Story archive for
Dan Olson
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| Date |
Title |
Description |
| 04/20/2001 |
Beyond NAFTA |
Establishing the Free Trade Area of the Americas - a vast trade area from Canada to Chile - is the ultimate objective for 34 heads of government, including President Bush. A final agreement is still years away. Many Minnesota companies welcome the prospect of easier access to customers in South America, but skeptics say the deal benefits mostly big companies and their investors at the expense of workers. |
| 03/30/2001 |
The Faces of Minnesota: One Town's Story |
The new census numbers confirm a controversial fact of Twin Cities life: The growth of small towns on the fringe of the metro area is exploding. Lower land costs are attracting a flock of urban and suburbanites. Take St.Michael, along Interstate 94 on the way from the Twin Cities to St. Cloud. The town's population has doubled in the past decade. |
| 03/27/2001 |
Turning Setbacks to Stepping Stones |
Minneapolis-based Fraser offers some of the most comprehensive programs in the country for children with mental disablities. But waits of a year to get Fraser services are common. |
| 03/08/2001 |
From Karelia With Love |
A trio of Karelian folk musicians is in Minnesota to sing and play centuries-old music from their homeland. Karelia is an autonomous region of the Russian Federation. The Karelian Folk Ensemble tunes showcase ancient instruments and stories of forest wizards. |
| 12/21/2000 |
Musician Brings Latin Beat to Christmas in Minnesota |
Musicians who try give familiar Christmas tunes a fresh sound face long odds. Nearly every carol has been done in nearly every style. Minneapolis-based harpist Nicholas Carter has beaten those odds. |
| 12/12/2000 |
The Cost of Winter Heating Hits Home |
Just as the weather has turned bitterly cold, Minnesotans are facing much higher bills for natural gas. It may be a relatively short-term increase, as analysts are already expecting next year's bills to be lower. But this winter, many homeowners and businesses face monthly heating bills more than 50 percent higher than last year's. |
| 12/11/2000 |
Feeding the Hungry is a Full-Time Job for Loaves and Fishes |
The founders of Minneapolis-based Loaves and Fishes Too opened a temporary dining hall in a church basement in the early 1980's to serve free meals to poor people. The "temporary" program starts its 20th year in January. Loaves and Fishes volunteers buy, prepare and serve more than 300,000 free meals a year at six sites. It is one of Minnesota's largest and longest running free food services. |
| 11/20/2000 |
The Battle of Woodbury |
Woodbury, Minnesota - one of the fastest-growing cities in Minnesota - is the poster child for urban sprawl. Now, the city is trying to slow its growth. In doing so, some residents and would-be residents will feel the pinch. |
| 08/29/2000 |
White Earth Answers a Call to Action |
Residents on northwestern Minnesota's White Earth Indian reservation use an unusual strategy to combat a chronically high suicide rate. Volunteers accompany police and rescue squads on calls and try convince the person attempting suicide to get help. People on White Earth say their program saves lives and may work in other communities. |
| 08/24/2000 |
The Sweet Summer Corn |
The wealth being harvested around Minnesota these days is filling tables with summer riches. It is peak season for all kinds of delicious items from the garden. At the top of the list, inside a plain green husk, with golden yellow nuggets of pleasure inside is one vegetable above all others - sweet corn. |
| 06/01/2000 |
Rhubarb Revolution |
Rhubarb leaves very little middle ground. Folks either like rhubarb or hate it. Ignoring it is virtually impossible, especially now, during rhubarb's peak season. |
| 04/17/2000 |
Justice in Black and White: The Justice Gap |
Black men in Minnesota are sent to prison at a rate more than three times the national average. Minnesota's imprisonment ratio of blacks to whites is 25-1, the highest of any state in the country. Some say racism is behind the disparity. Others say the causes are more complex. A study is underway to find out what's behind the imbalance. |
| 03/13/2000 |
MinnesotaCare's Unmet Challenge |
More than 40 million Americans don't have health insurance. In Minnesota, somewhere between 250,000 to 450,000 lack coverage. Medicaid covers the poorest of the poor. MinnesotaCare, the state's health program reaches many others. But MinnesotaCare is not free; people pay premiums. And MinnesotaCare's eligibility restrictions put it out of reach for many low-income working people. A Twin Cities network of free clinics run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet supplies care to those who fall through the cracks. |
| 02/11/2000 |
The Mondale Lectures: Atlantic City Revisited |
In the first of a series about his 50 years in public life, former Vice President Walter Mondale provides an insight into negotiations between civil rights activists and President Lyndon Johnson, negotiations that he brokered. |
| 12/23/1999 |
Behold, the Mighty Goat |
This is a tough time of year for goats. Sheep dominate nativity scenes everywhere. And here in Minnesota cows have a lock on the dairy market. But goats are making a stand. Their milk, cheese and meat are gaining in popularity. And in the wider world of dairy consumption, goats rule. |
| 12/06/1999 |
The Longest Road |
Why has it taken so long to finish a road project that legions of lobbyists, business owners and commuters say is desperately needed? Part of the answer is found in the way Minnesota finances road building. |
| 07/22/1999 |
The Father of Gospel Music |
This year marks the 100th birthday of the father of black gospel music, Thomas Dorsey. St. Paul gospel singer Thelma Buckner met Dorsey and talked about his legacy with Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson. |
| 07/02/1999 |
Climbing On the Train |
An MPR poll shows most Twin Cities residents favor spending money for a light-rail transit system. |
| 06/17/1999 |
An Institution Turns 90 |
Few people who've served Minnesota have been held in high esteem as Elmer L. Anderson. |
| 05/27/1999 |
Ancient Carvings Leave Their Mar |
Tucked away in southeastern Minnesota, a mysterious hand is carved into a long rock outcropping. It and thousands of other symbols were carved centuries ago by the Dakota, but what do the carvings mean? Interest in the site is heating up as archaelogists and visitors flock to the Jeffers Petroglyph Site. |
| 05/12/1999 |
Legislators Give LRT a Lift |
But critics say the transit plan will cost much more than proponents claim. |
| 04/26/1999 |
The Poet President |
During his trip to the Twin Cities, Vaclav Havel calls for a civil society. |
| 04/26/1999 |
Boom Towns of Minnesota |
Suburbanization of the Twin Cities is moving farther out, and bringing the challenges of growth with it. Elko is one such community facing a new life. |
| 04/12/1999 |
Pass the Bucks |
The Legislature's refusal to fund light-rail transit has other cities in line to grab the federal funds the state could've used. |
| 04/06/1999 |
Tara the Tutor |
Tutors teaching kids in the inner-city learn how to change a life - or two. |
| 01/29/1999 |
Light Rail Highlights Ventura Transit Budget |
Some legislators wonder if metro projects will sap money for rural transit plans. |
| 10/13/1998 |
Getting Skills |
Government decides when training is more important that having a job. |
| 06/09/1998 |
The Economics of Organic Farming |
Although farmer Carmen Fernholz has found organic farming to be profitable, his approach is not viable for everyone. |
| 03/04/1998 |
Abusing the Body Check |
Some believe body checking should be banned from boys' high school hockey because of the chance of serious injury. |
| 01/29/1998 |
Remembering Dave Moore |
Pat Miles, Bud Kraehling, and other colleagues recall newsman Dave Moore's impact on Twin Cities media. |
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