Created in 1987, Mainstreet Radio held a mission of reporting specifically from rural Minnesota to all of Minnesota. With an introductory staff of Rachel Reabe, Leif Enger, and John Biewen, the group developed both long and short form news features as part of MPR Journal and Morning Edition broadcasts. As the years progressed, Mainstreet Radio expanded both in reporter contributions and programming, with memorable work from the likes of Mark Steil and Catherine Winter, amongst others. Beginning in the 1990s, Mainstreet Radio presented a monthly two-hour special, focusing on issues outside the Twin Cities metro. The varied Mainstreet Radio programming ran into the mid-2000s.
Mainstreet Radio presented a breadth of topics, providing an avenue for individuals from all walks of life to be heard. These efforts garnered numerous journalistic awards, including 65 national and regional awards in its first 10 years (1987-97).
Award-winning material in “special programs,” “series,” or “documentary” categories include Meth in Minnesota; Against the Grain; Dancing on Beat: Portrait of a Reservation Family; After the Flood; An Education in Diversity; Rekindling the Spirit: The Rebirth of American Indian Spirituality; Wilderness Truce: Ely 10 Years Later; Making the Grade: Rural schools the work; The Rural School Challenge; Broken Trust: Civil Rights in Indian Country; Gold: New Prospects on the Iron Range; and Articles of Faith.
Award-winning material in the category of “reporting” include Frog Music; Pumpkinland; Four Winds Treatment Center; Deer Hunting Weekend; Border Check for Poachers; Mille Lacs Fishing Launch; Loon Habitat; House Call Doctor; Geritol Frolics; Cartwright's Calendar; Ice-Fishing on Mille Lacs; Mercury Fillets; and A Place for the Wolf.
November 9, 1989 - As part of the Mainstreet Radio series “Rural Health Care,” Leif Enger reports on how rural health administration officials have found creative ways in bringing in money with non-traditional duties.
November 10, 1989 - As part of the Mainstreet Radio series “Rural Health Care,” John Biewen reports from Mankato’s Immanuel Saint Joseph's Hospital, a regional hospital that is used as a resource to surrounding rural communities without local hospital specialty options. Biewen also looks at Mankato physicians traveling into rural areas.
December 18, 1989 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports from Dorset, Minnesota, a place with a plate full in the number of restaurants. Owners call it the “food capitol of the world.” Everyone is there to eat.
December 27, 1989 - A Mainstreet Radio special from southwestern Minnesota town of Madison. MPR’s John Biewen presents a documentary entitled, "We're Not Dying," which highlights how the town survived the 1980’s farm crisis.
January 9, 1990 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports on the upturn of wind turbines in the Red River Valley. Enger talks with users, suppliers, and energy officials about the potential future of this alternative energy source.
March 15, 1990 - Mainstreet Radio’s Rachel Reabe profiles a group of women known as the “Birch Crew.” The group work cutting and collecting birch tops within the north central Minnesota forests. Reabe interviews several crew members about the hard work.
March 16, 1990 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger takes a tour in northern Minnesota on the Northwest Regional Library bookmobile. It’s a bumpy ride for those in the vehicle, but a worthwhile trip for the many readers within the rural expanse.
March 27, 1990 - On this Midday program, a presentation of a Mainstreet Radio report on rural Minnesota and the debate on how it should be viewed and described. Following report, MPR’s Bob Potter has a conversation with Paul Gruchow, local author and reporter; and George Donohue, a rural sociologist at the University of Minnesota about the differences between rural and urban Minnesota and answer listener questions.
May 9, 1990 - Mainstreet Radio’s Rachel Reabe profiles Steve and Deb Heuer, whose work as bovine sitters. The Minnesota couple are for hire to assist dairy farmers who are away from their farms for a period of time and need someone to watch, feed, and milk the cows.
May 15, 1990 - As part of a series on Bemidji race relations, Mainstreet Radio reporter Leif Enger looks at the Bemidji Indian Employment Council, which helps Native Americans overcome job discrimination when looking for employment in the area.