The AP reported this week, "Senator seeks probe of natural gas price spikes during storm".  They were talking about MN Senator Tina Smith. 

Today we talked more about the price gouging of utilities - natural gas - after the extreme weather in Texas and what MN Attorney General Keith Ellison's office is doing to combat this....as well as student loan debt and eviction moratoriums. 

From the Attorney General's website:

Attorney General Ellison calls for cancellation of federal student-loan debt

Joins multistate coalition in support of congressional resolutions calling for the cancellation of up to $50K in debt per student borrower

Each week Fred Freidman and Kyle Erickson join John Bauer for Sports Page on the Thursday Morning Show.  This week they talk about torn ACL’s and visa problems for athletes, have an in-depth discussion on the Timberwolves, give details on Tiger Woods accident and give opinions on a decision to ban bikini’s at a beach volleyball tournament in Qatar.  Heidi stumps them with trivia questions on the hiring and firing of coaches and managers.

It's your opportunity to ask questions about Minnesota’s response and plans during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by News and Public Affairs Director Heidi Holtan.

This week we heard about the COVID-19 we heard more about the new Vaccine Connector from the State of MN , mental health and more!

If you didn’t get a chance to send or call in your question this week email covid@ampers.org or call 612-562-9895.

Jennifer Olson is an assistant professor of voice with the Bemidji State University Music Department.  She joins Heidi and John on the Thursday Morning Show to talk about the online video series she has created.  She says when Covid hit and teachers had to go virtual she realized there was no educational content out there for them to use.  Jennifer then worked hard to create a free online video series of dynamic virtual content to supplement middle school and high school choir curriculum.  So far, her content is reaching 96 teachers and programs in 5 states and more than 11,000 students. 

...these paintings are really talking about that level of energy that's out there and those patterns that you find in nature that we also find within ourselves and how they line up and match a little bit...So painting these large scale paintings - to me, they sort of have to be large, because that's kind of the experience when you're out there. You're completely immersed in it.- Mark Granlund on his Unutterable Spaces exhibit

Jeff Sundin joins John and Heidi from the shores of Lake of the Woods for Early Bird Fishing Guide.  Jeff is getting ready to head out fishing and reports the walleye are biting and there is a foot more of ice on the lake after the recent cold snap making him second guess his earlier ice out prediction.  He reminds us this is the last week of the walleye season except for those lakes sharing a border with Canada.  Fish houses have to be off the lakes for all lakes south of MN200.  Jeff talks with John and Heidi about getting a fishing license either on-line or at your local bait store.

I love their faces, but their faces are usually a reflection of something they’ve gone thru our why we love watching them or why we love their work...really human things that you imagine public figures are able to avoid for some reason.  A lot of the women that I do are survivors of violence, of sexual assault...people who seem really resilient or poppy or glamorous have been through it....I’ve seen their artwork...and now to read about them and look at their face and know that that’s not what anyone knows of them but that’s what they’ve carried around with them has been really fascinating. - Annie Roseen. 

Phenology is the rhythmic biological nature of events as they relate to climate. Phenology Talkbacks are an opportunity for us to hear what you are noticing outside.   Each week, our resident phenologist John Latimer gathers the talkback comments and closely assesses the subtle changes happening outside.  On Tuesdays during the Phenology Show, we hear all about it!