October 2, 1997 - The Timberwolves players are presenting a united front today, after the long-awaited announcement about Garnett's historic contract, but at least one onlooker says it has great potential to divide the ranks. Andrew Zimbalist is a professor of economics at Smith College. His latest book, "Sports, Jobs and Taxes" is due out next week. Zimbalist explains that, first, there are only twelve guys on a basketball team, compared to 25 for baseball and 45 for football, meaning you can spend more on each one. The second is an end-run around the salary cap called the Larry Bird exception.
October 9, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger takes a look back to 1989, when 500 union supporters rioted in the northern border town of International Falls. The city's largest employer, Boise Cascade, was building a huge expansion of their papermill…and bringing in thousands of non-union workers to do it. The town was divided: while local businesses boomed like never before, union workers and their families felt betrayed.
October 14, 1997 - Midday guest Andrew Tobias, a personal finance writer, talks about his book My Vast Fortune. Tobias wrote the best-selling book The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need, and beginning in the fall, is the host of a public television series Beyond Wall Street. Listeners call in with questions.
October 17, 1997 - Midday examines the quality of new home construction in Minnesota, including how to determine good quality and how to deal with faulty construction with guests Dean Flackey, the president of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities and contractor with Lifestyle Homes; and Scott Borchert, of the State Commerce Department, which oversees building contractors. Listeners call in with questions.
October 30, 1997 - As part of a collection of profile reports on candidates for Minneapolis mayor, MPR’s Dan Olson looks at incumbent Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and her political tenure in the city.
November 7, 1997 - Midday offers another program in the continuing "Voices of Minnesota" interview series, featuring conversations with Andre Lewis of the Honeywell Foundation; Win Wallin of Medtronic; and Dominique Serrand of Theatre de la Jeune Lune.
November 14, 1997 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports that in the aftermath of the Minnesota lawmakers' vote to defeat the Twins stadium bill (voting 84 to 47 against the package), Governor Arne Carlson has offered a eulogy of sorts, seeing it as the "last, best hope" to keep the baseball team in Minnesota.
November 14, 1997 - A collection of excerpted commentary from Minneapolis residents being interviewed regarding news that the Minnesota Twins could be leaving after failure to secure a new stadium deal in Minnesota legislative session.
November 20, 1997 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles the Gay 90’s and the unanticipated consequences of non-gay crowd changing the scene at Minneapolis bar. Roberts interviews individuals about the reasons and its social impact to LGBTQ community.
January 14, 1998 - MPR’s Leif Enger reports on cold weather tourism on the Gun Flint Trail, and the debates of what exactly that should be. Report includes various interviews and commentary.