Social Issues

Hear famous black orators Thurgood Marshall, Stokely Carmichael, Shirley Chisholm, Dick Gregory, Clarence Thomas and Randall Robinson in their own words with commentary from the producers of the radio documentary "Say It Plain."
Martin Luther King, Jr. was the most famous black orator in history, but he was hardly alone. For generations, African Americans have been demanding justice and equality, reminding America to make good on its founding principles. This documentary from American RadioWorks explores the crucial role these orators played in the long struggle for equal rights.
Three northern Minnesota Indian tribes are closing in on an agreement with the state to build a Twin Cities area casino. The proposed half-billion dollar entertainment and hotel complex would be operated by the tribes through the Minnesota State Lottery. Not all tribal members are convinced the plan is a good idea.
A bill that would legalize Texas Hold'em tournaments cleared its first legislative hurdle on Wednesday. It's one of the smaller gambling proposals lawmakers are likely to consider this session.
Iowa isn't having much luck keeping twentysomethings in the state. In fact more young people are leaving Iowa then just about anywhere in the country, except North Dakota. Iowa lawmakers recently debated and abandoned a plan to exempt people under 30 from paying state incomes taxes. In small Iowa towns like Decorah, the problem is being felt firsthand.
Bioethicist and medical doctor Steven Miles spent the better part of a month working in disaster-stricken Indonesia. He was part of an effort to set up a permanent camp for 100,000 people. He'll talk about the ethical issues raised by responding to the devastating effects of the December 26 earthquake and tsunami.
All this year Minnesota is celebrating the centennial of the state Capitol building. Some of the people who helped build it were black -- and are just beginning to be recognized for their contributions.
Author Mary Pipher is out with a new book that details what happened when her hometown of Lincoln, Neb. became an official refugee resettlement community. Pipher talks about writing "The Middle of Everywhere" in this live speech from the Westminster Town Hall Forum in Minneapolis.
Doing good while making money may be the ideal job. But now that practices like incorporating organics or contributing profits to worthy causes have become common, what's the business advantage to such strategies? And how do socially conscious companies do over the long run?
A recent study by the Knight Foundation shows that American high school students want more government regulation on the media. Midmorning discusses the way the First Amendment is viewed today.