April 7, 1997 - As part of Minnesota Public Radio’s Voice of Minnesota series, MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews George Latimer, former St. Paul mayor. Latimer talks about his life and work, beginning in the early 1940's in Schenectady, New York, where Latimer grew up as a shopkeeper's son. He would become, and still remains, one of Minnesota's most popular politicians.
April 8, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports on Governor Arne Carlson address to appeal for cool heads at Lake Mille Lacs. Rising tensions over imminent Ojibwe spearfishing and netting prompted the governor to make a statewide three-minute address asking for forbearance. Around Mille Lacs, lakeside residents responded to Carlson with a mixture of relief and doubt.
April 10, 1997 - MPR's Jon Gordon reports that there will be no spears or gillnets on Mille Lacs Lake, for now. A federal appeals court has refused to allow eight Ojibwe Bands, including six from Wisconsin, to spear and gillnet on Mille Lacs and other Minnesota lakes this spring. The move comes after landowners and some counties appealed a federal judge's order allowing the bands to begin fishing in the 12 county area of east-central Minnesota.
April 11, 1997 - Midday’s Gary Eichten has a conversation with former Senator Eugene McCarthy during a visit to the Twin Cities for a couple of public book readings. During the program, McCarthy reads from his publication, Selected Poems, and answers listener call-in questions.
April 11, 1997 - The Minnesota House passed a major welfare reform bill LATE last night (early this morning.) The measure NOW goes to a conference committee where the differences between it and the bill passed by the Senate will be worked out. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports...House members didnt' wrap up their work until (time)...action that had been delayed by abortion politics over the last week: The first order of business on the bill, was an amendment offered by Minority leader Steve Sviggum that would have required greater reporting requirements by doctors who perform abortions. But House Speaker Phil Carruthers ruled that the amendment was not relevant and a majority of members agreed,thereby kicking abortion politics out of the welfare reform debate.
April 17, 1997 - Midday focuses on education with guests Larry Pogemiller, DFL state senator, and Sandra Peterson, president of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers. Pogemiller and Peterson discuss common schools proposal, education standards, school choice, various programs, and answer listener call-in questions.
April 18, 1997 - Elect Met Council - 5:00 / DO / ME / MD
April 22, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil reports that the Minnesota legislature is considering a measure which changes how rights of way are managed. Utilities can run their cables and pipes under our roads because they're part of the right of way. Some city officials say the companies leave a mess when they're through. A compromise before the legislature gives cities more control over rights of way but leaves a major issue unsettled…rent.
April 23, 1997 - Molly Ivins, author and columnist is guest speaker for Frank Premack Memorial Lecture at University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute. Ivins talks the meanness of contemporary politics.
April 28, 1997 - David Parker started with an interest in child labor in the United States, tracking kids in the many jobs they do here, from State Fair booths to fast food restaurants. But as photographer and physician, Parker found his focus shifting overseas, and he's compiled a photo essay documenting the far worse conditions for working kids in the Third World. Children reportedly make up 11-percent of the workforce in some Asian countries, 17-percent in Africa, and maybe 25-percent in Latin America. David Parker is a photographer and physician with the Minnesota Health Department. His photos of child labor have been displayed at the U.S.Capitol and Department of Labor, and will be published this summer in a book called "Stolen Dreams".