Trayvon Martin was a 17 year old boy, walking to the store to get skittles and a bottle of juice for his sister in the rain. He put his hoodie up, and that signaled to George Zimmerman he might be armed. Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch patrolling the townhouse community when he came upon the unarmed young man. He shot and killed Trayvon, who had no criminal record. President Barack Obama said "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon.” Trayvon's death began a national debate about race

Listen, our lives have been turned upside down. All people's lives - but what about the roles women take on? How are they coping? Are they coping? We held a virtual listening session with some #itascastrong women and asked them how they were. Laura Connelly is our facilitator - let us know if you'd like to be a part of the next focus group! In this conversation Laura and Heidi reference an article from The Atlantic "The Coronavirus Is A Disaster for Feminism".

Leah Lemm talks with John Shimek from 8th Fire Solar on Northern Voices. 8th Fire Solar is a manufacturing facility operated by the Anishinaabe building solar thermal panels near Pine Point, MN. Get more information here.

The normal rituals of society have been painfully altered during the pandemic. Funeral Director Kevin Cease, Cease Funeral Homes, talked about "doing what we can, within the guidelines" for funerals and services while under a shelter at home order. Hear the whole conversation by clicking below.

Today we learn to say "leaves budding moon" or the month of May in the Ojibwe language. Nana Boozhoo shares a poem to honor Mother's Day.

Each week John and Heidi pull up a chair to one of our member’s kitchen tables and get to know them a little bit better. This week’s caller, Steve from Ely had some solid advice on hashbrowns, eggs over medium and a little bit of coffee. Hear the whole conversation by clicking below. Thanks to our sponsor Homestead Mills for their support of this program! Let us know if you want to be our guest on What's For Breakfast . All it takes is your membership and an email !

On the last day of National Poetry Month, Katie Carter interviews poet DyAnne Korda from Ely. She shares her poems Peepers and Heart Medicine. For more on DyAnne and her poetry go to dyannekorda.com. Katie ends this extended hour of the Morning Show with poems by Roert Jevne. He reads his poems Bound to Heaven and Falling Short.

Gaelynn Lea talks with Katie Carter on the extended hour of the Morning Show. Gaelynn is a singer, violinist, public speaker and disability advocate from Duluth. She shares ways that her and her family are getting through the stay at home order. Gaelynn talks about how disabled people are effected and often misunderstood during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can hear Gaelynn Lea's virtual concerts weekly on Sundays at 2:00. For more information go to violinscratches.com.

This week Heidi Holtan spoke with Maureen Ramirez, Director of DEED’s Economic Opportunity. Maureen provided for clarification on employment and small businesses and covid-19 in MN. Find more information at mn.gov/deed. To apply for unemployment insurance go to uimn.org. If you’d like to ask MN’s state officials a question about response to coronavirus email [email protected] or call 612-562-9895. This broadcast is a collaboration of community radio stations throughout the state, in partnership

Drew Digby, Executive Director of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, joins John and Heidi on the Thursday Morning Show. They talk about how artists and organizations across the state and the country are effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Drew gives us information on the virtual town hall meeteings that are being held with representatives from cultural and arts organizers, artists and creative workers from all over Minnesota.