News

Local songwriter Taylor Robert brings his “roll n’ soul” songwriting style to Pam Without Boundaries Monday, May 6th, 11am. The son of a traveling preacher, Taylor honed his incredible, soulful singing chops in church choirs, becoming a stand-out soloist before he reached middle-school. Once his family landed in Minnesota, he had the chance to leave again, touring as a youngster with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Nobel Peace Prize nominee and author Dr. Hawa Abdi was in Minneapolis at the beginning of April as part of her national book tour for Keeping Hope Alive- a memoir about her life and work in Somalia. Named the Mother Theresa of Somalia, she has offered shelter and aid to thousands in her country since civil war began in Somalia in 1991. KFAI’s Christina Cerruti has this report.

The city of St. Paul has several large parcels of land in transition right now. Among them is the Ford Plant location in the Highland Park neighborhood on the banks of the Mississippi River, the former Dayton’s and Macy’s department store building downtown; the 3M property on the city’s east side and also the Hamm’s brewery location. Cecile Bedor is St. Paul’s Planning and Economic Development Director, she talked with Dale Connelly in The Morning Blend.

This week on MinneCulture, KFAI producer Britt Amodt talks with historian Rhoda Gilman, Pam Brunfelt and Peter Rachleff.

At the turn of the last century, Minnesota’s Iron Range was a cauldron of ethnicities and languages. From 1892 to 1914, more than 40 different ethnic groups immigrated there from the Old World, converging on one of the richest iron lodes in history.

In 1907, a large-scale labor strike erupted on the Mesabi Range, led primarily by immigrant Finns. The strike raised questions about whether laborers had the right to strike for liveable wages, eight-hour work days and fair work practices. Though ultimately unsuccessful, the strike broke down cultural barriers and united miners under the common banner of organized labor.

Tune in on Monday and Wednesday at 7:30pm.