about the Kirby Puckett verdict and the beginning of the baseball season.

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The War in Iraq
Congressman John Kline stops by for a visit to update us on the latest Washington news on the warfront.

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No New Taxes?
Mary Lahammer introduces us to some of the folks at the Capitol who are calling for tax increases this week.

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Cold enough for ya?
What's with this wintry weather in April? Paul Douglas stops by for a chat.

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Former Legislators
It's committee deadline week up at the Capitol... what better time to check in with some former legislators. Dee Long, Deanna Wiener, Linda Runbeck and John Himle join us this week.

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Wrap up
Last week's answer...this week's question...and of course this week's dose of Minnesota musical history.

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Entire Almanac for April 11, 2003

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The Big Four
Top Legislative leaders sit on the Almanac couch to update us on the latest from the state capitol. Steve Sviggum, John Hottinger, Matt Entenza and Dick Day join us live.

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Slow Going
Highway construction season has begun... find out the latest plans from the Department of Transportation. Pssst. If you travel on 494 or 694 it could be a long summer. See the details at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/construction/

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Voucher Fight
Are educational vouchers in our state's future? We debate this and other education issues with Rep. Barb Sykora and State Senator Steve Kelley.

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Korean Traveler
Philip Ahn has just returned from a trip to his native Korea. We find out his take on the tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

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The Budgets are Finally Out
Democrats revealed their budget numbers this week. Our Mary Lahammer gives us the lowdown on all the plans.

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This Week's Political Panel
Four, count them, four analysts chat about the Minnesota political week that was.

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Entire Almanac for April 18, 2003

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The Monologue
It's back from a bit of a hiatus. Dominic Papatola explains.

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Congressman Sabo
Members of Congress have been stopping by during the past month to talk about the war in Iraq. This Week 5th District Congressman Martin Sabo is our guest.

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To Tax or Not to Tax?
That's the question over at the legislature. We host a lively debate between David Strom with the Minnesota Taxpayers League and Marcia Avner with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

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Young Jack Callahan
He's 12 and he plays the electric guitar as if he's been doing it his whole life. Jack is going to treat us to some live music.

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Religion in the State House
Our Mary Lahammer focuses on lawmakers who bring their diverse faiths to their jobs.

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The Economy
Bad news about NWA this week... how's the state's economy doing as a whole? Economist Paul Anton is our guest.

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The Political Panel
Things might get loud. Republicans Sarah Janecek and Brian Sullivan square off against Ember Reichgott Junge and Dan Cramer.

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The Wrapup
Two fun history questions... your viewer comments... and another live tune by Jack Callahan.

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Entire Almanac for April 25, 2003

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SARS
Minnesota recorded its first official case of SARS on Friday. But State Epidemiologist Harry Hull isn't sure that it was truly SARS. Harry Hull joins us live to help explain this confusing disease.

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Racino
It's a word that Minnesotans hadn't eve heard of a month ago. Now it might become law. Mary Lahammer fills us in on all the developments Friday at the state capitol.

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Party Chairs
The heads of our state's two largest political parties square off. On the agenda: taxes... the war in Iraq... presidential politics.

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The Thrill of the Grill
The Outdoor Cooking Store is kicking off the Minnesota Outdoor Grilling Season this weekend with a cookoff. Phil Muller is on 4th Street with J.G. and he has all sorts of grilling tips.

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Wild About the Wild
And why is that? Doug Johnson with the publication "Let's Play Hockey" stops by with an explanation or two.

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More Grilling with J.G. and Chef Phil
More grilling tips for your enjoyment. To learn more about this weekend's events aim your browser towards www.outdoorcookingstore.com

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First Termers Panel
It's an Almanac tradition almost a decade old... assembling a group of first term lawmakers and getting their sense of the legislative session. Our group of four is back for another visit.

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The Wrapup
Two great history questions... your thoughts about a tax surcharge... and show-ending music courtesy of Enrico Caruso who performed in the Twin Cities this week in 1910.

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Entire Almanac for May 2, 2003

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Latest from the Capitol
Mary Lahammer never sleeps, eats or stops. Almanac's energetic capitol reporter fills us in on the Friday news in St. Paul.

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Former Finance Commishes
We check in again with a pair of former state finance commissioners. We've taken them under our wing to chat budget.

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Cinco de Mayo
Saturday is only Tres de Mayo but that's the day this year of the big annual parade on the West Side of St. Paul celebrating Chicano/Latino heritage. Find out what's shakin' with J.G. Preston and guests.

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Sports with Larry Fitzgerald
Larry is back to give perspective to quite a week in Minnesota sports history. When he's not making his monthly Almanac visit, Larry is the sports editor of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder newspaper.

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Biotech Idea
The governor is supporting a biotechnology initiative between the Mayo Clinic and the U of M. It's a project that is seeking --longterm-- more than 100 million dollars in state support. Dr. Hugh Smith, Chairman of the Board at Mayo, tells us why the Clinic is excited. .

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This Week's Political Panel
And each of our guests is a full-fledged, card-carrying political analyst. We checked.

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The Wrapup
Did you know the answer to last week's Index File question? Want to hear this week's again? And how about that King tune to end the show? Click here and get the answers to our questions.

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Entire Almanac for May 9, 2003

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Wild Fever
Admit it, you probably have it. And the onset has been sudden. Doug Johnson --editor of the magazine "Let's Play Hockey"-- fills us in on the sports year's most unlikely story.

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Latest From the Capitol
Mary Lahammer has the freshest news from the State Capitol. She gives us all the day's headlines and then is joined by veteran capitol observer Gene Lahammer. Gene is the now-retired long-time AP capitol reporter. Gene also happens to be Mary's dad.

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Mike Hatch vs. Medica?
Well, that's the fight we hoped to have this week. We invited the Attorney General and Medica. Thus far, only Hatch has agreed to join us. Tune in and find out who arrived in the studio Friday at 7.

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The Minnesota Opera and Daniel Montenegro
Find out about the Minnesota Opera's upcoming production and then listen to gifted tenor Daniel Montenegro sing a zarzuela live in our studio. Find out more about the Minnesota Opera's latest show --The Handmaid's Tale-- at www.mnopera.org

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Kathleen Hall Jamieson
Hall Jamieson is with the Annenberg Center at the University of Pennsylvania and is said to know more about American political ads than anyone in our country. She's a native Minnesotan and is returning this weekend to deliver the commencement address at the College of St. Benedict. But first she visits with us.

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A BIG Political Panel
Well, not that big. Four people as usual. But the stakes are high as the legislative session nears its end. Republicans David Strom and Mary Krinkie face off against DFLers Wy Spano and Ember Reichgott-Junge.

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The Wrapup
We honor all long-distance web viewers everywhere this week as we tip our hat to Douglas Gerlach of Oberlin, Ohio. Plus we have a nifty new Index File question for you. Did I really just write nifty???

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Entire Almanac for May 16, 2003

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The Legislature Texas Style
J.G. Preston couldn't help but notice what passes for legislative shenanigans down in Austin, Texas.

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Mary Lahammer Live from the Capitol
Our Mary will have all the latest news, and she'll give you a primer on how a special session could come about.

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Legislative Leaders Live!!
Is there a deal on the big budget shortfall? Perhaps legislative leaders will broker a deal right in front of your eyes. The state's top legislative brass join us live in Studio B.

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Don't Believe the Hype
TPT's award-winning program for and by urban youth of color is having its farewell broadcast this weekend. Tune it in Sunday at 11pm on TPT2. We have a clip of it for you.

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County Extensions Agents
Under a new plan, our state's U of M County Extension agents would be Regional agents. And there would be fewer of them. Charles Casey from the U of M explains how it would work.

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Weather with Doug
Paul Douglas is back for his monthly weather chat. The big string of powerful storms down South is on the agenda to talk about.

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J.G. Sits Down at the Computer
And fills us all in on the many ways to follow the legislature online between now and next Tuesday. Included in the mix: a reminder to tune into Almanac: At the Capitol next Wednesday at 7pm on TPT17.

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The Wrapup
Two, count them two, different Minnesota Twins history questions. Each one is nifty.

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Entire Almanac for May 23, 2003

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A Funny Doc
Dr. Mark DePaolis M.D. does the honors. M.D. stands for Monolog Doctor.

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Latest Capitol Capers
Mary Lahammer brings us tape and Eric Eskola bring us himself live from the House Gallery.

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Mayor Randy Kelly
Hizzoner talks about the latest doings in his Capitol City including the announcement Friday of a new St. Paul fire chief.

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Imbedded in Iraq
KSTP-TV reporter Dean Staley and videographer Joe Caffrey stop to talk about being the only Minnesota TV station imbedded with troops in Iraq.

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SPCO Performs Beethoven
Sunday at 8:30 pm TPT and the SPCO team up once again to bring you a performance from the Ordway Center. SPCO President Bruce Coppock joins us live to talk about Beethoven's 8th and 9th symphonies.

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Politicos Four
We have a special political panel for you this week. Republicans Sarah Janecek and Brian Sullivan square off with Democrats Dee Long and Blois Olson.

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Entire Almanac for May 30, 2003

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Governor Tim Pawlenty Live!
The legislative special session is now over. Hear live the governor's take on how it all went.

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Guns, Guns, Guns
Our state's new gun law went into effect Wednesday amid lawsuits and news conferences and failed efforts to change the law. That lively debate continues in the studio. John Caile with the Concealed Carry Reform Now squares off with Rebecca Thoman of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota.

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Scandinavian Music!!
The group Draupner pays us a visit... three Swedish folk musicians who will be performing June 6-7 at Nisswa-stamman. What's that? An annual Scandinavian Folk Music Festival in Nisswa. For more information call 218-764-2994, 218-963-7897. Heck, you can check out the festival website at http://www.brainerd.net/~pwilson/nisswastamman

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First Termers Panel
Don't be fooled... accept no imitations... ours was the first first-termer panel! Hear again from our panel of four first-time lawmakers. It's an Almanac tradition that goes back nearly ten years.

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The Wrapup
History questions, your comments and another tune courtesy of Draupner.

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Entire Almanac for June 6, 2003

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The Monolog
J.G. Preston finds controversy in a most unusual place.

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Gun Law Ruling
On Friday a Hennepin County Judge issued a temporary restraining order allowing churches to skirt the notification provisions of Minnesota's new handgun carry law. We hear from someone on the winning side of the argument.

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Down by the Ayd Mill Stream....
... there's a road that has been a planning nightmare for three decades. Friday morning St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly announced his plans for the St. Paul roadway.

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Long-term Republican Power?
Two Carleton College professors have analyzed Minnesota voting patterns and come up with some challenging theories about the meaning of the election of 2002. Poli-Sci profs Steve Schier and Bert Johnson are our guests.

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A Frog, A Toad and a Tony
It's been a mighty big week for the Children's Theatre. But Artistic Director Peter Brosius was kind enough to accept our invitation to be on the show.

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Duluth Lynchings 1920
Ten Thousand Duluthians formed a mob that hanged three African American men in Duluth in 1920. It's not something that Minnesotans often talk about. A group in Duluth is breaking that silence by planning a memorial on the site of the murders. Duluthian Heidi Bakk-Hansen tells us why.

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The Political Panel
A bit of state politics... a bit of national. Democrats D. J. Leary and Greg Gray are joined by Republicans Sarah Janecek and Linda Runbeck.

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The Wrapup
Never imitated and therefore never duplicated. History questions, your comments and a slice of Minnesota Music history.

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Entire Almanac for June 13, 2003

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Prez Bruininks
Today the U of M Board of Regents met to talk budget and riots. President Bob Bruininks joins us at the table.

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Security Camera Flap
There's debate over plans to put public security cameras in downtown Minneapolis. You'll hear two Minneapolis city council members square off.

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Weather with Doug
Paul Douglass joins us for his monthly weather chat and explains how the weather is going to heat up. In his real life, Paul is the weather guru at WCCO-TV.

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The Finance Commish
The name of the state finance game is bonds, AAA bonds. Will our state bonding rating fall due to the poor economy. That's one of the queries we'll pose to state Finance Commissioner Dan McElroy.

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The Grand Excursion of 1854
It's part of our summer series of celebrating "one-off" anniversaries as we celebrate the 149th anniversary of a big event in our state's past. It's the first of many "one-off" anniversaries we'll bring you this summer.

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Wellstone Lawn Memorials
Seven months after the death of Paul Wellstone many Twin Citians still have Wellstone signs in their yards. Almanac's Butch Bowring does a visual essay on the subject.

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Guns Battle
Hennepin County wants to ban guns on county property. Supporters of our new state handgun law say the county can't do that. We'll have a lively debate for you.

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The Wrapup
Two history questions... and a musical tribute to the late Shirley Witherspoon.

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Entire Almanac for June 20, 2003

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A Monolog
Dominic Papotola does the honors this week.

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A President and Folks Who Want His Job
Our Mary Lahammer will report on the presidential and presidential wannabe goings on this week in the Twin Cities.

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Bar Closing Time Changes in Minneapolis
On Friday the Minneapolis City Council voted to extending bar hours to 2 am citywide starting July 1. We'll give you a chance to hear from proponents and opponents.

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Inventors Congress Winners
Meet the top honors winner from last week's Inventors Congress gathering in Redwood Falls. J.G. Preston will meet them on the street with their invention. Find out more about these guys and their trailer at www.ultimateSportsmansAdvantage.com

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Commissioner Yecke
It was a big week for education news in Minnesota and our state's Education Commissioner will fill in the details as to why. If you want information about the science and social studies citizen group check out the Dept of Ed. website: http://www.education.state.mn.us

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Sports with Larry Fitzgerald
Larry talks Kris Humphries, Twins, Vikes and what else strikes his fancy.

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Displaced Children
It's a new idea that merited a first-ever study: those Minnesota children living outside of home. Greg Owen from the Wilder Foundation is around to explain. The report that Greg talked about on the show is available for viewing at www.ourchildren.mn.org

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More from the Inventors
More from Tim and Jeff and J.G. Just cuz.

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A Political Panel
Republicans Mary Krinkie and Tom Horner square off with Dems Wy Spano and Greg Gray over national politics.

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The Wrapup
Two, count them, two Minnesota History questions. Your comments about our state's new gun law. And a show-ending tune by the late, great Ella Fitzgerald who performed in the Twin Cities this week in 1990.

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Entire Almanac for June 27, 2003

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The Monolog
MENSA is coming town next weekend. Near-genius J.G. Preston gives us his take on it.

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The Economy, Stupid
Wells Fargo's chief economist Sung Won Sohn reports on his bank's semi-annual biz survey and the fed's interest rate cut.

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Not a Tax, A Fee
A slew of new fees go into effect in Minnesota starting July 1st. Our Mary Lahammer fills us in.

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Commander Zachary Taylor
Zach was the first U.S. President to actually live in Minnesota. He was a commander at Fort Snelling in the 1820's. Historian David Wiggins joins us for an "almost anniversary."

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Greenguardian.com
It's a new clearing house for Minnesotans who want to know more about reducing garbage in their lives. J.G. Preston sits down at the computer with Ramsey County Commissioner Sue Haigh.

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Those Skeeters!!
How bad is the mosquito problem this summer. We tell you everything you need to know as the Fourth of July approaches.

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Tastes a Bit Different
The Taste of Minnesota has a new home this year - Harriet Island. Event Promoter Ron Maddox gives us all a taste.

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Sex Offenders
A big weekend story in the Star Tribune ignited a political brouhaha. We want to strip away the politics and talk about our state's sexual predator treatment program.

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The Wrapup
Fun history questions... saucy viewer calls... and some surprising show-ending music.

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