Main Street

While the debate over immigration continues to divide the country, in North Dakota, President Trump's tough approach has received solid support. A group of people from our area recently returned from an immersive trip to the U.S/Mexico border to witness firsthand the stories of asylum seekers, border guards, immigration attorneys and clergy. Hear some of the stories Joshua Boschee, Karen Ehrens and Cynthia Schaab came back with and how they hope to create empathy here at home.

Monday, March 2, 2020 – The Fargo Film Festival will kick off later this month. It’s the 20 th year for the festival. Emily Beck is the executive director for both the festival and the Fargo Theatre. She’s John Harris’s guest in this excerpt from the Prairie Pulse television show. ~~~ Patrick Hicks shares another episode of Poetry from Studio 47. Today he profiles James Joyce and the poem he reads is titled “Hades.” ~~~ Bill Thomas is a judge for North Dakota Poetry Out Loud. Last week we heard

Sunday, March 1, 2020 – Our Sunday highlight show will feature Veronica Michael and Tom Kading talking about processing hemp to extract CBD oils for a variety of products ~~~ Christopher Lehman will join us to talk about his new book “Slavery’s Reach,” which documents the effects of the slavery on Minnesota. ~~~ And Bill Thomas joins us to talk about North Dakota’s Poetry Out Loud competition.

Friday, February 28, 2020 – We reconvene our monthly Journalists Roundtable. Joining host Doug Hamilton and news director Dave Thompson are special guests Jim Shaw, former TV news director and currently a columnist for Forum Communications; and Jamie Kelly, managing editor of the Williston Herald. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “The Lodge.”

Thursday, February 27, 2020 – Bill Thomas shares highlights from the North Dakota Poetry Out Loud championship. ~~~ NPR’s Bob Boilen visits with Erik Deatherage to discuss the Tiny Desk Concert contest. The deadline to enter is approaching. ~~~ Sue Balcom is here to discuss things she’s learned watching the Great British Baking Show. ~~~ Doug and Christine have our What’s Happening calendar of events.

Since 2008, NPR's popular Tiny Desk Concerts have carved out an online space for intimate musical performances, by both undiscovered and established talents. Taylor Swift has done one. And so have five unknown, unique musicians who won the first Tiny Desk Contests. The 2020 edition is happening now, and Tiny Desk founder Bob Boilen wants to see lots of entries from North Dakota, Eastern Montana and Northwest Minnesota.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 – Attorneys Shannon Parvey and Kimberlie Larson join us to talk about the Collaborative Divorce Practice Group, which seeks to use strategies to keep things friendly and healthy during divorce, especially for the children. It’s an effort inspired in part by the book “Our Happy Divorce: How Ending Our Marriage Brought Us Closer Together.” ~~~ Historian Tom Isern continues his exploration lightning rod salesmen in an essay titled “Lynching the Lightning Rod Man.” ~~~

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 – Processing hemp for CBD oil is an emerging industry in North Dakota, finding its way in the early going as farmers tackle this new crop and the regulations that come with it. Joining us from Prairie Products LLC are Veronica Michael, CEO; Tom Kading, CFO; and Kevin Soiseth, director of quality. ~~~ This is the first year many farmers have grown hemp, now that it’s legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. In addition to the normal challenges of farming, hemp growers have had

Monday, February 24, 2020 – Writer and naturalist Jack Nisbet discusses his book, "The Dreamer and The Doctor: A Forest Lover and a Physician on the Edge of the Frontier." It’s the story of John and Carrie Leiberg, who arrived in Idaho Territory in 1885 with a fragile infant, a shaky homestead claim, and ambitions that reached far beyond John’s interest in native plants or Carrie’s newly minted physician’s license. Their accomplishments stand as touchstones of character and identity for an

Sunday, February 23, 2020 – Main Street Weekend will look at the cost of prescription drugs – a big issue for many Americans. We’ll discuss it with North Dakota AARP director Josh Askvig and health policy expert Megan O’Reilly. ~~~ Best-selling Minnesota novelist Brian Freeman will talk about his latest thriller, Thief River Falls —and his new assignment to continue the Jason Bourne series made famous by author Robert Ludlum. ~~~ And we’ll share a commentary from Mark Trahant about the