Almanac: TPT's weekly public affairs program

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RealVideo Archive - 2005 (October to December)

Entire Almanac for October 7, 2005	Watch the show
A Guest Monolog We're going to do this from time to time this fall. This week's guest monologist is Bick Smith and he's thinking about winter.	View the clip
Women's Heart Health First Lady Mary Pawlenty on Friday launched a women's heart health awareness campaign. Learn more at this website: http://www.hearthealth.state.mn.us/	View the clip
Bird Flu, 1918 Spanish Influenza, Polio It's been a big week for infectious disease. We pick the brain of State Epidemiologist Harry Hull.	View the clip
Remembering August Wilson The noted American playwright appeared twice live on Almanac in the 1980s. We show you some highlights from his first appearance back in 1988.	View the clip
Minnesota Vacation Days It's a new book out from the Minnesota Historical Society Press that celebrates all things cabiny and resorty in our state. Mary Lahammer talks with authors Kathryn Strand Koutsky and Linda Koutsky.	View the clip
Meet Bud Philbrook He wants to be your next governor. It's the latest in a string of table interviews with gubernatorial wannabees.	View the clip
Hands-On History Minnehaha Falls On Wednesday October 19 starting at 8 pm tpt-2 will air a series of specials called Almanac Hands-On History. It's regional history you can see, touch and feel. Tonight we show you a clip from the "Exploring Minneapolis Lakes" episode in which we introduce you to lessons about the past you can discover down by Minnehaha Falls.	View the clip
More Vacation Days This time they share a resort recipe with us.	View the clip
Speaking of Special Sessions That's what our panel of former lawmakers will be doing. DFLers Greg Gray and Ember Reichgott Junge will match wits with Republicans Fritz Knaak and Bill Kuisle.	View the clip
The Wrapup Minnesota history questions... your thoughts about last week's live music... and an archival show-ending tune by legendary Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for October 14, 2005	Watch the show
The Monologue James Ragsdale talks about one big large mouth bass.	View the clip
Trouble in Vikingland On Friday Vikings owner Zygi Wilf apologized for his team's behavior on Lake Minnetonka. Wilf spoke to the media today and we have a report for you. Then we try to grasp its larger meaning with Jay Weiner from the Star Tribune.	View the clip
Mesaba Leaks Air Mesaba Airlines has joined Northwest in filing for bankruptcy. We visit with John Remington from the Carlson School of Business to find out more.	View the clip
Hands on History in Minneapolis We show you an excerpt from "Exploring Minneapolis Lakes" which will air along with two other Almanac Hands-On History specials on tpt2 on Wednesday October 19th starting at 8 pm. This week we introduce you to the Motormen.	View the clip
Minnesota's Senior Senator Mark Dayton drops by Studio B for a visit. On the agenda... this weekend's referendum in Iraq.	View the clip
Dr. Walt Lyons Twin Cities TV's first doctor of meteorology was back in town this week. Cathy Wurzer caught up with him.	View the clip
Remembering Rudy Perpich Veteran Capitol reporter Betty Wilson has written a biography of former Governor Rudy Perpich. "Rudy! The People's Governor" is the name of the book.	View the clip
Legislative Leaders Special Session Surliness. It's taken over the capitol. Will there be a special session or not? We hear from Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum and House Minority Whip Connie Benardy.	View the clip
The Wrapup Your weekly dose of Minnesota Index File history... and some great show-ending music from the tpt archives featuring "Women Who Cook."	View the clip

Entire Almanac for October 21, 2005	Watch the show
Zebra Mussels on the Mississippi The DNR revealed Friday that Zebra Mussels have been discovered on the Mississippi River near Brainerd. It's the first time mussels have been found on the river north of the Twin Cities.	View the clip
Polio in Amish Country A fifth case of the Polio virus surfaced among Amish in Central Minnesota this week. State Epidemiologist Harry Hull talks about efforts to limit spread of the disease.	View the clip
Yesterday's News It's a feature on www.startribune.com and since it's all about history, we love it. Ben Welter is the person responsible for it and he talks with our Mary Lahammer. Check out his history blog at http://www.startribune.com/blogs/oldnews	View the clip
Stillwater Prison Bricks this is as close as you may ever get to the Younger Brothers of Jesse James fame. The Washington County Historical Society is selling off bricks to the old Territorial Prison. Brent Peterson tells us why.	View the clip
Alicia Wiley Live! She's a Twin Cities singer/songwriter/pianist who defies labels. Find out more about her when she joins us to perform live in Studio B. Visit her website for even more information. www.aliciamusic.net	View the clip
Wellstone! That's the name of an independently-produced documentary about the life and times of the late Paul Wellstone. Tpt is airing the documentary on the third anniversary of the senator's death, Tuesday October 25th at 9 pm.	View the clip
Another History Blog Visit More of Mary and Ben Welter from the Star Tribune.	View the clip
The Political Panel What a meaty week both stateside and nationally. This week's panelists include Democrats Wy Spano and Mike Erlandson and Republicans Sarah Janecek and David Strom.	View the clip
The Wrapup Two, count them two, U of M history questions. And a live show-ending tune by Alicia Wiley.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for October 28, 2005	Watch the show
Flu Ballyhoo A monologue by Dr. Mark DePaolis. And yes, he's a real doctor.	View the clip
St. Paul Mayoral Debate Live! Mayor Randy Kelly and challenger Chris Coleman sit down on the Almanac couch with Cathy and Eric for one of our famous informal "debates."	View the clip
The Great Anoka Tornado Anoka is one of the communities we are profiling this year in our Almanac "Hands-On History" specials. Mary Lahammer gives us a glimpse of what she's up to as she talks about the Anoka tornado of 1939.	View the clip
Churches of Minnesota It's the name of a new photography book by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. Photographer Doug Ohman gives us a sneak peek.	View the clip
Open The Mike Hatch Minnesota's Attorney General announced his third run for Governor this week. Our Mary Lahammer was there.	View the clip
An All Lawyer Political Panel Since so much of the political news from Washington has to do with the courts, we lined up four attorneys to form this week's political panel. Democrats Greg Gray and Ember Reichgott Junge match wits with Republicans Fritz Knaak and State Senator Julianne Ortman.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for November 4, 2005	Wath the show
The Monolog Jim Ragsdale has the Supreme Court on his mind.	View the clip
Minneapolis Mayoral Debate Live! Tune in for the final televised debate between R. T. Rybak and Peter McLaughlin. We call it a debate but it's done in classic Almanac discussion style on our couch with Cathy and Eric.	View the clip
Weather Wise Paul Douglas of WCCO stops by for his monthly Almanac weather chat. Among his topics... why 2005 might turn out to be the warmest year worldwide on record.	View the clip
Lakeville Public Access Don't run screaming from the room! The folks at Lakeville cable TV have a great show about local government... so good they won an Emmy Award in the kids category. Mary Lahammer is a big fan.	View the clip
This Week's Political Panel Four in number. Two Democrats, two Republicans. Two women, two men. One sitting lawmaker. Tune in and we promise no more math.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for November 11, 2005	Watch the show
The Monologue Something has Dominic Papatola thinking really, really hard.	View the clip
Gay Marriage It fizzled as an issue at the capitol last session... but this upcoming legislative session it's likely to make headlines. Fresh on the heels of a conference this week in Eden Prairie, we preview the legislative battle.	View the clip
Sweeps Do sweeps bring out the best or worst in local television news? Maybe it's a bit of both. Find out as we chat with Twin Cities ad exec John Rash.	View the clip
Capitol Building Frenzy Lots of new buildings near the Capitol bearing the names of former governors. Mary Lahammer gives us a tour.	View the clip
Sports Roundup Larry Fitzgerald Sr. does the lassoing. Larry sits around the Almanac campfire once a month. At other times you can find his work in the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder newspaper.	View the clip
Living With Hospice It's the name of a program that will premiere this Sunday night at 7 on tpt17. Done in partnership with Hospice Minnesota, the special explores the world of end-of-life care. We show you a clip from the program in which Skip Humphrey talks about his famous father's struggle with cancer.	View the clip
Faith and Service This week Tim Pawlenty named Lee Buckley to head up a statewide group coordinating faith-based community programs. Lee joins us to explain how churches and the government can work together.	View the clip
A Stateside Political Panel Gay marriage... election results... a LARGE state delegation off to China. Our panel kicks around all the Minnesota political news.	View the clip
The Wrapup We'll finally get around to answering that question about Dr. Good and the U of M Hospitals. Then we'll ask you another question and play a great tune by Butch Thompson from the tpt archives.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for November 18, 2005	Watch the show
The Monologue Dr. Mark DePaolis takes aim at smoking.	View the clip
China Trade Today Governor Tim Pawlenty returned from China in what was billed as the largest state trade mission to the home of the world's fastest growing economy. We help put the trip into perspective.	View the clip
Becky Lourey Wants To Be Your Governor She's a DFL state senator from Greater Minnesota and she'll be telling us why she thinks she deserves your vote.	View the clip
Thanksgiving Recipes Rae Eighmey loves historic recipes and so she's going to share some with Mary Lahammer.	View the clip
Daughters of the Game It's a new book that chronicles the history of women's basketball in our state... a story that goes back more than a century. Authors Marian Johnson and Dorothy McIntyre are our guests.	View the clip
He's Back... Union strategist Ray Rogers made his name during the 1980s Hormel Strike. Now Ray is back in town helping striking Northwest mechanics.	View the clip
More Thanksgiving Cooking ... with Rae Eighmey and Mary Lahammer.	View the clip
Young Political Panel The heads of Minnesota's College Republicans and Democrats organizations give us their take on politics today.	View the clip
The Wrapup Eric dishes out the weekly Minnesota history questions and viewer comments. The closing tune is by Debbie Duncan and Larry Long who performed in Studio B this week back in 2000.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for December 2, 2005	Watch the show
This Week's Monologue Jim Ragsdale has the honors.	View the clip
Ford Plant to Close? Friday's Wall Street Journal reports that St. Paul's Ford Plant is on a list of five Ford plants likely to close soon. We discuss the plant's precarious situation with State Economic Development Director Matt Kramer and U of M Prof John Fossum.	View the clip
Senator Norm Coleman Much has happened in Washington since Norm Coleman last appeared on Almanac in August. The fallout from Katrina... Harriet Miers coming and going... an indictment of a top government aide... falling poll ratings for the President. Find out what our state's Republican senator has to say about it all as he sits down with Cathy and Eric.	View the clip
Hansel and Gretel Take a listen to Minnesota's only primetime news program that features live opera. Find out more about this performance of Hansel and Gretel at www.minnesotaorchestra.com/holiday	View the clip
Christmas in Minnesota It's a new book out by the Minnesota Historical Society that features stories and writing about the holidays. Co-author Brian Horrigan is always a lively guest.	View the clip
Extra Spending Money Or will the new state budget surplus be spent to cut taxes? Almanac's Mary Lahammer brings you a full report.	View the clip
The Week's Political Panel There will be four panelists we promise. Almanac's math skills are excellent. Democrats Ember Reichgott Junge and Greg Gray match wits with Republicans Sarah Janecek and Brian Sullivan.	View the clip
The Wrapup Two sports-related Minnesota History questions... your thoughts about union organizer Ray Rogers... and a show-ending holiday tune by the Steeles.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for December 9, 2005	Watch the show
Guest Monologue Former TV weather guy Roy Finden has been thinking a lot about wind chill.	View the clip
President Bush Comes to Town George W. Bush came to Minneapolis today to raise money for Senate candidate Mark Kennedy. Our Mary Lahammer explores the political dynamics of a visit by a President whose popularity has sagged.	View the clip
Controlling Pollution The Minnesota Senate Environmental Committee held a tough hearing this week raising questions about the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's commitment to the environment. Committee Chair John Marty squares off with MPCA Deputy Commissioner Kristin Applegate.	View the clip
Hey, It's Cold Outside! And shouldn't it be? After all this is Minnesota, global warming or not. Paul Douglas stops by for his monthly chat with tape in tow.	View the clip
Somalia's Fragile Future More Somalis live in Minnesota than any place outside of the Horn of Africa. This week Somalia's envoy to the United Nations -- Dr. Elmi Ahmed Duale-- visits Minnesota and Almanac is one of his stops.	View the clip
Viking Surge That's one topic we'll talk up with Larry Fitzgerald with the Spokesman Recorder newspaper.	View the clip
No More School Summer Vacations? Well, the vacations wouldn't go away but they would be chopped down considerably as a new proposal has surfaced to add five weeks to our state's school year. We'll have a round-robin discussion with key players in the debate.	View the clip
The Wrapup Another Viking Index File question, some wonderful viewer comments and a memorable show-ending holiday tune courtesy of Peter Ostroushko.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for December 16, 2005	Watch the show
The Monologue Dominic Papatola is all worked up about something.	View the clip
Joseph Wilson The former ambassador at the center of the Scooter Libby leak case was in the Twin Cities on Friday. Our Mary Lahammer caught up with him.	View the clip
Debating Immigration Governor Pawlenty is talking plenty these days about illegal immigration and its costs to the state. We hear from both sides with Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung and Concordia University professor Bruce Corrie.	View the clip
Holiday Music with Butch Thompson Butch will appear live in our studio and play the piano in the way only he can.	View the clip
Blogging with Chuck Chuck Olsen is a blogging wonder. This week the Twin Cities based blogger (and in interest of full disclosure a former TPT employee) was featured in a big article in the New York Times. We chat with Chuck and look at some of his work. Check out Chuck's website: www.mnstories.com	View the clip
A St. Olaf Christmas in Norway We play a clip from the TPT-produced concert that will air on PBS stations across the country on December 21.	View the clip
Remembering Gene McCarthy A legend of the national Democratic Party died this past weekend. We'll recall his varied career.	View the clip
Their Honors Within weeks R. T. Rybak and Chris Coleman will be sworn into office as mayors of our state's two largest cities. They sit down together to talk about the challenges they share... and ones they don't.	View the clip
The Wrapup Two fine Index File questions, your thoughts about John Marty from last week's show, and yes.... J.G. Preston's Blue Christmas.	View the clip

Entire Almanac for December 23, 2005

Watch the show

An Almanac Holiday Musical Special!
Jearlyn Steele and Mary Lahammer are your hosts as they introduce you to more than thirty years of holiday highlights from the TPT vaults. We bring you St. Olaf College Choir performances... the Blenders... Peter Ostroushko... Debbie Duncan... Trailer Trash... Low... the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra... and --of course-- holiday selections from the Steeles. Get out the egg nog... and enjoy!

View the clip