August 8, 1977 - Twenty months ago, in November 1975, the giant ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald plunged to the bottom of Lake Superior during a storm. The marine board of investigation determined that the Fitzgerald's hatches failed, and the ship sank in a few seconds. This Options program is a collection of commentary, statements, and recordings describing the accident and its aftermath.
January 28, 1986 - Live coverage immediately after the space shuttle Challenger explosion. The shuttle exploded during ascension about a minute after launch. Program presents various reports and sounds upon aftermath of disaster. This was the 25th shuttle mission, and first loss in space shuttle program.
March 30, 1998 - A report on the tornadoes that destroyed large parts of St. Peter and Comfrey. Karen Louise Boothe gives an update on aftermath, followed by various interviews and accounts from listeners. This program was part one of Tornado Special, highlighting the areas impacted by tornado outbreak.
March 31, 1998 - A report on the tornadoes that went through southern Minnesota and destroyed large parts of St. Peter and Comfrey. Lynette Nyman gives an update on aftermath, followed by various interviews and accounts from listeners. This program was part two of Tornado Special, highlighting the areas impacted by tornado outbreak.
April 6, 1998 - Grand Forks mayor Pat Owens speaking to St. Peter residents at First Lutheran Church. Owens empathizes with St. Peter’s tornado disaster by reflecting on the devastating flooding that impacted Grand Forks the prior year. Program then turns to Vincent Harding speech on Martin Luther King, presented as part of coverage on 30th anniversary of King’s assassination, and his legacy.
April 15, 1998 - A special Mainstreet Radio program from East Grand Forks, one year after the flood. MPR's Laura McCallum provides a report on three residents of the Lincoln Drive neighborhood in East Grand Forks, an area severely impacted by the flooding. This is followed by Rachel Reabe interviewing several business people and families who were affected by the flood-- some who rebuilt, and some who moved away.
April 15, 1998 - A special Mainstreet Radio program from East Grand Forks, one year after the flood. Dan Gunderson provides a report of the flood disaster that took place last year. This is followed by Rachel Reabe interviewing Pat Owens, Grand Forks mayor; Lynn Stauss, East Grand Forks mayor; Cliff Barth, Breckenridge mayor; and Morris Lanning of the Red River Basin Coalition. Group answer listener questions.
May 19, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from the small community of Comfrey, Minnesota, following the destructive March tornadoes that struck the area. Mark Steil talks with residents and local officials about recovery, rebuilding, and remembering.
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.
December 31, 1998 - An MPR Special report, presenting the big Minnesota news stories of 1998. Highlights include Governor election, Comfrey and St. Peter tornado, farm crisis, mergers, the Northwest strike and the big tobacco trial. Program ends with brief remembrance segments on various individuals that made news in the year.