August 16, 1976 - Excerpts from Conference on Rural America held in July at Crookston, Minnesota. Father John McRaith, director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, spoke about land use and the future of rural America; and Father William Ryan, director of the Center of Concern in Washington, D.C., discussed options in international politics. William Ryan’s speech was titled “Toward a New International and Political Order” John McRaith’s speech was titled “People, Justice, Land (Suggestions for Rural America)”
August 21, 1976 - On this regional public affairs program, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles the Minneapolis Police Department. Olson reports on a 1976 League of Women Voters “Police Community Report,” which highlights issues in the politics of appointments, law enforcement budgets, training, communications, community relations, administravitive rules & planning, discriminatory actions, and stability in leadership.
August 23, 1976 - Rachel Kranz report on the controversy with the attempt by Northern States Power to raise its electric rates and the attempts by citizen groups to oppose the rate hike. Kranz examines how rates are set, how the company justifies its request for a rate increase, and why critics of NSP feel the publicly monitored utilities request should be denied.
September 1, 1976 - Independent presidential hopeful Eugene McCarthy speaking at National Press Club. Topic of address is presidential race, the debates, and two-party system.
September 18, 1976 - On this regional public affairs program, a panel discussion on local government debt. While governments issue bonds to pay for major buildings and other improvements, the Minnesota Taxpayers Association released a report in August warning that the amount of debt per capita is too high, especially in St. Paul.
October 1, 1976 - "Preserving the Rural Environment" was discussed at the Conversations in the Countryside conference held this summer at Southwest State University in Marshall. Speakers were Stewart Udall, a former Secretary of the Interior and Charles Reinert, an Associate Professor of Physics at Southwest State University. Moderator of the discussion was Morris Behrman, a farmer from Wood Lake. Another participant was Clint Haroldson, a farmer from Renville, who served as a resource person for the discussion. The program began with some formal remarks from Udall.
October 5, 1976 - In a special press conference, Governor Wendell Anderson proposed that taconite production taxes be increased to finance up to 670 million of the cost of an on-land disposal site for Reserve Mining Co. In remarks prepared for a Capitol news conference, the governor recommended that the 75-cent-per-ton production tax paid by all taconite companies be boosted to SI per ton. The 25-cent increase, which would raise about 612 million in 1977, would go into a special long-range environmental protection fund which would help finance solutions to taconite mining-related environmental problems.
October 23, 1976 - This regional public affairs program includes Citizens League breakfast address by St. Paul Board of Education chairman Eleanor Weber, answering questions about tax increase ballot referendum and other issues, followed by superintendent George Young, discussing instructional television and daycare.
October 25, 1976 - Carl Bernstein, Washington Post investigative reporter, speaking at Minnesota Education Association Convention in Minneapolis.
November 5, 1976 - On the anniversary of the Sioux Uprising of 1862, this program presents the historical events that culminated in the hangings of 38 Indians after the uprising. Program includes members of All Things Considered reading from the writings done at the time of uprising.