April 22, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil reports that some citizens in southeast Minnesota are upset the Department of Natural Resources has spent a million dollars to buy a farm bordering the Mississippi River. DNR officials counter the land is worth protecting, calling it a scenic treasure state residents will be able to enjoy forever.
April 23, 1996 - Midday presents a live broadcast from the National Press Club featuring Charles Lewis, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity. Lewis recently authored a report called "Under the Influence: The 1996 Presidential Candidates and Their Campaign Advisors."
April 25, 1996 - Midday presents a live broadcast of the Westminster Town Hall Forum, featuring author and Washington Post editorialist Juan Williams. Williams talks about the absence of the issue of race in presidential politics.
April 26, 1996 - Midday presents Rockin The Boat, a PRI documentary on South Africa's journey from apartheid to democracy. In 1994, South Africa held its first all-race multi-party elections, putting an end to decades of minority rule. This program traces South Africa's path through the apartheid years with the voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Johnny Clegg, and more.
May 1, 1996 - MPR’s Gar Eichten interviews U.S. Senator Rod Grams about raising gas taxes across the country and discussion of repeal of federal gas tax increase.
May 3, 1996 - Midday examines proposals to change the way campaign advertising is done with guests Dean Alger, political science professor and member of the Minnesota Compact Coalition; and Sarah Janecek, co-author of the newsletter "Politics in Minnesota."
May 6, 1996 - Midday examines land mines and their disastrous effects. In the first half of the program, a rebroadcast of the Minnesota Public Radio documentary about about efforts to clear land mines in Cambodia called A Plague of Plastic Soldiers. Afterwards, a call-in program about land mines and defense and military procurement issues with David Evans, director of National Defense Issues for Business Executives for National Security.
May 6, 1996 - Congressman Bruce Vento has introduced legislation to provide greater wilderness protection for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyaguers National Park. The bill is intended to counter legislation introduced by Representative James Oberstar to increase motorized use of the two areas.
May 7, 1996 - Lisa Peterson, vice-president of government relations at Minnesota Trucking Association, discusses reasons organization and its members want gas tax cut.
May 8, 1996 - Midday presents a special Talk of Minnesota program to hear the views of Minnesota Public Radio listeners on the proposed cut in the federal gas tax repeal and energy conservation in general.