Main Street

Friday, July 10, 2020 - Matt Olien joins us for a discussion of his favorite movie directors. ~~~ An amazing choral project combined the singing of 140 participants recording remotely on video. It was composed and conducted by Dr. Tom Porter, professor of music and the chair of the Department of Music at the University of Mary. He joins us to explain the teamwork required to accomplish this remarkable project. ~~~ News director Dave Thompson is here for our weekly news chat.

Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Jack Russell Weinstein previews next Sunday’s WHY radio show, when he visits with Thane Rosenbaum. It’s a conversation about the important issues surrounding free speech and when it might go too far. ~~~ Mark Trahant Commentary. ~~~ Horticulturist Ron Smith joins us with some lawn and garden reminders. ~~~ Sue Balcom is here for “Main Street Eats.”

Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - Susan Wefald, a longtime member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission, is North Dakota Women's Network Woman of the Year. She spent 16 years on the PSC and has served on boards for organizations across the state. The author of two books, she's dedicated to sharing North Dakota's important history, with a special focus on undertold stories. ~~~ Chuck Lura shares a Natural North Dakota essay titled "Catch a Falling Star." ~~~ In another excerpt from the

Tuesday, July 7, 2020 - Infectious disease researchers at the Department of Biomedical Sciences at UND have geared up efforts in response to COVID-19. Here to discuss their work and the strategies that can help address pandemics is Dr. Nadeem Khan. ~~~ From today’s Morning Edition, NPR's David Greene talks to Mark Trahant, former UND professor and the editor of Indian Country Today, about what the Dakota Access Pipeline shutdown means for activists, and where the court battle goes from here. ~~~

Monday, July 6, 2020 - The Medora Musical resumed performances on June 19th, amid a number of measures to make the opening as safe as possible for the performers, volunteers and patrons. Here with an update on the challenge and to report on how it’s going is Justin Fisk, marketing & communications director for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. ~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay, “Winning on Points.” ~~~ A new four-part season of Threshold premieres tomorrow night here on

Sunday, July 5, 2020 - Thomas Jefferson scholar Clay Jenkinson joins us to discuss his new book, “Repairing Jefferson’s America: A Guide to Civility and Enlightened Citizenship.” And he has another new book, “Bring Out Your Dead,” a book of essays related to the pandemic.

Friday, July 3, 2020 - 100 years after the passage of the 19th Amendment, The Vote tells the dramatic story of the hard-fought campaign waged by American women for the right to vote, a transformative cultural and political movement that resulted in the largest expansion of voting rights in U.S. history. The Vote premieres on the series American Experience July 6-7 on PBS. We visit with Michelle Ferrari, the writer, director and producer . ~~~ The Transmission Times shares highlights of life

Thursday, July 2, 2020 - Matt Olien returns for a special film discussion. This week, he discusses his list of favorite actors and actresses. ~~~ Commentary from Mark Trahant about the national debate about mascots and symbols. He says it’s not about statues, flags and monuments … it’s really about the national story. What kind of country is this … and what kind of country should this be? ~~~ Sue Balcom is here for Main Street Eats. Today’s topic is potato bugs. ~~~ Eliza Blue shares another

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 - Claudia Berg has retired as the director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota has retired. She joins us to introduce the new director, Bill Peterson, who comes to us from the Arizona Historical Society. ~~~ A Plains Folk essay from Tom Isern: “Boys on Duck Creek.” ~~~ Tom Brosseau visits with Ashley Thornberg about the 3rd episode of the Great American Folk Show, which is coming up on Sunday.

The Native American Development Center , in Bismarck, got a major grant to go out and talk to Native Americans in Bismarck-Mandan, Fargo and Grand Forks. They want to find out what are the urgent needs of the people in this group -- and then they hope to move to resources and solutions. Lorraine Davis talks about how they will go about it, but more about why this is an important effort to do. She includes her personal story. It points up some of the issues that they hope to get a handle on with