July 15, 1998 - Jim Koppel, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund of Minnesota, and Lynn Reed, research director for the Minnesota Taxpayers Association, discuss a new report on the effect of federal and state tax policies on families. Premise of study notes increase in taxes on families vs individuals, the causes, and potential solutions. Koppel and Reed also answer listener questions.
July 17, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from Ely, Minnesota. Program highlights the northern Minnesota town and the BWCA, twenty years after major Congressional legislation in 1978…a controversial Act that banned mining, logging and most motor use. In this first hour of program, MPR’s Rachel Reabe interviews Mark Van Every and Barb Soderberg, representatives from the National Forest Service; and canoe outfitters John Waters and Gary Gotchnik about the various aspects of the BWCA.
July 17, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from Ely, Minnesota. Program highlights the northern Minnesota town and the BWCA, twenty years after major Congressional legislation in 1978…a controversial Act that banned mining, logging and most motor use. In this second hour of program, MPR’s Rachel Reabe interviews Mike Hillman, a local historian, and Jim Krile, Director of the Blandin Community Leadership Program.
July 21, 1998 - Michael Cox, Vice President and Economic Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas discusses his new report, "Time Well Spent: The Declining Real Cost of Living in America." Cox explains study that states while prices have gone up over the years, the cost of living is more modest than in past. Cox also answers listener questions.
July 23, 1998 - Will Alexander, Community Notification Coordinator of the Department of Corrections, discusses the process in providing information to the public as it applies to Sex Offender Notification Law. Alexander has participated in 50 public meetings held to notified neighbors that a convicted sex offender will be living in their neighborhood. He shares his experiences of those meetings, and answers listener questions.
July 28, 1998 - Norm Coleman, St. Paul mayor and gubernatorial candidate, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about the issues in the campaign. Topics include uniformity of conceal and carry, partial-birth abortion, and education. Coleman also answers listener questions.
July 29, 1998 - Jean Johnson, senior vice-president of the polling firm Public Agenda, and State Senator Larry Pogemiller, Chair of the Senate K-12 education committee, discuss a new education survey called "Time to Move On." The study showed that African-American parents want public schools to focus on raising academic standards rather than promoting integration and diversity. Johnson and Pogemiller also answer listener questions.
July 29, 1998 - Michael Barone, senior staff editor at Reader’s Digest, speaking at the Center of the American Experiment's Distinguished Fellows Program. Barone’s address was titled "Cultural Politics and Media Fevers: Are They Causing Good People to Shun Public Office?" Following speech, Barone answers audience questions.
August 11, 1998 - Rev. Ron Smith, co-pastor of University Baptist Church of St. Paul; and Dan McElroy, Minnesota state representative for Burnsville, discuss the campaign watchdog group organization "Political Racism is Offensive to All Citizens Task Force" (aka as Pro-Act). Smith and McElroy also answer listener questions.
August 11, 1998 - As part of the MPR’s Campaign 98’ series, MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on the welfare views of Jesse Ventura, Reform Party candidate for governor. Ventura comments on “welfare to work” reform, more support for those in the middle-class, and a critique of single-parents on welfare.