October 24, 1997 - On the 50th anniversary of the opening week of the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings on Communism in America, Midday looks at the time period often known as "The McCarthy Era."
October 29, 1997 - Midday features a discussion with candidates for mayor of Minneapolis…current Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton; and her challenger, former Minneapolis council member Barbara Carlson. Topics include crime, city investment, education, and local economy. Belton and Carlson also answer listener call-in questions.
October 30, 1997 - As part of a collection of profile reports on candidates for Minneapolis mayor, MPR’s Dan Olson looks at incumbent Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and her political tenure in the city.
November 5, 1997 - Midday discusses 1998 election results with political analysts Bob Meek, a Democrat; and Nancy Longley, a Republican, to get their perspectives. Topics include Twin Cities mayoral races. Listeners call in with questions.
November 14, 1997 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports that in the aftermath of the Minnesota lawmakers' vote to defeat the Twins stadium bill (voting 84 to 47 against the package), Governor Arne Carlson has offered a eulogy of sorts, seeing it as the "last, best hope" to keep the baseball team in Minnesota.
November 17, 1997 - Bestselling author and historian Stephen Ambrose is in the Midday studios to talk about his role in the PBS series Lewis and Clark and his book about World War II titled Citizen Soldiers: The US Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany. Program includes Listener call-in questions.
November 18, 1997 - Midday examines Y2K, the year 2000 computer problem. Is it a $600 billion dollar disaster that will trap us in elevators, cause planes to crash, and banks to fail? Or something the computer geeks can fix if they get going on it soon enough? Host Gary Eichten interviews Mohinder Goswami, president of Advanced Information Network Systems, Inc. of Rockville, Maryland. Listeners call in with questions.
November 21, 1997 - Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone joins Midday to talk about his completed "Poverty Tour" and his possible campaign for president. Wellstone also answer listener questions about issues before the U.S. Congress.
November 27, 1997 - On this Midday call-in program, a focus on questions about charitable giving…Who we help and why we help? Does the help make a difference in people's lives? Studio guest Major Robert Thomson, the northern division secretary of the Salvation Army in Minnesota and North Dakota, answers these and other questions from listeners.
December 2, 1997 - Leigh Kamman, long-time host of The Jazz Image, reflects on the artistry of the late great French violinist Stephane Grappelli. Listener also call-in with comments and questions.