March 14, 1997 - This Midday program holds a discussion about questionable campaign fundraising in Washington. Guests are Minnesota Public Radio political commentators DFLer Bob Meek and Republican Tom Horner. They share their perspectives and answer listener questions.
March 18, 1997 - Midday examines the ethics of cloning with guests Susan Wolf, assistant professor of Law and Medicine at the University of Minnesota Law School and faculty associate at the University's Center for Bio-medical Ethics; and Thomas Bouchard, University of Minnesota psychology professor. Wolf and Bouchard also answer listener call-in questions.
March 19, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Catherine Winter looks at Challenge Incarceration Program, a Minnesota juvenile boot camp in Willow River. Supporters say strict discipline and hard work will knock some sense into criminals. But research seems to indicate that boot camps don’t work, don’t save money, and they don’t rehabilitate criminals.
March 21, 1997 - Midday discusses the results of the basic skills tests given to Minnesota eighth-graders. Guests Mike Tillmann, who coordinates graduation standards for the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning; and State Representative Becky Kelso, chair of the K-12 Education Finance Division, give their perspectives on the test numbers and answer listener call-in questions.
March 21, 1997 - The independent Oak Street Cinema in Minneapolis begins the Northern Lights Film Festival tonight with a program that includes an independent documentary on independent candidates at the 1996 New Hampshire Presidential primary. "Subdue the Universe," by local filmmakers James Taylor, Brian Standing, and Matt Ehling, works on at least three levels. As independents themselves, they bring a certain attitude to their look at third party candidates. As citizens interested in the political process, they bring an edge to their examination of the voting public.
March 24, 1997 - The sole Republican on the Minneapolis City Council will not seek re-election. Dennis Schulstad of the 12th Ward has served for 22 years and says it's time to move on. Schulstad, who is also a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve, says his goals have remained the same over the years: to hold down taxes, maintain public safety, and to keep the community involved and informed. Schulstad says it was a hard decision to make.
March 24, 1997 - Legislation to have the state subsidize a new Minnesota Twins stadium made some progress at the Legislature, despite lawmakers' misgivings. MPR's Martin Kaste reports that the fate of the Twins Stadium bill had fallen into the hands of the members of the Senate Local and Metropolitan Government Committee…and they were none too happy about it.
March 24, 1997 - MPR’s Karen Louise Boothe reports that hundreds of people rallied at the State Capitol on behalf of a bill that would restore the cuts in benefits to legal immigrants in the new federal welfare reform law.
March 26, 1997 - Today is crunch time at the state capitol, as lawmakers rush to get their pet bills past the first major deadline of the legislative session. One of the bills that didn't make it was the "right-to-carry" bill, legislation that would have made it easier for law-abiding Minnesotans to carry concealed handguns. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.
April 1, 1997 - Members of a House Committee have approved a bill to spend up to six-and-a half million-dollars to keep the peace around Lake Mille Lacs. Members of the Mille lacs band of Ojibwe plan to exercise their rights to net and spear fish this spring. The measure faces its Second committee tomorrow before moving along further in the process, and eventually to House floor. A similar measure passed in a Senate committee. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports.