MPR News Features are news segments created for various long-form programming, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, amongst others. Features run the gambit of interviews, reports, profiles, and coverage.
September 4, 1975 - MPR’s Bill Siemering presents a feature on the Poetry Out Loud program in Minnesota. Siemering interviews John C. Rezmerski, the coordinator of poetry readings in local communities, who highlights the importance of poets in conversation with their audiences.
September 17, 1975 - MPR’s Bill Siemering interviews Marisha Chamberlain, St. Paul's Poet in Residence, about her experience teaching poetry to mentally handicapped communities.
September 19, 1975 - Includes Lieutenant Gary McGaughey and Representative Ray Faricy.
October 2, 1975 - Organic farmer Earl Cunningham equates natural soil "with the Creator" and chemically treated soil as "prostituted." He takes John Gostivitch, an agricultural economist from the University of Minnesota; and Charles Reinert, a citizen member of the state's pesticide task force, on a tour of his crops.
October 2, 1975 - Private support isn't enough to support the arts any more says Judson Bemis, Twin Cities' representative for the Upper Midwest National Committee for Cultural Resources. State and federal money is needed. The arts improve neighborhoods and improve real estate values. Also, the arts need to be shared with outstate Minnesota, which takes money. Polly Brown of the Guthrie chimes in.
October 3, 1975 - Lawmakers heard from many camps--students, teachers and parents--about changing the Minnesota drinking age back to 21. DFLer Ray Faricy proposes school education to combat drinking problems and also raising the age to 19 rather than 18.
October 15, 1975 - MPR’s Dick Daly interviews U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar about his proposed idea to expand the Boundary Waters Canoe Area that would comprise both a wilderness and a national recreation area by act of Congress.
October 16, 1975 - A presidential primary bill passed the House but did not receive a hearing in the Senate. It would have set April 6 as a primary date. Rick Scott (title unknown) says a primary comes too early, but the caucus system works well. Senator Skip Humphrey offered a bill to create a "regional" primary, grouping Minnesota with WI, the Dakotas and Iowa. Also in capitol news, a bill was passed restricting commercial development in the BWCA.
October 18, 1975 - Unknown speaker says more Republican candidates would come forward if Hubert Humphrey weren't in the race.
October 31, 1975 - Pro-Equal Rights Amendment attorneys Irene Scott and Mary Sfasciotti speak in Duluth to clear up misconceptions of the Equal Rights Amendment, and to explain the benefits of such a measure.