July 2, 1998 - Midday presents a broadcast of the Minnesota Citizens’ Forum gubernatorial debate held within state office building at State Capitol. The six DFL candidates, Skip Humphrey III, Doug Johnson, Mark Dayton, Mike Freeman, Ted Mondale, John Marty, and Independent candidate, Jesse Ventura, attended. (Republican Norm Coleman did not accept invitation) Candidates spoke and answered questions from four groups of citizen panelists gathered throughout the state. Lori Sturdevant, of the Star Tribune, moderated debate.
July 3, 1998 - It's said that some of the best fishing is found between the covers of a book. Angling literature is almost as old as the sport itself. Writer Jerry Dennis' new book, "The River Home: An Angler's Explorations", links fishing to home and our relationship with nature.
July 7, 1998 - Baseball analyst provides a detailed breakdown of the Minnesota Twins roster. While the team is not a contender in 1998, they still seem to be overachieving despite the many challenges team has been contending with, including a small payroll and talk of moving. Stand outs on team include Brad Radke and David Ortiz.
July 8, 1998 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone will joins Midday from Washington to talk about his presidential bid, health care, jobs legislation. Other issues coming before Congress are also addressed. Wellstone answers listener questions.
July 9, 1998 - In his new book, Bemidji novelist Kevin McColley begins to tell the story of an unsolved murder in a small Minnesota town but it becomes a story on the indignities of old age. "Praying to a Laughing God", which has been nominated for a national book award, is a bit of a change for McColley. His first four novels were aimed at young people, but his new book deals with the problems of a much older generation.
July 10, 1998 - One more house was demolished in St. Peter. It was old...built in the 1860's...and in need of restoration, but still, it was someone's home until the March 29th tornado. MPR's Lynette Nyman interviews the owner, Tom Gravelin, as she follows him through the recovery. His business is back up...while his home has finally come down. Frequently referred to as the 1998 Comfrey–St. Peter tornado outbreak, 14 tornadoes (including an F3 & F4) wrought destruction in southern Minnesota on March 29, 1998. More than 3,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes. The towns of St. Peter and Comfrey were utterly devastated. Storms left two people dead and dozens injured.
July 10, 1998 - On this Midday program, nationally known political commentator Carl Rowan addresses the American Association of Retired Persons. Rowan speaks on his early days as a writer for the Minneapolis Tribune and reflects on the battle over affirmative action in America.
July 17, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from Ely, Minnesota. Program highlights the northern Minnesota town and the BWCA, twenty years after major Congressional legislation in 1978…a controversial Act that banned mining, logging and most motor use. In this first hour of program, MPR’s Rachel Reabe interviews Mark Van Every and Barb Soderberg, representatives from the National Forest Service; and canoe outfitters John Waters and Gary Gotchnik about the various aspects of the BWCA.
July 17, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from Ely, Minnesota. Program highlights the northern Minnesota town and the BWCA, twenty years after major Congressional legislation in 1978…a controversial Act that banned mining, logging and most motor use. In this second hour of program, MPR’s Rachel Reabe interviews Mike Hillman, a local historian, and Jim Krile, Director of the Blandin Community Leadership Program.
July 17, 1998 - MPR’s Leif Enger takes a look at the BWCA twenty years after legislation to protect it, and the divide in viewpoints on the land that have existed throughout the 20th century. Segment includes various interviews and commentary.