July 26, 1979 - Kenneth Young, Director of the Department of Court Services, Hennepin County; Cindy Turnure, Director of Research for the Crime Commission Planning Board; and Ray Cummings, Director of Planning and Evaluation for Court Services talks with MPR’s Dan Olson about crime in Minnesota. Topics include FBI study noting 17% increase in national crime statistics.
August 8, 1979 - Michael Fedo, author, talks with Claudia Hampsten, talks with author Michael Fedo about his book They Was Just Niggers about the the Duluth lynching of three Black men in 1920. Fedo describes how it affected the community and attitudes long after the murders of the young men. [Content Warning: some content, language, and statements used in this story may be triggering to listeners]
August 11, 1979 - On this regional public affairs program, C. Donald Peterson, Minnesota State Supreme Court justice; John Finnegan, executive editor at St. Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch; and Marshall Tannick, Minneapolis attorney and former journalist, discuss a number of 1979 court decisions affecting first amendment press rights including freedom of the press, the right to privacy, and the people's right to know.
August 13, 1979 - Midday presents “The Way to 8-A,” a documentary sound portrait on the involuntary commitment to Hennepin County General Hospital's Ward 8-A, a psychiatric ward. Program looks at the people being committed, those doing the committing, the staff, and the entire process of involuntary commitment.
September 19, 1979 - On this segment of People On Books, Judge Donald Peterson reviews The Witness Who Spoke With God and Other Tales from the Courthouse by Milton S. Gould.
October 9, 1979 - Documentary that explores the attempts by South Dakota Native Americans to win more complete sovereignty from state and federal governments. A collection of various interviews. Topics include Sun Dance ritual, treaties, and courts.
October 26, 1979 - On this segment of People On Books, Mark Swanholm reviews Life, Law and Letters by Louis Auchincloss.
October 30, 1979 - A Midday broadcast of John M. Bach, a coworker with Reverend Philip Berrigan, speaking as part of the Prisons and Prisoners lecture series at Moorhead State College, held in the fall of 1973. Bach shared views from a prisoner perspective.
November 9, 1979 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with reporter Pat Kessler about St. Paul Police press conference regarding plot to kidnap Minnesota Governor Al Quie. Segment includes clips from press conference, which notes suspects as students from Mankato State.
November 9, 1979 - MPR reporter Pat Kessler shares information about plot to kidnap Minnesota Governor Al Quie. Kessler details information from a St. Paul Police press conference.