October 2, 1998 - Childhood memories can be at times a comfort or sometimes a scourge. However there is no real guarentee they are ever accurate. Canadian author Andre Alexis, who was born in Trinidad, explores how time and circumstances can change how and what we remember. Alexis told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr his novel Childhood is quite different from more famous literary accounts of childhood.
October 5, 1998 - To football fans, the real story of the day isn't the impeachment inquiry, it's the big Vikings-Packers game tonight. The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings meet tonight at Lambeau Field in the battle of the unbeaten NFC teams. Each team has 4 wins, no losses. The Packers face the challenge of running their Lambeau Field winning streak to 30. We asked long-time Vikings season ticket holder Dave Lutz to preview the game for us. Lutz says while the Vikings look strong this year, he's still predicting they have LESS than a fifty percent chance of winning.
October 5, 1998 - Tonight the Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings in a nationally broadcast game. Both teams are undefeated this year and tonight's game will produce a new leader in the NFC Central Division. As Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, the long running rivalry between Vikings and Packers fans is adding to interest in the game.
October 7, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls. In this second hour of program on Minnesota's wetlands and waterfowl, Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion on hunting in the wetlands with Doug Wells, wildlife manager at the Fergus Falls office of Natural Resources; and Tom Brimhall, chairman of the local Ducks Unlimited. Reabe then interviews John House, wildlife artist, and winner of DNR duck stamp contest.
October 7, 1998 - Timberwolves players aren't at training camp this week. The NBA has locked the players out of training camp and cancelled the pre-season games. Players and owners are at odds over player salaries. Labor negotiatons resume tomorrow but the two sides are far apart. Bob Stein is someone who's got insight into both sides of the lockout. He served as CEO of the Timberwolves from 1986 to 1995 and before that represented players as a sports agent, and was professional athlete for 8 years. Stein says thanks to the TV revenues the owners are continuing to receive, both sides might be able to dig in for a while.
October 7, 1998 - The Yellowstone Bison herd has plenty of friends in the Twin Cities, if testimony at a hearing in Bloomington is any indication. A National Park Service hearing on the fate of the bison herd attracted the highest turnout of any of the 13 held around the country. The overwhelming majority spoke against the killing of bison.
October 12, 1998 - Back in the mid-sixties, garage rock bands such as the Trashmen, the Castaways, the Del Counts, and the Gestures were churning out one hit after another. That era has been captured on a 2 CD set called "The Big Hits of Mid-America... The Soma Records Story," produced by Steve Wilson, local pop historian. MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews Wilson, as well as Trashmen guitarist Tony Andreason, to help us re-live the memories.
October 14, 1998 - It's been ten months since welfare reform went into effect across Minnesota. This week Minnesota Public Radio is examining the impact of the changes, and what their long-term effects are likely to be. Welfare reform has posed special challenges for immigrants in Minnesota. Language and cultural barriers have made job counseling and training more difficult. In the initial rush to the new system, many of these needs were not considered. In Duluth, panic and confusion about welfare reform -- combined with the booming job market of the Twin Cities -- caused many Southeast Asian families to leave the region. Advocates are holding out hope they'll return.
October 15, 1998 - Good or bad, "diversity" is one of today's watchwords. At Como Park High School in Saint Paul, the boy's varsity soccer team has become a model of diversity. And it happened when nobody was looking ... without quotas or special training. The Como Park Cougars lost yesterday to end the regular season with a 12-and-4 record. Tonite, they play their first playoff game against a crosstown rival.
October 22, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on reaction in Hibbing towards hometown native Bob Dylan, and his October 22nd concert in Duluth. Segment includes commentary from local residents and visiting fans.