River Radio

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River Radio hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson conduct a public forum (recorded at the Marine Village Hall) with mayoral candidate Dan Willenbring and two of the three City Council candidates, Rosetta Peters and Diane Mills. Matt Quast is technical director.

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Back for an 8th season! The Marine Community Library’s own River Radio podcast returns for Season 8 with a focus on the upcoming elections. Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson welcome Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon to discuss what voters should prepare for this election season (5:00). Then a discussion with the political roundtable of Lori Sturdevant of the Minnesota Star Tribune and River Radio national political editor Brian Gruis to preview what’s ahead on November 3 (27:00). Plus, an update of local news (55:45). Matt Quast is technical director.

This Week’s Guests
Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State
Lori Sturdevant, Minnesota Star Tribune
Brian Gruis 

Email us:
[email protected]

Government Links:
City of Marine on St. Croix
City of Scandia
May Township
Washington County
Election information – MNVotes.gov
Marine Comprehensive Plan Survey
Osceola Bridge Project
Highway 36/Lake Elmo Ave. Project

Event links
Marine Candidate Forum
Ryan Rodgers Program
Arrow Broken October Event with Mona Susan Power

Business/Organization Links:
Marine Community Library
Sign up for the Stillwater Tattler

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Jim talks to Craig Fehrman, author of the new book “This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis and Clark,” about additional details he’s uncovered about this historic adventure (3:00). Gayle gets a fresh batch of summer book recommendations from Literary Fairy Godmother Pamela Klinger-Horn (28:30). Plus and update of local news (51:00). Matt Quast is technical director.

This Week’s Guests

Craig Fehrman, author, This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark

Pamela Klinger-Horn, Valley Bookseller

Pamela’s Book Recommendations

Email us:

[email protected]

Government Links:

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

May Township

Washington County

Article links

New York Times Book Review of This Vast Enterprise

Event links

Karin Winegar Program

Scandia Heritage Alliance Programs

Business/Organization Links:

Marine Community Library

Contact Linda about Volunteering at Stone House Museum/Settler’s Cabin

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Gayle talks with Cameron Hewitt, travel guidebook writer for Rick Steves’ Europe, about his best tips for travelers heading into the busy season (3:00). Jim discusses environmentally-friendly yard and garden ideas with Angie Hong, coordinator of Minnesota’s East Metro Water Education Program (30:00). Plus an update of local news (50:30).  Matt Quast is technical director.

This Week’s Guests

Cameron Hewitt, Rick Steves’ Europe

Angie Hong, East Metro Water Resource Education Program

Email us:

[email protected]

Government Links:

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

May Township

Washington County

Previous River Radio Shows

March 21, 2026 program featuring Keith Ellison and John Tunheim

Feb. 14, 2026 featuring Secretary of State Steve Simon

April 3, 2021 show with Cameron Hewitt

April 23, 2022 show with Cameron Hewitt

Feb. 1, 2025 program featuring Rick Steves

Business/Organization Links:

Marine Community Library

Registration for Arrow Broken Writer’s Workshop at Marine Library

Midco Scandia Service Expansion Map

Midco Signup for Eligible Scandia Residents

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In a time when legal matters are at the forefront, Jim and Gayle welcome two of Minnesota’s most prominent legal figures. This show features conversations with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison about the follow-up to ICE’s Minnesota incursion and his office’s ongoing challenges to Trump administration actions (3:15); and U.S. District Judge John Tunheim, one of many federal judges at the center of recent notable court rulings (26:45). Plus, an update of local news (50:00). Matt Quast is technical director.

This Week’s Guests

Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General

John Tunheim, U.S. District Judge, District of Minnesota

Email us:

[email protected]

Government Links:

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

May Township

Washington County

Event Links

St. Croix Valley Big Read

Once Upon A River Event in St. Croix Falls

Previous River Radio Shows

Our First Show – March 28, 2020

Feb. 14, 2026 featuring Secretary of State Steve Simon

Business/Organization Links:

Marine Community Library

Marine Mills Folk School Board Application

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Gayle speaks with Stacy Smith, DNR Acquisition and Development Program Supervisor, about plans to address the inadvertent draining of Lake Alice in William O’Brien State Park (3:45). Jim discusses efforts to reverse a mining ban now in effect in the Superior National Forest, next to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, with Kevin Proescholdt, Conservation Director, Wilderness Watch (24:00). Plus, an update of local news (46:15). Matt Quast is technical director.

This Week’s Guests

Stacy Smith, Minnesota DNR

Kevin Proescholdt, Conservation Director, Wilderness Watch

Email us:

[email protected]

Government Links:

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

May Township

Washington County

Article/Letter Links:

Dave McGrath Op-Ed –“They Don’t Tell You How Fun the Resistance Can Be”

Marine City Council Letter to National Park Service

Business/Organization Links:

Marine Community Library

Stillwater Tattler Subscription Page

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Gayle explores the lives of Minnesota residents who are afraid to leave their homes, speaking with a Latin American native who is reluctant to leave her Minnesota home (3:30). Jim talks to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon about threats to a free and fair election in November (13:30). Matt Quast is technical director.

This Week’s Guests

Maria, immigrant in Minnesota 

Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State

 St. Thomas study on non-citizen voting

Email us:

[email protected]

Government Links:

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

May Township

Washington County

Business/Organization Links:

Marine Community Library

Send us your questions or comments

River Radio’s focus turns local this week. Jim talks with Dr. Curtis Windham, Executive Director, Marine Village School (1:45). Gayle learns about what it takes to put on Christ Lutheran Church’s Swedish (Lutefisk) Dinner from Cheryl Reinitz (24:00) and Mark Rossi (34:15). Plus a news update (46:00). Matt Quast is technical director.

This Week’s Guests

Dr. Curtis Windham, Executive Director, Marine Village School

Cheryl Reinitz, Christ Lutheran Church

Mark Rossi, Christ Lutheran Church

Email us:

[email protected]

Government Links:

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

May Township

Washington County

National Park Service Comprehensive River Management Plan

Previous Shows

Jan. 17, 2026 program on Minnesota’s ICE Invasion

Jan. 29, 2022 program with Chad Salmela

Feb. 26, 2022 program with Kris Hansen

Feb. 10, 2024 program on America’s gambling addiction

Event Links

Dakota Culture and Urban Ecology Walk

Arrow Broken Poetry Collective

Red Cross Blood Drive at Christ Lutheran Church

Business/Organization Links:

Marine Community Library

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In this special episode, Jim and Gayle explore the rapid escalation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities across Minnesota. Guests include St. Paul City Council Vice President Hwa Jeong Kim detailing what’s happening in her area of the city (3:00); Washington County Board Commissioners Fran Miron and Bethany Cox talking about ICE activities in our area (20:00); and immigration attorney Marc Prokosch to discuss ICE’s stepped-up activity and what people need to know about immigration law (37:00). Matt Quast is technical director. 

This Week’s Guests

Hwa Jeong Kim, Vice President, St. Paul City Council

Fran Miron, Washington County Board Commissioner

Bethany Cox, Washington County Board Commissioner

Marc Prokosch, Managing Attorney, Prokosch Law LLC

 Marc’s extended presentation on Current Status of Immigration Law

 Email us:

[email protected]

Government Links:

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

May Township

Washington County

News Links

Washington Post stories on ICE targeting indigenous Americans

PBS Newshour story on ICE activities in Twin Cities

Event Links

Dakota Culture and Urban Ecology Walk

Business/Organization Links:

Marine Community Library

Send us your questions or comments

Jim talks to Paris-based journalist Julia Belluz, co-author of “Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes Us and Harms Us" (1:40); Gayle talks to recently retired Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema about his fascinating life reviewing food and restaurants (23:00). Also included is an update of local news (51:45). Matt Quast is technical director. 

This Week’s Guests

Julia Belluz, Journalist and Co-Author, Food Intelligence

 Julia’s NYT Op-Ed, “The French Secret to Eating Healthy”

Tom Sietsema, Food Critic 

Email us:

[email protected]

Government Links:

City of Marine on St. Croix

City of Scandia

May Township

Washington County

Donation Links

Marine Village School Double Down Challenge

Marine Community Library Donation Page

Event Links

Marine Documentary Night – Jan. 15, 2026 – YOU GOT GOLD trailer

Bill Simpson’s Top Books of 2025

Previous Shows

November 8 show with DNR officials on Lake Alice

November 22 book show

Business/Organization Links:

Marine Community Library