July 9, 2007 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports on lead poisoning concerns in toys from China. Minnesota's Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar says the federal agency in charge of protecting consumers needs to get tougher on toy manufacturers. And to do that, it needs tougher laws and more money to hire inspectors. Klobuchar held a forum this morning in Minnetonka on unsafe toys imported from China.
August 7, 2007 - Dozens of people survived the 35W bridge collapse. Some were seriously injured; others escaped with minor injuries. But all are experiencing the emotions that come after surviving a brush with death. Experts say understanding those emotions will take time and patience. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
August 9, 2007 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with Dr. John Hick, a physician at the Hennepin County Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine who was at the scene of the bridge collapse within minutes. He discusses the emergency response on the scene and in nearby hospitals.
August 14, 2007 - With recovery efforts taking place at the site of the I-35W bridge collapse, Midday discusses ambiguous loss and how to be resilient in the face of trauma. Guest Pauline Boss, University of Minnesota professor emeritus of Family Social Science, discusses loss involving missing loved ones.
September 27, 2007 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on problems and criticisms with the Minnesota Department of Health, including efforts to conceal funding shortfalls, delay reports, and scrubbing web sites.
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.