Simply Superior, April 23, 2021

Remembering Walter Mondale: Host Robin Washington talks with regional political figures as well as everyday folks about their personal encounters with the former United States vice president on his many visits to the area, both for political work and to enjoy the outdoors, on this edition of “Simply Superior.”

Also on this week’s show, two years ago, Phil Gilpin made the rounds in Duluth and the region to tout his Independent Television Festival, now renamed Catalyst, as an economic engine after relocating the event from Vermont. Now, recently released tax records show the nonprofit to be $406,000 in debt – nearly double the deficit the event brought from Vermont, after receiving at least $280,000 in public money from government entities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Washington, who broke the story of Catalyst’s indebtedness in June 2019, began this two-part series with last week’s review of Catalyst’s finances. Hear the response from the festival’s treasurer in this second installment.

Rounding out the show is a look back at the week’s news highlights. Washington is joined by WPR reporter Danielle Kaeding and the Star Tribune’s Brooks Johnson for a review of the biggest news moments of the past week.