April 4, 1989 - Midday highlights the controversy surrounding an increase in the minimum wage. It's being debated in the individual states and in the Congress - the U.S. House recently voted to increase the minimum wage, and the Senate is expected to take up the issue this week. The Bush administration has threatened a veto if the bill is not to its liking. Program begins with an independently produced documentary called "Minimum Wage: Maximum Controversy". Documentary is followed with MPR’s Bob Potter talking with Ken Peterson, Minnesota's Labor and Industry Commissioner; and John Fossum, director of the Industrial Relations Center at the University of Minnesota. "Minimum Wage: Maximum Controversy" was written and produced by Carlos Davidson, an independent producer in California. The narrator was Charles Bloomer. Funding was provided by the Eastman Fund, The Funding Exchange, Nu Lambda Trust, the Skaggs Foundation and the Vanguard Foundation.
April 19, 1989 - MPR’s Stephen Smith and Tom Meersman present “Burning the Needles,” a documentary report on the issues of medical waste and the challenges in how to dispose of it.
May 9, 1989 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports on the concern over contaminants such as mercury, PCBs, and dioxin in northern Minnesota fish. Some are concerned that the contaminated fish might cause a decrease in fishing and tourism, but others said there are simply nothing to worry about.
May 10, 1989 - Michael Wright, CEO of Supervalu and chairman of the Minnesota Business Partnership and finance commissioner; and Tom Triplett, state finance commissioner of Minnesota, discuss state and local government spending and taxes. Topic of cap on state spending campaign is highlighted. Wright and Triplett also answer listener questions.
August 9, 1989 - MPR’s Kate Smith reports on Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium, also known as MECC, which is being placed up for sale by the state. The corporation has helped Minnesota schools with software at cost, but legislators are looking to sell the company.
September 2, 1989 - Hyman Berman, history professor at University of Minnesota, discusses Minnesota's colorful labor history and the context that provides for current labor issues. Berman also answers listener questions.
September 18, 1989 - MPR’s Tom Meersman reports on thriving Minnesota presses publishing poetry, essays, and other literature. Meersman interviews members of Milkweed Editions and Graywolf Press, who state that strong audiences are behind the positive literary business climate.
September 20, 1989 - MPR’s Chris Tetlin reports on the increasing amount of employer monitoring of the forty-million people that use computers in their work. Tetlin talks with employees, management, and academics on their views regarding computer monitoring.
October 3, 1989 - Al Checchi, new owner of Northwest Airlines, speaking to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Checchi’s address was on his personal and business values, and the challenges ahead for Northwest Airlines.
October 11, 1989 - Barber Conable, president of World Bank, speaking at Minnesota Meeting. Conable’s address was titled “Fighting Poverty, Encouraging Growth and Protecting the Environment: The World Bank's Agenda for the 1990s.” Following address, Conable answered audience questions. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.