July 25, 1997 - Cable television subscribers in Winona will soon have a choice of cable providers if the Winona City Council approves a franchise agreement with a local company on Monday. Once the new company lays cable around the city, Winona will become one of the few small cities in the nation with competing cable providers. But it may be part of a growing trend as cable, telephone, and internet companies vie with each other for direct access to people's homes through fiber optic cables. Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports on how competition will affect subscribers and why it developed in Winona.
July 25, 1997 - Police say six years ago, there were eight so-called saunas and health clubs operating illegally in St. Paul. Lee Lenore's was the last one. But in Minneapolis, some neighborhood saunas are still up and running, in addition to legal strip joints and dirty book and video stores. Such businesses are intentionally confined to the Warehouse district downtown. The city council is considering new laws designed to address both the illegal and the legal sex industry. Minneapolis City Councilmember Joe Biernat and the commander of Saint Paul's vice unit, Lieutenant Richard Iffert, explain exactly what goes on in these places.
July 28, 1997 - Midday examines the growth in popularity of organic food and locally-produced food with guests Edward Brown, produce manager at the Wedge Co-Op in Minneapolis, and Greg Reynolds, who owns and operates Riverbend Farm in Delano. Listeners call in with questions.
August 7, 1997 - Midday rebroadcasts a Minnesota Public Radio documentary produced by MPR’s Mark Heistad. The Strike is On! is an oral history of the early labor movement in Minnesota, with emphasis on the struggle to organize Iron Range workers, Austin’s Hormel strike, the Minneapolis truckers strike of 1934, and more.
August 18, 1997 - The ELCA's failure to approve a closer relationship with the Episcopal Church comes as no surprise to the 820,000 ELCA Lutherans in Minnesota. In fact, as Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports, many Minnesota Lutherans wonder why the proposed "concordat" with Episcopalians got as far as it did.
August 18, 1997 - At his news conference this afternoon in Philadelphia, ELCA bishop H. George Anderson took questions on today's split vote, and looked to the future.
August 18, 1997 - The Minnesota State Fair starts this Thursday and the fairgrounds are alive with activity in preparation for opening day. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik interviews various members at the State Fair on what this year holds.
August 19, 1997 - The Minnesota Brewing Company is making what it describes as an unprecedented advertising effort by paying the University of Minnesota $75,000 a year for the next three years for promotional space. You'll see the Grain Belt Premium logo at all the Gophers' games, and in many bars and restaurants alongside the Gopher's logo. It may seem natural to pair a local product with a local team, but is it wise policy to advertise alcohol at events sure to be attended by thousands of underage students? Minnesota Brewing Company president Jack Lee shares his thoughts on the deal.
August 19, 1997 - United Parcel Service says it will start ramping up to full service tomorrow now that it appears as though a strike is drawing to an end. Labor is claiming victory in the tentative settlement and observers say the struggling labor movement stands to benefit from the walkout. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.
August 20, 1997 - Over the last two years dozens of communities around the state have constructed indoor hockey rinks with help from the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. But the ice rink boom may be coming to an end. Communities don't seem quite as eager to get their hands on the "Mighty Ducks" grants, named after the "all-heart" hockey pee-wees of the popular Disney movies. One town has even voted down a Mighty Ducks project. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham reports.