July 30, 1979 - MPR reporter John Ydstie presents sound portrait of a powwow celebration. Ydstie went to the White Earth Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota and recorded various interviews and performances from the Ojibwe cultural event.
August 18, 1979 - MPR’s John Gaddo reports on President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Wabasha, Minnesota. Segment includes clip of an energy speech by President Carter, followed by a group birthday celebration for Rosalynn Carter and comments from people in the crowd about the visit.
August 24, 1979 - MPR’s Dan Olson and Rich Dietman visit the National Weather Service office. They talk to meteorologist John Graff and others who explain their forecasting equipment, the costs of the operations, trends in weather, and other aspects of their work.
October 4, 1979 - MPR’s Dan Olson interviews experts on what organic farming is and what its value is. The group includes Margery Peterson, principal author of a Minnesota Department of Agriculture publication on organic farming; Marilyn Larson of the Organic Growers and Buyers association; Lester Frohip, an organic farmer from Southwestern Minnesota; and Russell Adams, Jr., a soil biochemist at the University of Minnesota.
November 19, 1979 - Robert Jewett, author of "The Captain America Complex: The Dilemma of Zealous Nationalism," lectures at the University of LaCrosse on how superheros are part of the nation's religion and US foreign policy were developed from biblical interpretations.
December 22, 1979 - MPR’s Rich Dietman presents a sound print of what Christmas is in other countries. Segments include music and discussion with Willa Ramos (Mexico), Theodora Geokazus (Greece), Maria Moran (Philippines), and Florence Hart (Scotland). The group share the different traditions and celebrations.
December 29, 1979 - Midday presents the documentary “Trampled Grass.” MPR’s Greg Barron accompanied a team of medical doctors and nurses from Minnesota as they worked in Cambodian refugee camps along Thailand's border with Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge-controlled state that controlled Cambodia from 1975 until 1979.
March 28, 1980 - MPR’s Tom Meersman reports on a conference about refugees resettling in Minnesota and how Laotian refugees are dealing with the many obstacles in adapting and thriving in United States. Economic, generational, and equality issues are topics highlighted in report.
May 2, 1980 - MPR’s Tom Meersman reports on arrival of Laotian refugee plane. The exhausted passengers exit plane and enter a new and overwhelming home.
May 9, 1980 - MPR’s Tom Meersman interviews a Hmong refugee upon their arrival in Minnesota. Interviewee describes the life left behind and the uncertainty of what lies ahead for family in St. Paul.