June 12, 1998 - A grain elevator exploded in Plainview, Minnesota this morning, about 20 miles northeast of Rochester. No one was hurt but it knocked out power and phone service to the town's downtown. The Doane (DOAN) Grain Services Incorporated elevator burned for about two hours. Authorities aren't sure what caused the explosion. The Plainview explosion comes just days after a grain elevator explosion in Wichita, Kansas killed five people. One man is still missing. Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration manager and former grain elevator inspector Terry Mueller (Myoo-ler) says most explosions are caused by some sort of friction in the mechnics of the elevator which ignites the grain dust.
July 7, 1998 - Kurt Johnson, chair of the Twin Cities Project on Media and the Public, discusses its new report on restoring trust in the media and improving the quality of local news reporting. Johnson also answers listener questions.
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 - 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.
July 20, 1998 - Lowell Pratt, President of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities; Ray Waldron, President of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council; and Harry Melander of the St. Paul Building Trades Council, discuss shortage of construction workers in the region and outlook for the construction trades. Group also answers listener calls. The program begins with a report from MPR’s Cara Hetland on the construction dilemma impacting Spencer, South Dakota and St. Peter, Minnesota, in the aftermath of tornados.
July 21, 1998 - Michael Cox, Vice President and Economic Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas discusses his new report, "Time Well Spent: The Declining Real Cost of Living in America." Cox explains study that states while prices have gone up over the years, the cost of living is more modest than in past. Cox also answers listener questions.
July 22, 1998 - Steve Correll and Vicki Tobin, representatives of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, discuss how criminal background checks are done, and their effectiveness. Main topic is on checks done during a hiring process. Correll and Tobin also answer listener questions.
July 24, 1998 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports that the Minnesota Twins and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission have agreed to a short term two-year lease at Metrodome. While it does not solve anything, it does allow time for continuing new stadium options.
July 28, 1998 - Robert McGregor, the President of the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility, discusses business ethics. Focus of discussion is "The Minnesota Principles Toward An Ethical Basis For Global Business" (aka - The Minnesota Principles). McGregor also answers listener questions. Robert McGregor, the President of the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility, discusses business ethics. Focus of discussion is "The Minnesota Principles Toward An Ethical Basis For Global Business" (aka - The Minnesota Principles). McGregor also answers listener questions.
August 12, 1998 - Chris Farrell, MPR’s senior business and economic editor, and Art Rolnick of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, discuss decline on Wall Street and the economy --and the impact on Minnesota. Farrell and Rolnick also answer listener questions.