May 15, 2008 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik reports that former Governor Jesse Ventura said he's serious about a possible run for U.S. Senate, and he had harsh words for some of the other candidates already in the race. Comments were made when Ventura broke his boycott of the Minnesota broadcast media, appearing on Minnesota Public Radio's Midday program to talk about his latest book.
May 29, 2008 - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar says the nation isn't ready for a lower highway speed limit. Klobuchar met with Minnesota truckers to talk about high diesel prices. Diesel fuel is 70-percent higher than it was a year ago, and truckers say it's adding to the cost of practically everything. The Minnesota Trucking Association is calling for a national speed limit of 65-miles-per-hour. Senator Klobuchar told the truckers she hopes individuals will choose to reduce their speed to save gas and money, but Congress won't require it.
June 6, 2008 - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar gives speech at 2008 DFL state convention. Klobuchar speaks of various Democrat state candidates. She called for supporters of other Democratic presidential candidates to get behind Barack Obama in his run for presidency, whom she endorsed several months ago.
June 7, 2008 - U.S. Representative Keith Ellison speaking at DFL State Convention.
June 7, 2008 - As part of MPR Special Coverage, a recording of U.S. Representative Tim Walz speaking at DFL State Convention. Walz highlights a pen that he carries as a metaphor for his efforts as a legislator.
August 1, 2008 - A Midday MPR Special coverage program of memorial service, one year after I-35W bridge collapse. From the Basilica of St. Mary in downtown Minneapolis, Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota; R. T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis; Sally Dyck, United Methodist Church Bishop and president of the Minnesota Council of Churches; and Father John Bauer, co-pastor of Basilica of St. Mary speak in observance of the one-year anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse. Hour long service also includes songs, prayers and reflection.
August 6, 2008 - MPR’s Mark Steil reports on The Farmfest Congressional Forum near Redwood Falls. Two incumbents were there, Democrats Collin Peterson and Tim Walz; as well as a number of challengers from several congressional races around the state. During the forum at the annual agricultural show, the candidates spent most of their time on the federal farm program and the nation's energy policy.
August 14, 2008 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on Obama campaign focus on senior citizen votes. Report includes comments from Walter Mondale, former U.S. vice president; Josie Johnson, local civil rights leader; and Tom Steward, spokesperson for presidential candidate John McCain.
August 19, 2008 - Minnesota native L. Bruce Laingen was charge d'affaires of the American Embassy in Iran when radicals took over the building and held 52 Americans hostage from November 1979 to January 1981. Laingen is back in Minnesota to donate artifacts from that experience to the Minnesota Historical Society, and he joins Midday to talk about his experience during the hostage crisis.
August 21, 2008 - MPR’s Tom Crann talks with Lou Bellamy, artistic director at Penumbra Theatre, about the production of Fences by August Wilson.