April 1, 1978 - Minnesota Public Radio Capitol reporters Bob Potter and Jan Falstad produced this summary of the highlights of the 1978 Minnesota Legislature session. The 1978 legislative session was marked by its relative brevity, a greater-than-expected level of spending, and the intense fight over the abortion funding and family planning bills. There was also a host of minor bills to occupy legislators' time and attention.
May 1, 1978 - Special live program featuring state Senators Jack Davies (DFL, Minneapolis) and Robert Benedict (DFL, Bloomington) discussing the proposed legislation for initiative/referendum process in Minnesota. Davies and Benedict also answer listener questions.
May 22, 1978 - Joseph Alexander, incoming Department of Natural Resources commissioner discusses his plans for the DNR, including multiple use, BWCA, and conservation efforts.
October 24, 1978 - Gubernatorial debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters with the cooperation of Common Cause of Minnesota, held at the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center on the Macalester campus. First of three debates being held. This one features the DFL incumbent Governor Rudy Perpich, I-R nominee Al Quie, and American Party candidate Richard Peterson. Panelists are Dana Schroeder, co-publisher of the Grant County Herald; Arv Johnson, WCCO Radio government correspondent; and Ted Kolderie, executive director of the Citizens League, a non-partisan public affairs research organization in the Twin Cities. The moderator is Helene Borg, president of the League of Women Voters.
October 30, 1978 - League of Women Voters Senate debate, held at Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center at Macalester College in St. Paul, and sponsored by the League of Women Voters with the cooperation of Common Cause of Minnesota. Participants were Paul Helm, American Party candidate; Dave Durenberger, I-R candidate; and Bob Short, DFL candidate. Topics included taxes, BWCA, social issues, women’s rights, international affairs, and guns. Debate was moderated by Jerry Franck, president of the Minnesota chapter of Common Cause. Questions were asked by a group of three panelists representing print journalism, broadcast journalism and the public. Panelists included Gary Dawson, staff writer for the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press; Jane Belau, public affairs interviewer for channel 13 cable television in Rochester; and Barbara Stuhler, associate dean of Continuing Education and Extension at the University of Minnesota.
November 1, 1978 - Senate debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters with the cooperation of Common Cause of Minnesota, held at the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center on the Macalester campus. Features DFL, I-R and American Party candidates for the six-year Senate seat. DFL incumbent Wendell Anderson arranged his appointment to the rest of Walter Mondale's Senate term when Mondale was elected vice president. Ever since, Anderson has fared poorly in several public opinion surveys. His I-R challenger, Rudy Boschwitz, held a 20-point lead over Anderson in the early days of the campaign; but in the latest Minnesota Poll, that lead has been cut to just 3 percent. Boschwitz has mounted an aggressive, expensive campaign in his effort to defeat Anderson. The American Party candidate, Sal Carlone, is a private investigator and general contractor who has never before sought public office. Tonight's panelists are Steve Dornfeld, staff writer for the Minneapolis Tribune; Karen Boros, WCCO Television reporter; and Ann Darby, deputy director of community outreach programs for the Minneapolis Urban League. The moderator is Helene Borg, president of the League of Women Voters.
November 8, 1978 - Rudy Boschwitz speaking at press conference following his election to the U.S. Senate. Program begins with brief report from MPR’s Bob Potter on other election results.
January 29, 1979 - MPR’s Bob Potter reports live from the state capital on the Minnesota Senate Tax Committee, which is hearing witnesses on the proposed repeal of the metropolitan area liquor tax as it relates to the proposed downtown Minneapolis domed stadium. Witnesses include stadium opponent Senator Robert Ashbach, principal stadium supporter Senator Steve Keefe, among others.
March 14, 1979 - MPR’s Bob Potter and Dale Connelly report from the stadium hearing held by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Topics include various financial and lease negotiations with the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings regarding a new downtown stadium.
April 2, 1979 - MPR’s live coverage presenting introduction of bill prior to Minnesota House debate and vote on bill S.F. 20, which would repeal the 2% sports stadium commission liquor tax on on-sale liquor in the seven-county metro area. Includes speech by state representative Ray W. Fariscy and partial speech by state representative Lee Greenfield.