Main Street

Monday, Feb. 20. 2023 - Abraham Lincoln is best remembered as the man who carried the United States through a civil war - but what is his legacy in the American West? Presidential scholar Rick Collin interviews his special guest Author Richard Etulain, an award-winning historian who specializes in the history of the American West. Etulain has written the book: Abraham Lincoln: A Western Legacy.

Friday, February 17, 2023 – “Ruthless: Monopoly's Secret History” is a new documentary from American Experience. It debuts February 20th on PBS. It’s called the real story behind America's most popular game – an untold tale of theft, obsession, and corporate double-dealing. We visit with filmmaker Stephen Ives. ~~~ Dave Thompson is at the legislature daily. He shares an update during our weekly news chat. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “80 for Brady,” and remembers Raquel Welch.

Thursday, February 16, 2023 – Amir Madison played football at UMary and for the pro arena team, The Bloomington Edge. He now teaches yoga and meditation to athletes. We learn about YogiAthlete and an upcoming meditation challenge. ~~~ A year ago, the U.S. began to mandate that food manufacturers, importers and retailers add a disclosure on the label if a food or substantial ingredient has been genetically modified. Harvest Public Media’s Katie Peikes reports on the impact that rule may be having. ~~~ Sue Balcom discusses lemons in this week’s Main Street Eats.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 – Cyber Madness is a two-day event where North Dakota students team up and compete to solve today’s most pressing cybersecurity issues. We visit with Cathy White, First Tech Challenge Robotics Coach & Technology Coordinator for Alexander Public School, and Prairie Public’s Troy Jackson II, an education services associate. ~~~ Dr. Rupak Gandhi is the superintendent of schools in Fargo, and he comments on the declining test scores students have faced during the pandemic. He visits with John Harris in an excerpt from the Prairie Pulse television show. ~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay titled “That Hungry Coyote.”

Dr. Thomas Krumel, Assistant Professor in the department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at NDSU, writes that working conditions in meatpacking plants contributed to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and that impacted the community. Also, he explores whether PPP loans had a positive impact on the craft brewing industry. ~~~ Dickinson State University has announced the addition of Fire Science to its degree program offerings. The program’s development began in 2020 when the University was approached by the Dickinson Fire Department with a desire to build a local program and attract individuals into the field – serving a critical role in the community. Dickinson State University’s Dean, College of Education, Business, & Applied Sciences Dr. Holly Gruhlke and Alaynea Decker, Senior Fire Fighter with the Dickinson Fire Department discuss.

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about romance, but it can be stressful. We visit with Dr. Ron Werner- Wilson, whose research focuses on families and marital relationships. He’s the dean of the College of Human Sciences and Education at NDSU.

Grammy-Award winning singer songwriter Judy Collins is the special guest on this week’s Great American Folk Show. We share an excerpt. ~~~ Dr. Prithviraj Lakkakula is a Research Assistant Professor in Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University. He discusses history, applications and the economics of blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies including bitcoin. ~~~ Dave Thompson is here for his weekly news discussion. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews, “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Jack Russell Weinstein previews the upcoming episode of the Why show, “Data, Technology, and the Power of Privacy”~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay, "In the West.” ~~~ It’s almost time for the big game between Kansas City and Philadelphia. How’s your snack game? Sue Balcom is here for a football edition of Main Street Eats.

Darin Langerud is the Director of the North Dakota Atmospheric Resources Board, a quasi-judicial, quasi-legislative advisory and rule-making board under the supervision of the State Water Commission, which has oversight of the state’s cloud seeding programs. We discuss the state program. ~~~ 529 plans are used for college savings. Starting next year, people will have the opportunity to roll over unused funds into a ROTH IRA penalty free. We talk with Bell Investment Wealth Advisor Nicholas Peterson about what parents and college students need to know.

Dr. Scott Acton is a Wavefront scientist for Ball Aerospace, and spent decades of his life working on the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope launched from earth Christmas Day in 2021, and has performed well beyond expectations since. Dr. Acton discusses his incredible history with the project and tells us what may be next for one of our country’s most brilliant physicists. ~~~ February is Black History Month. We hear from Dr. Larry Napoleon, an associate professor in the School of Education at NDSU about this year’s theme, “Black Resistance.” His research agenda includes the outcomes for Non-traditional / marginalized populations within education.