Public Affairs
Shawn Perich shines light on new generation's influence on Grand Marais, Cook County
-Buck & Dick spoke recently with Shawn Perich, publisher of North Shore Highway 61, about the "Grand Marais renaissance" he sees taking place with a creative new generation in the community. Twenty- and 30-somethings are making their way and revitalizing Cook County in the process. You can read his full article here.
Bobby Tufts, 4-year-old mayor of Dorset, Minn. has big role for a little guy
-Buck Benson chatted recently with Emma Tufts, mother of Bobby Tufts, the 4-year-old mayor of Dorset, Minn. Although he can't fix traffic tickets, he does have a platform, a slogan, and business cards. Pretty delightful stuff--take a listen.
Faroe Islanders share stories of life in remote part of the world
-John & Harriet, a couple from the Faroe Islands, joined Dick Swanson July 5 in Studio A. They're visiting Cook County for a few weeks, and gave a talk and slide show about their homeland at North House later that evening. The Faroe Islands are a remote, rocky place in the sea almost equidistant from Norway, Denmark, and Scotland.
Microfinance through the lens of travel memoir: "The International Bank of Bob"
-Ann Possis chatted recently with Bob Harris, author of "The International Bank of Bob," a delightful book about the world of microlending and the difference it makes in people's lives. Bob traveled the world visiting with people he'd made small loans to through Kiva, an online lending platform. What he found will make you laugh, cry, and be inspired.
Katherine Loflin, the "City Doctor," on what attaches people to a place, and why it matters
-Dr. Katherine Loflin joined Ann Possis May 17 to talk about her work in "placemaking". She advises elected officials, planners, businesspeople, and community leaders who are trying to improve their cities and towns. Learn about the three main qualities that attach people to a place, why they're important, and how they relate to business, tourism, and more.
Update: The state of renewable energy in Minnesota
-Ann Possis spoke May 3 with Erin Stojan Ruccolo of Fresh Energy, and Amanda Bilek of the Great Plains Institute, about the outlook for renewable energy in Minnesota. Thirteen percent of the state's electricity currently comes from renewables. Erin and Amanda talk about ideas and initiatives for making renewables a larger part of our energy base. They were in Grand Marais for the Northern Sustainability Symposium May 3-5.
Author Dmitry Orlov on why he believes the U.S. is on the brink of collapse...and how to survive it
-Buck spoke May 3 with Dmitry Orlov, author of the award-winning book Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Example and American Prospects, and of the forthcoming The Five Stages of Collapse: Survivors' Toolkit. Born in Russia, he moved to the U.S. while a teenager, and traveled back repeatedly to observe the Soviet collapse during the late '80s and mid-'90s. He talked about why the thinks the U.S. is headed for collapse, and how people must change their lives to survive.
World Book Night is April 23--learn how one organization is spreading the love of reading, person to person
-Carl Lennertz, executive director of World Book Night U.S., spoke with Buck Mar. 29 about World Book Night, held April 23 each year. The night is a celebration of books and reading, when 25,000 passionate volunteers across America give a total of half a million books within their communities to those who don’t regularly read.
Legal expert Dale Carpenter discusses U.S. Supreme Court hearings on gay marriage
-Ann Possis spoke Mar. 29 with Prof. Dale Carpenter of the U of MN Law School, an expert in the areas of constitutional law and sexual orientation and the law. He was in Washington for last week's Supreme Court arguments on two landmark cases regarding the legal recognition of same-sex marriage, and shared his impressions and analysis.
Filmmaker Emily Haddad on her documentary about the first woman MN Supreme Court justice, "Girl from Birch Creek"
-Filmmaker Emily Haddad joined Ann Possis recently to talk about her latest documentary, "Girl from Birch Creek," the inspiring story of Rosalie Wahl, the first woman to be appointed to the MN Supreme Court. Emily talks about why she came to filmmaking, how she chose to tell Rosalie's story, and why it's important.