A holiday like no other, April Fool’s Day is a time of mischief and silliness…and Minnesota Public Radio has joined the fun on more than one occasion. Enjoy these handful of ‘tales.‘
April 1, 1986 - MPR’s Euan Kerr profile on a new scientific development that may have significant implications on fishing…fish herding. A very Minnesotan celebration of April Fools’ Day.
April 1, 1993 - Minnesota author Michael Fedo recalls a childhood memory of April Fool’s Day in a story reading.
April 1, 1998 - MPR’s Euan Kerr presents yet another April Fool’s Day treat. In a secret location just a few miles over the Minnesota border into Wisconsin. Kerr interviews Milt Whiting, who is an attempting to bring the little known, but possibly illegal, European practice of fish-grooming to the Midwest.
April 1, 1999 - On this special date, MPR’s Amy Radil reports that the Duluth Port Authority is scrambling to respond to unconfirmed reports of whale sightings in the Duluth Ship Canal. Biologists speculate a scarce food supply has driven a whale far inland during the spring breeding season. Authorities are trying to determine whether the whale poses a shipping hazard and how the marine mammal made its lengthy journey.
April 1, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minnesota Public Radio has announced plans to expand its programming by creating a third statewide network to compliment its existing news and music channels. The new network will be all silent…and in stereo!