Prairie Home Companion anniversary blowout at Macalester on 4th of July weekend

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Garrison Keillor is bringing his Prairie Home Companion to Macalester this weekend with an on-campus celebration that includes several outdoor concerts, a 3-hour live outdoor broadcast, and many other activities. Sunday marks the exact 40th anniversary of A Prairie Home Companion, performed in Macalester’s Janet Wallace Auditorium in 1974.Many of the weekend’s events are free and open to the public, including performances by Keillor and the Royal Academy of Radio Actors on Friday at 11:00 a.m., Butch Thompson on Friday at 2:00 p.m., The Wailin’ Jennys on Friday at 3:00 p.m., and Old Crow Medicine Show on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. There will also be a screening of A Prairie Home Companion: The Movie on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and A Community Sing-Along with Garrison at noon on Sunday. Keillor will broadcast a three-hour Prairie Home Companion show on Saturday, which is sold out but will be broadcast at 5 p.m. on Saturday night on 91.1 FM.Keillor has maintained close ties to Macalester over the years. In addition to speaking at convocation, he also spoke at commencement in 2002. Keillor also rents the space for Common Good Books from Macalester. Continue Reading

Macalester Young Republican Andrew Ojeda challenges St. Paul Representative Erin Murphy

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From high school flirtation with socialism to Constitution Party sympathies to Macalester Young Republican co-chair, Andrew Ojeda is passionate about his politics. This year Ojeda, a California native and Macalester senior with a double major in political science and German studies, is running for the Minnesota House of Representatives in St. Paul’s District 64A.Conservative student groups including Minnesota College Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty both endorsed Ojeda.“He’s in a tough area to run Republican,” said Young Americans for Liberty chair, Tim Bertram, “but he’s taking it and willing to put in the time.”His opponent, incumbent Representative Erin Murphy (DFL), is running for her fourth consecutive term since her initial election in 2006. That year she won the seat against 2005 Macalester graduate Jesse Mortenson of the Green Party and Kirstin Beach of the Republican Party. Murphy has consistently won District 64A, located in St. Continue Reading

MN VOICES | Kate Knuth leaves legislature, stays with commitment to environment

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State Representative Kate Knuth is concerned about over-politicization of environmental issues facing Minnesotans. While she is leaving the legislature, she plans to continue serving the state, especially in the field of environmental policy.After three terms as state representative for District 50B, Kate Knuth announced February 29 that she would not seek a fourth term. Instead, she will complete her Ph. D in Conservation Biology and continue as coordinator of the Boreas Leadership Program at Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota.For Knuth, her decision to serve in the legislature was an expected contribution to society. Her father and uncle served in the state House and her mother served as a public school superintendent. Continue Reading

Former sheriff Bob Fletcher and State Senator Mary Jo McGuire on candidate list for Ramsey County Commissioners

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The nine candidates for the three Ramsey County Commissioner seats on the ballot in November 2012 include a state senator, a former sheriff, a former gubernatorial candidate, and only two incumbents.Seats in Districts One, Two and Seven are on the ballot this November. A non-partisan primary on August 14 will cut the number of candidates in each district down to two before the November 6 elections. Candidates can receive party endorsements, but their affiliations will be left off ballots.Four candidates are running in District One, which includes Arden Hills, Gem Lake, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Township and parts of Mounds View, Spring Lake Park and Blaine. Incumbent Tony Bennett faces competition from 16-year Shoreview City Councilmember Blake C. Huffman, Shoreview attorney Frank T. Mabley and former Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.Instead of seeking re-election, District Two Commissioner Jan Parker decided to retire in December after 16 years of service to New Brighton, Mounds View, St. Anthony, Roseville, Little Canada and Lauderdale. Continue Reading