December 4, 1996 - A mediation committee has failed to reach agreement on a plan to revise management of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness. The committee negotiating the best uses for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area struggled to find any consensus after a proposal once considered a possible compromise was rejected by some Ely area residents and those who want to expand the wilderness.
December 6, 1996 - Negotiations in the federal mediation of the Boundary Waters issue are taking some time off after 14 non-consecutive days of negotiations. After months of discussion it seems there are still large disagreements over basic issues. In fact, one of the participants, Bill Hansen, a second generation canoe outfitter, has proposed just sticking with the status quo.
December 13, 1996 - Midday airs the Governor's "State of the Arts" address", given Thursday at the Children's Theater in Minneapolis. Guest is State Senator Dick Cohen (DFL-St. Paul), chairman of the State Government Finance Committee which will oversee the budget of the State Arts Board.
December 18, 1996 - George Latimer, a Democrat and former St. Paul mayor, shares his positive views on Norm Coleman, St. Paul’s mayor since 1994. Coleman changed parties (from Democrat to Republican) after being elected.
December 19, 1996 - MPR’s Chris Farrell talks about the controversy over adjusting the Consumer Price Index and the economic, political, and personal finance implications of these changes. Dale Jorgenson, professor of economics department at Harvard University and a member of the Commission which concluded that the CPI overstates inflation; and Judith Brown, former president of AARP, join Farrell to discuss CPI.
December 30, 1996 - Hour 2 of Midmorning, featuring Voices of Minnesota with Nathaniel Khaliq, the president of St. Paul's NAACP. He's a longtime community activist and anti-drug crusader.
January 6, 1997 - Midday guests Peter Hart and Bill McInturff, national polling experts, answer questions about polling and talk about their new poll of Minnesota business leaders' opinions on dozens of issues, covering everything from Governor Carlson and taxes, to a stadium for the Twins and the quality of education.
January 7, 1997 - On the opening day of the Minnesota Legislature, a Midday discussion with key legislators on the major issues coming up this session: taxes, welfare reform, education, crime, and Twins stadium. Program also includes an interview with Governor Arne Carlson about his hopes for the 1997-98 and a short profile on two new legislators.
January 7, 1997 - Minnesota's political attention is turning to taxes, welfare reform, stadium funding and education. Those are among the serious policy issues Minnesota legislators will be debating over the next several months. Frequently lost among the bills, vetoes and deals are the personal stories of the legislators themselves, who re-arrange their lives each session to do the peoples' work. Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon spoke with a brand new lawmaker and a six-year St Paul veteran about the beginning of a new session. Bob Westfall, a new Republican state representative from Rothsay in western Minnesota, has no grand vision for his first term.
January 9, 1997 - Midday looks at the proposal for a new Twins ballpark and the surrounding financial details with guests Gene Merriam, Minnesota Senate Finance Committee Chairman; and MPR reporter Bill Wareham. Program also includes short interviews with key individuals on proposal and listener call-in questions.