May 28, 1996 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with Ann McBride, president and CEO of Common Cause, a non-partisan citizens' lobby organization dealing with issues of money in politics, government ethics, and government responsibility. The organization's current focus is campaign finance reform and special interest influence. McBride also answers listeners questions.
May 30, 1996 - Midday presents a live broadcast of the Westminster Town Hall Forum, featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough. He is the author of the prize-winning biography Truman and numerous other books and is well-known as the host of the PBS television series The American Experience. His Westminster Town Hall Forum lecture is titled, American Society: Civil and Uncivil. McCullough’s speech is the last in a Westminster series “Voices of Consensus.”
June 5, 1996 - Spike Jones shares his views on why Black community members are wary to communicate with Minnesota police officers. Jones discusses efforts by residents in acting independently of police to curtail crime and bring about a safer environment in neighborhoods.
June 6, 1996 - Midday discusses same-sex marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act. MPR’s Gary Eichten gets different perspectives on the ‘definition’ of same-sex marriage from guests Fritz Knaak, attorney and former State Senator; and Minneapolis family law attorney Suzanne Borne. Knaak and Borne also answer listener questions.
June 11, 1996 - About 400 North Minneapolis residents attended a raucous community meeting to discuss the recent slayings of 11-year-old Byron Phillips and 22-year-old Derrick Adams. Phillips and Adams were shot to death about a half block away from each other, in the space of a week. Police have no suspects as of report.
June 20, 1996 - Michael Martin, a gang specialist for the Minneapolis Police Department, talks about Twin Cities gangs and efforts to curb gang activity and growth.
July 3, 1996 - Midday examines juvenile crime with guests Hennepin County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Charles Porter and Minneapolis Police Sergeant Bret Lindback. Topics include first-time offenders, juvenile justice system, and current trends. Porter and Lindback also answer listener questions.
July 5, 1996 - This Midday program presents speeches by Manning Marable and Glen Loury from the World Conference on Remedies to Racial and Ethnic Economic inequality, which was sponsored recently by the University of Minnesota’s Roy Wilkins Center and the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
August 1, 1996 - Midday presents a Twin Cities speech by Yale University professor Theodore Marmor, entitled America’s Misunderstood Welfare State. Marmor speaks about the controversies over welfare reform, medical care, and social security.
August 5, 1996 - As part of the Voices of Minnesota series, MPR’s Chris Roberts talks with Lee Pao Xiong, Director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans. Xiong discusses further incoming Hmong immigration, social services, clans in the Hmong culture, and Xiong’s viewpoint on the main problems facing Hmong community.