MNSPJ Award Winners - Airs June 19th

Producers for KFAI's MinneCulture took home five awards from the 2019 MN Society of Professional Journalists’ annual Page One Awards! Anna Stitt and Ryan Dawes took home first and second place in the Best Feature category. Reporter Melissa Olson received third place in the Special Project/In-Depth Series category. Plus, and perhaps most unbelievably, KFAI producers cleaned up in Sports News Coverage. This week on the show, we'll the most recent winners as well as some stories celebrated at the 2018 Page One Awards (as many as we can fit in.) Huzzah!

 A Violinist Grapples with Death by Ryan Dawes
Near the end of his life, Franz Schubert composed "Death and the Maiden." Two centuries later, violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja grappled with the dark subject as she and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra brought the piece to life for new audiences. Their recording won a Grammy award.

Why She Skateboards, Despite the Pain by Katie Thornton
As a teenager, KFAI's Katie Thornton contracted Lyme Disease. The autoimmune disorder seldom ceases to cause her pain in her arms, neck and back. And yet she risks still more pain by jumping on a skateboard. In this audio essay, she explains why.

 An Unvarnished, Unholy Tour of Franklin Avenue by Melissa Olson
Tom LaBlanc joined the American Indian Movement in 1970, just two years after its founding. Today, he's still active, performing politically-inspired poetry and acting. And occasionally, LaBlanc offers an "Unholy Tour" of Minneapolis' Franklin Avenue, in the heart of its Native American community.

 Playing the National Anthem on a Pipa? Gao Hong Brings It by Ryan Dawes
When the Minnesota Timberwolves asked Gao Hong to play the "Star-Spangled Banner" before a game, she was nervous. This would be the first time most fans had heard her - or anyone - play the Chinese pipa. And she wanted them to love it.

 Bending Nimbus to Her Will by Anna Stitt
Designing Nimbus - a giant, donut-shaped sculpture for Nicollet Mall - was just the beginning. Artist Tristan Al-Haddad also needed a talented crew to weld it into existence. For that, he turned to Denise "Seven" Bailey of Minneapolis.

 The Queen of Dark by Erianna Jiles
Minneapolis model Nyakim Gatwech has drawn a lot of attention for her dark complexion. In an industry that values blonde hair and blue eyes, Nyakim, a native of South Sudan, says, "Different is beautiful."

 It's a Bird. It's a Plane. No, It's SuperMayor! by Britt Aamodt
He cruised the streets in a Lincoln Continental, monitoring police calls and magically making red lights turn green. He was Charlie McCarty, St. Paul's "super mayor." Elected in 1970, defeated in 1972, he spent two years in the spotlight, long enough for two songs to be written in his honor and a drunk to floor him at a White Castle.

 Chef Yia Vang's Cultural Balancing Act by Nancy Rosenbaum
What’s Hmong food? Chef Yia Vang has his own interpretation. But some Hmong elders aren’t convinced he’s doing things the right way. It has become Vang's cultural balancing act.

 One Speed, No Brakes, 43 Degree Angle by Sophie Nikitas
After watching bicyclists swoosh around the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine, KFAI's Sophie Nikitas joined them. Like the other cyclists, the bike she rides has a single gear and no brakes. This allows for speed demons like Nikitas to get the most of their rides. But Minnesota's only Velodrome - a wood, outdoor track - is in danger of closing.

 By Punks, For Punks by Xan Holston
Unlike a lot of nightclubs, the Triple Rock Social Club was owned by punk rockers. For more than a decade, it was the place to get sweaty and loud in Minneapolis.

 Our Own Apollo by Nancy Rosenbaum
For 25 years, Arneilla's Bar and Restaurant in St. Paul is where black Minnesotans have gone to hear live music, celebrate birthdays, and even play a weekly game of cards. Generations of local musicians started their careers there. KFAI's Nancy Rosenbaum spoke to longtime customers and performers about the club's legacy.

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