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Da Monolog
Dominic Papatola reminds us what day it is.

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A Pope Near Death
Father Kevin McDonough is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He joins us to talk about the legacy of Pope John Paul II.

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A Northwest Airlines Dogfight
Two lawmakers square off over a Senate Committee's desire to subpoena the head of Northwest Airlines. Satveer Chaudhary and Dick Day are the guests.

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A U of M Shakeup
President Robert Bruininks joins us to talk about recommendations for changes at the University of Minnesota.

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Hy Berman History Lesson Number 2
Professor Hy Berman is back with the second of five lessons talking about changes in Minnesota over the past 20 years. Tonight's lesson is all about the changing economy.

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Session Update
Our Mary Lahammer brings us all up to date on goings on at the State Capitol. It was a busy week over there.

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A West Side Development Story
Developer Jerry Trooien wants to remake the west side of the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul. He explains his grand vision.

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The All Star Defense Attorney Panel
Always controversial and always opinionated on the big legal stories in the news. Attorneys Joe Friedberg, Tony Torres and Ron Meshbesher talk Red Lake, Johnny Cochran and Terry Schiavo.

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Stadiums and Steroids
Yeah, some think the plural of stadiums is stadia. But that won't be one of the questions we ask Rep. Joe Atkins who announced Friday he's sponsoring a bill banning steroid users from playing in new state-funded stadiums (stadia).

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Minimum Wage Rise?
Two lawmakers debate the merits of raising Minnesota's minimum wage. Senator Ellen Anderson and Representative Paul Kohls are our guests.

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Hy History Lesson #3: Where People Live
The fancy word for this is demography. U of M Emeritus Professor Hy Berman will talk about how Minnesotans have moved during the past twenty years ago and why we should care. It's part three in Hy's five part history series that will culminate on the Almanac 20th anniversary show on April 16th at 8pm on tpt2.

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Triplicate Live in Studio B
Triplicate is a jazz group consisting of --you guessed it-- three members. The group has a new CD out: Day and Age. We'll find out more about the group and then Triplicate will perform for us.

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The Darkest Evening
That's the name of a juvenile novel by Minnesota author William Durbin. The book is up for a Minnesota Book Award next weekend. We thought we'd talk to William before he got too famous.

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The Legislative Week That Was
Our Mary Lahammer fills us in on the sometimes soap opera-like bonding bill and catches us all up on where things stand at the State Capitol.

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This Week's Political Panel
This week's version includes a state lawmaker. Republican Representative Laura Brod and Sarah Janecek square off against Democrats Mary Jo McGuire and Blois Olson.

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The Wrapup
What two U of M'ers will soon appear on a U.S. Postage stamp? Let us know and you'll earn your 15 seconds of fame. Then we'll end the show with another live tune by Triplicate.

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The Monologue
Guess what day it is? Dr. Mark DePaolis gives us his take on tax day.

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National Sales Tax Anyone?
There's call again this year to do away with the IRS and replace it with a national sales tax. Tom Wright with the national organization "Fair Tax" explains why he likes the idea.

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20 Years of Politix
Notice we're on a different set tonight? J.G. Preston will fill all of us in some details about the 20th Anniversary Almanac program that will air on tpt2 Saturday April 16th at 8 pm. J.G. will tease us with some political clips from our archives.

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Senator Mark Dayton
Senator Dayton talks about how life has changed since he announced his decision not to run for Senate and other political happenings in the Democratic party.

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Hy's History Lesson Number Four
How has our state's politics changed in the past two decades? That's the topic of the fourth lesson in Hy's series of chats. The final conversation takes place Saturday evening at 8 on our anniversary show.

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More Anniversary Highlights
J.G. Preston has been involved in many of the dumbest things that Almanac has ever done. And he has the tape to prove it.

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Finding Betty Crocker
Hey, no one even told us she was missing!! Finding Betty Crocker is the name of a new book by Minnesotan Susan Marks about the famous woman at General Mills.

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The Legislative Week in Review
And what a week it was... including, among other stories, the acknowledgement of our state's first openly gay Republican lawmaker. Political reporter Mary Lahammer brings all of us up to date.

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Former Lawmakers Speak
... and hopefully we all watch and listen. Former Republican lawmakers Fritz Knaak and Lynne Osterman face off with DFL ex-solons Carol Flynn and Ted Mondale.

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A Musical Monologue
Toni Halleen brings her guitar and her original lyrics.

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It's Friday at 7
... do you know what your tax burden is? Our Mary Lahammer spent Friday snooping around the capitol putting together this report on the latest.

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Tax Chairs Chew the Fat
Senator Larry Pogemiller and Representative Phil Krinkie debate about just how taxing this legislative session may be.

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Science Experiments in a Bar Near You
Kevin Williams knows his bees... and he knows his science. The Bell Museum employee tells our J.G. Preston what he's been telling bar patrons about science.

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Candidate Klobuchar
Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar says she wants to be Minnesota's next U.S. Senator. See what she has to say.

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Fighting for General College
Changes at the U of M may do away with the school's venerable General College. College Dean David Taylor makes his case against the plan.

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More Goofy Science
Kevin Williams and J.G. Preston finish what they have started.

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An Earth Day Panel
Earlier this month there was a remarkable rally at the Capitol with the goal of restoring our state's duck population. Hear from some of the unlikely groups who came together for this cause. Our guests are David Zentner, Dennis Anderson, Maria Zeller and DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam.

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The Wrapup
Find out the two U of M'ers who are pictured on U.S. postage stamps this Spring... then name the famed mustachioed player from April 15, 1972. Plus hear some comments about Almanac's 20th anniversary show.

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A Licensed Monologist
J.G. Preston explains.

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DFL Mayoral Candidates Duke it Out
Rafael Ortega and Chris Coleman will fight Saturday for DFL endorsement for mayor of St. Paul. On the eve of the city convention they join us on the couch.

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A Twins Stadium Plan
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners next week will debate a county-wide sales tax that would support a Twins Stadium. Commissioner Mike Opat likes the stadium tax proposal and will tussle with Commissioner Penny Steele who opposes the tax.

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Home Owners of Color
A first time ever metro Housing Fair aimed at increasing the numbers of buyers of color will be held Saturday at Metropolitan State University. Fair organizer Decklynn Theisen explains.

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Severe Weather Quiz!
It's that time of year again. Paul Douglas stops by and delivers a pop weather quiz complete with lights and buzzers. Paul also says there are helpful hints on his blog: http://weathertrends.blogspot.com/

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What Are Lawmakers Up to This Week?
No one keeps you up to date like our Mary Lahammer. Mary fills us in on sex offenders... the budget... guns... twins stadium... you name it. Don't forget to watch Mary's Almanac: At the Capitol program every Wednesday night during the session.

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The Panel
We've assembled this week's version of the Almanac political panel. Republicans Sarah Janecek and David Strom cross swords with Democrats Dee Long and State Senator John Hottinger.

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The Wrapup
Not one but TWO baseball history questions... your differing thoughts about our taxes discussion last week... and then fine show-ending music from the Canadian group Great Big Sea.

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Officer Shooting in Saint Paul
Mayor Randy Kelly joins us to talk about the death Friday of St. Paul police officer Jerry Vick. The St. Paul Police has established an email address for members of the public to send condolences to the Vick family. That address is SPPD-Memorial@ci.stpaul.mn.us

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A Taxing Day at the Capitol
Our Mary Lahammer tells us what happened Friday at the legislature as she wraps up the week's political developments. Here's a hint: things got loud there this week.

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The Great Tax Debate
Wayne Cox with the group Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice debates tax policy with a worthy opponent from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

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Kinky Friedman
A candidate for governor named Kinky? Find out who former Minnesota Senator Dean Barkley is working for these days.

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Remembering the Good War
It's a new book from the Minnesota Historical Society Press featuring oral histories about World War II. Author Thomas Saylor is our guest along with two of his interview subjects: Navy pilot Leon Frankel and Homefront worker Elaine Gerber.

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A BIG Sports Week
Twins stadium news... Vikings stadium news... and a Twin hurler gets tossed for use of a banned substance. Larry Fitzgerald stops by for his monthly visit.

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The Political Panel
Lawmakers are approaching the capitol witching hour. We give you the take of Democrats D. J. Leary and Ember Reichgott Junge along with Republicans Brian Sullivan and State Senator Claire Robling.

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The Monologue
Jim Ragsdale does the honors this week.

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Undercover Cops
Undercover St. Paul Police Sgt. Gerald Vick was legally drunk when shot and killed last Friday outside a bar on St. Paul's Eastside. St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington stops by to talk about alcohol consumption and undercover police work.

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Live From the Capitol!
It's Mary Lahammer! She brings us up to date on all the happenings at the Capitol today and earlier this week.

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DFL Candidates for Mayor of Minneapolis
Minneapolis mayoral candidates R.T. Rybak and Peter McLaughlin (Hennepin County Commissioner) are both seeking the DFL party endorsement. They stop by on the eve of the endorsement decision.

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HB Global Chess Challenge
International Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley is here to tell us about next week's huge chess tournament in Minneapolis. He's going to play a few games of chess in the studio too.

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Transportation Chair
We head back up to the Capitol to visit with Mary Lahammer and Senate Transportation Chair Steve Murphy of Red Wing. Will the Senate be passing a gas tax increase too?

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Theatre de la Jeune Lune
The innovative Minneapolis theater won a Tony award earlier this week.

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More Chess
Let's see how many chess players our grandmaster has played simultaneously.. and beat... since we last visited with he and J.G.

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Former Lawmakers
A couch full of former lawmakers join us to critique their former colleagues work. DFLers Dee Long and Allan Spear are joined by Republicans Fritz Knaak and Bill Kuisle.

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Latest from the Capitol
Our Mary Lahammer reports live from the Capitol as lawmakers react to Friday afternoon's proposal by Governor Pawlenty to support when he calls a 75 cent a pack Health Impact Fee.

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Legislative Leaders: All Four of them
The top four dogs at the legislature join us live in Studio B as the regular session winds down. Cathy and Eric are joined by House Speaker Steve Sviggum, Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, House Minority Leader Matt Entenza and Senate Minority Leader Dick Day.

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The Wailin' Jennys
It's a Canadian folk group that's won a prestigious Juno Award in that country. They have a Red House Records CD out called "40 Days" and they are in town this week so we nabbed them to join us live on our set.

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The Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary
It's along the Saint Paul riverfront and it opens tomorrow. Find out more from John Anfinson with the National Park Service.

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The Political Panel
Next Monday at Midnight lawmakers must wrap up their work. Here for a preview is this week's edition of the political panel.

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The Wrapup
We finally get around to answering that Minnesota Twins question about an historic game last September. Plus we have some fine show-ending music courtesy of a visit by Buffy St. Marie to our studios back in 2000.

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A Viking Monologue
We'll all find out what's on J.G. Preston's mind.

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Governor Pawlenty Live!
Last week the legislative leaders joined us on Almanac. This week it's Governor Tim Pawlenty's turn.

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Grilling with Chef Tim
Tim Lauer author of The Saltwater Cookbook and General Manager of Coastal Seafoods (a proud tpt sponsor) gives J.G. Preston some Memorial Day Grilling tips. We have the recipes for you.

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Touring the Walker Art Center
Our guide is Walker head Kathy Halbreich. We've asked her to show us her three favorite spaces within the new Walker Art Center.

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Barns of Minnesota
It's the title of a new book by the Minnesota Historical Society. Photographer Doug Ohman and author Will Weaver join us to talk.

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More Grilling Tips
Why not? Chef Tim and J.G. come back for round two of how to cook fish on your barbecue grill.

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Former Lawmakers Speak
Why are special sessions now so decidedly non-special? That's one of the questions we're going to ask a quartet of ex solons.

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A Medical Monologue
Dr. Mark DePaolis will attempt to tickle your funny bone which we think is somewhere near your radius and ulna.

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Heritage Park
It's the largest neighborhood redevelopment project in Minneapolis in 60 years. Find out about all the excitement on the North Side.

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Steve Kelley
This DFLer from Hopkins wants to be our state's next Governor. Why does he deserve the job? We'll hear him out.

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Remembering George Mikan
The big Laker pivotman died this week. Back in 1999 teammate Vern Mikkelsen told us why Mikan was so great. We'll play part of that interview for you.

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BioBlitz 2005
Not to be confused with BioBlitz 2004. Guest Susan Weller will have you going buggy.

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Hospitals Change Billing Practices
Attorney General Mike Hatch and the Minnesota Hospitals Association are making nice with each other again. Find out what it might mean to you.

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Arts in the Suburbs
Yes they exist. And Neal Cuthbert with the McKnight Foundation is a big fan of what artistic things he sees in Twin Cities suburbs.

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Housing the Homeless
Not just for a night but forever. Long-term housing for the homeless is the aim of a new St. Paul project. We introduce you to just how illusive this goal is.

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The Wrapup
We finally get around to answering that Denny Schulstad Index File question. We tell you how to enter the contest to become the Poet Laureate of Almanac. Then we play a great show-ending tune by Mason Jennings.

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Times are a changin' at the U
The Board of Regents gave approval today on proposed changes at the U of U that include the elimination of General College. And they got their first look at next year's budget proposal. President Bob Bruininks is our guest.

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Legislative Leaders
The special session has been slow moving so far... and with a possible government shutdown looming, legislative leaders and the governor still have no deal. Republican Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum and DFL Minority Leader Matt Entenza join us to talk about the lack of developments.

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Rain rain go away
Is this the rainiest spring we have ever had? We'll ask WCCO-TV meterologist Paul Douglas tonight.

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TV Dinner Conversation with J. G. Preston
It's a fun new summertime feature on Almanac.. tune in and see what J. G. and KARE's Frank Vascellaro are up to on our set.

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Kelly Doran for U. S. Senate
He has never run for public office before but he wants to replace Mark Dayton as a Democratic senator from Minnesota. Kelly Doran tells us who he is.

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Stillwater Prison Walking Tour
Late last fall, a local Stillwater historian showed our Mary Lahammer around town. The complete tour will be part of our community history series this coming fall but we'll give you a sneak peak tonight.

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Da Panel
This week's version of the political panel talks about the Special Session stalemate and the showdown tomorrow to elect a Republican party chair. Republicans Brian Sullivan and Sarah Janecek join DFLers Wy Spano and Mary Jo McGuire on the couch.

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Index File Time
What history did Clellan Card make back in 1933? We'll hear your answers... ask you a new question.... play the winning poetry entry... and of course have some show ending music for you.

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Monolog
Jim Ragsdale performs the honors this week.

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President Bush comes to town
President Bush is in Maple Grove today talking with seniors about the new Medicare prescription drug plan. Videographer Butch Bowring gives us a look.

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Denver here she comes?
St. Paul schools superintendent Pat Harvey is one of three finalists for the top job in Denver. She joins us to talk about her future.

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TV Dinner Conversation with J. G. Preston
Tune in and see what J. G. and this week's guest.. award winning children's author Kate DiCamillo.. have chosen for dinner.

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Jobs Jobs Jobs
The Blandin Foundation surveyed community leaders in outstate Minnesota to find out what is on their mind. Tune in to find out why jobs tops the list.

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Duluth Lynching
This week back in 1920 three young African American men were murdered in Duluth. Here's a look at the gruesome lynchings.. and a modern day tribute to the victims.. from tpt's documentary "North Star: Minnesota's Black Pioneers."

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More TV Dinner Conversation with JG & Kate
Let's listen in on what J. G. Preston and Kate DiCamillo are chatting about over their lavish TV dinners.

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Congress
President Bush was in town earlier today and we thought that was a fine excuse to round up a couple members of our Congressional delegation. Rep. John Kline, R-2nd District and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-4th District stop by for a summertime visit on the Almanac couch.

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Index File Time
Tune in to find out last week's answer.. this week's question.. and stick around to meet the newest member of the Almanac family.

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Monolog
J. G. Preston prepares all of us for a partial Almanac shutdown.

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No Happy Campers?
If there is a partial state shutdown next week.. state parks will be closed for the 4th of July holiday.. leaving thousands of people with no place to get away.

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Stadium Debate Round 20
More proposals.. more opponents.. much of the same old debate... Should there be public financing for a new Twins stadium? Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat and DFL State Senator John Marty join us.

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TV Dinner Conversation with J. G. Preston
Joe Day, head of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, is our guest this week.. tune in to see what he and JG have for dinner and listen in to their chat.

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Mexican Consulate
The new Mexican Consulate office opened in St. Paul this week. We'll talk with the Consul General.

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Century Marks
A centennial rose garden was unveiled yesterday at the Capitol.

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Sports with Fitzy
New Vikes owner... Twins in the tank... no NBA lockout. Larry Fitzterald stops by for his monthly chat.

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More TV Dinner conversation
What are J. G. and Joe talking about now that they have finished their food?

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Da Panel
This week's version is a group of First Term Lawmakers....what's their take on the inactivity at the Capitol and the looming partial government shutdown.

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Wrap Up
Who was that mystery person? We give you last week's answer.. this week's question and of course your comments. Don't touch that dial just yet!

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