October 12, 2007 - Some survivors of the 35W bridge collapse say they feel frustrated and forgotten. Kim Brown, who was on the bridge when it collapsed back in August, has sent a strongly worded letter to state and federal lawmakers, asking for the government help to pay bills and get survivors back on their feet. Another survivor, Lindsay Peterson, whose car plunged into the river, says she has mounting medical bills.
October 15, 2007 - Preliminary work to rebuild the I-35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis is underway this week, but it will be a long time before Minnesotans get over the tragic collapse that occurred Aug. 1. Most of us only saw the photographs and the videos, and heard the voices on the radio. But there are also the approximately 180 people who were actually on the bridge when it crumbled into the Mississippi River. Thirteen of them died and dozens were injured. Midday features MPR's Cathy Wurzer's interviews with two of the survivors. Lindsey Petterson and Erica Gwillim survived the collapse of the 35W bridge on Aug. 1 but were both injured in the accident.
October 22, 2007 - With the political campaign season under way, our television screens could soon be filled with attack ads. Last week's feud between Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and local television stations over an ad criticizing one of her votes raises the question: can voters believe what they see? MPRs Jess Mador (MAYdoor) has more.
November 5, 2007 - Midday presents an American RadioWorks documentary titled “Wanted: Parents,”which focuses on two teens looking for adoption before they age out of foster care at 18.
January 17, 2008 - Midmorning’s Kerri Miller speaks with Minnesota lawmakers Tim Walz and Michele Bachmann, who both spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq this winter, surveying Minnesota's role in war. Walz and Bachmann share their different experiences and takeaways.
February 29, 2008 -
July 17, 2008 - We've been talking with Trisha Dillion, a healthcare consultant in Rochester, Minnesota, Steve Piragis, who owns an outfitter in Ely, Minnesota... and Jon Zitur, who works for a large local lumber company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are among a group of people we've selected from around Minnesota to give us a first-hand perspective on the effects of the economic slowdown. We'll be checking in with them periodically over the coming months.
August 31, 2008 - Some folks are coming to the RNC to get delegates to watch movies. For the four days of the Convention the non-partisan Impact Film Festival will hold free screenings of new movies about healthcare, water protection, disaster recovery and other social challenges. The Festival opened last week at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Festival co-founder Jamie Shor (SHORE) told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr when film makers heard about the chance to show their work to policy makers, they not only offered their films for free, they all agreed to attend the screenings in person.
October 7, 2008 - Midday presents an American RadioWorks documentary titled "What Killed Sergeant Gray?" Sergeant Adam Gray made it home from Iraq only to die in his barracks. Investigating his death, American RadioWorks pieces together a story of soldiers suffering psychological scars – because they abused Iraqi prisoners.
November 14, 2008 - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger discussed the 2008 election results and their implications, at a recent discussion sponsored by the Minneapolis Club and the Minneapolis Foundation.