Morning Edition's favorite conversations of 2023
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2023 was a heck of a year. Here are the Morning Edition team’s favorite conversations from it.
'Biking far with friends': Minnesota Randonneurs take 745-mile ride through France
Back in August, 15 members of a Minnesota cycling group flew to France. They pedaled in the Paris-Brest-Paris. Dating back to 1891 and held every four years, it’s the oldest long-distance road cycling event in the world — about 745 miles, and they needed to complete it in under 90 hours. Chris Carlson, president of the Minnesota Randonneurs, joined us from France to talk about that test of endurance right before the race.
U of M med student reflects on 2 months behind the front lines in Ukraine
Also in August, a University of Minnesota medical student and EMT who had spent the last two months behind the front lines as a combat medic in the war in Ukraine arrived back in the state to prepare for his fall classes. This was 24-year-old Sergey Karachenets’ third trip abroad during the war. As he prepared to leave Ukraine, Karachenets reflected on his experience with us.
Relative of man who died on Lake Superior reacts to news of shipwreck's discovery
The discovery of the wreck of the freighter Henry Steinbrenner in Lake Superior made Madge Alberts teary-eyed and gave her goosebumps. The ship sank in a storm in 1953, killing 17 of its 31 crew members — including Alberts’ great-uncle, Earl Hemmingson.
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How the Minnesota mystery of 'Bloomfield bridge' was solved by a curious sleuth
Minnesota is full of iconic, beloved landmarks: The Stone Arch Bridge, Split Rock Lighthouse, the State Capitol. But there are lots of other functional landmarks we pass by every day. And the story of how one underused, nearly anonymous piece of architecture came to be was nearly lost to time and fading memories... until August. Tyler Vigen — who’s not a journalist, just a curious individual — sought out the story behind an oddly placed pedestrian bridge over I-494.
14-year-old wins 3M Young Scientist Challenge for developing skin cancer-treating soap
Heman Bekele is a ninth grader at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Va., who in October won the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge by developing Melanoma Treating Soap. He told us that the goal was to create an affordable and accessible skin cancer treatment. Bekele hopes to get the soap to market by 2025.
Meet the woman who discovered an invasive insect in Minnesota
Citizen scientist Krista Menzel describes herself as a “crazy bug lady” — and she’s the woman who discovered the presence of the Asiatic garden beetle in Minnesota last summer. Now, the Department of Agriculture is asking all Minnesotans to be on the lookout for it along with elm seed bugs.
The Jewish workout: Prepping for Rosh Hashanah
While not an interview, this intimate visit to a semi-chaotic kitchen in St. Paul introduced us to Becca and Evana Kvasnik preparing traditional Jewish delights for Rosh Hashanah. Becca Kvasnik is the granddaughter of the original Cecil from the iconic Cecil’s Deli in St. Paul. We joined them as they made 500 knishes for their family and a local synagogue.
Families flock to Richfield backyard for 'duck encounters'
Another non-interview took us to a Richfield backyard — home to ducks Gilly, Chelan and Lefse. We went along for a “duck encounter” with Craig and Dana Heinen’s friendly fowl in October. Click here for quacks and cuteness.
Transitioning to full-time caregiver, FOX 9 journalist Tom Lyden reflects on 30-year career
After 30 years on the air, long-time and award-winning investigative journalist Tom Lyden stepped away from news in September to become a full-time caregiver for his elderly mother in California. The care of older adults is falling more and more on the shoulders of family. While emotional, Lyden told us it’s been a wonderful transition.