It is an interesting election year across the nation, and Minnesota is no different.  MinnPost reporter Peter Callaghan covers state government and joined us to talk about some of the campaign stories he's written recently. 

MinnPost is a nonprofit, nonpartisan enterprise whose mission is to provide high-quality journalism for people who care about Minnesota.

Lack of childcare in rural MN is widespread and complex.  Often deemed as just a family issue, it affects the health of a small community and its ability to grow and welcome new workers to the regioin. 

There is an unresolved and complicated story right now that has the biggest steel companies in North America and the world fighting over valuable ore deposits near Nashwauk.  Though not exactly the same issue it's also interesting to note that steelworkers unions at three of the mines have authorized a strike vote.  It's complex and a messy story, so of course we enlisted

jeremy messersmith has been out and about throughout Grand Rapids all week long. If you've missed him, you weren't looking! Listen to our conversation with jeremy when he stopped by New Music earlier this week. He talks about longing for his music to find it's way into listeners hearts, rewriting hymns for amusement in his youth, and outer space real estate agents.

The band Dancing Light stopped by the KBXE studio in Bemidji recently to sing a couple songs and tell a few stories. Their long career locally means there was lots to talk about. It was fun to have Greg, Kiki, and Sabbastian on the air live. Hear the whole conversation by clicking below.

With open studio tours in Wadena, Staples, New York Mills, Randall, Brainerd and Baxter, fiber art creators and appreciators will get a first hand look inside the craft of many forms of fiber art this weekend.  Jenny Wilder founded Midwest Fiber Arts Trails. She spoke with us on the morning show about fiber art, why fiber artists tend to travel great distances for materials, community and inspiration and she also told us about the various stops on this unique studio tour.  

Each week, our resident Phenologist John Latimer compiles a report of the subtle and not so subtle phenological changes he's noticed in the past week. Pine needles falling, changes in the color of fireweed, a decrease in the number of wasps and hornets around hummingbird feeders, hummingbird numbers dwindling, blooming heart-leaved asters, Jerusalem artichokes and swamp milkweed are just a few topics John discusses in this week's report. 

Year-round, we hear from listeners who call or email their observations of the natural world to us and we love hearing from everyone who contributes!  During the school year, we have the sweet treat of hearing from classrooms and kids around the listening area as they report what they've been noticing.  This week, in addition to recieving emails and phone calls from listeners,  we heard from five schools and one homeschooler!  Acorns on the ground, a monarch release, ripe tomatoes, hawks, bears, geese, golf ball sized hail and bees are just a sampling of the reported observations that came our way in the past 7 days! 

Today on our montly home buying/selling/renovation segment On the House, Jesse Davis introduced us to Sandra O'Fallon from Kootasca.  She assists first time or low income buyers with the extensive steps required to purchase a house.  Kootasca has a program on Homebuyer Education that give participants the tools to move forward in achieving their own home.  The next class is November 13th in Grand Rapids - check here to find out more information. 

Steve Downing is an area writer and arts enthusiast.  He recently had the chance to get to Central Lakes College in Brainerd for the opening of their season of Verse Like Water directed by Jeff Johnson.