November 7, 2003 - On this hour of Midday, host Gary Eichten talks with William McGuire, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group, about healthcare reform and what could happen in Minnesota. McGuire discusses healthcare resources and defining ‘essential’ healthcare.
November 18, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio’s Rob Schmitz reports the debate in Rochester over the police department's treatment of minorities.
November 28, 2003 - Gary Eichten's studio guest is Hennepin County Chief Judge Kevin Burke, the 2003 winner of the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence. He was honored in Washington last week.
November 28, 2003 - Midday presents two Voices of Minnesota conversations with Minnesota fishermen. Howard Sivertson and Walter Sve share recollections of growing up in fishing families on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It's a way of life that's practically disappeared.
December 5, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports on the concerns over charter schools outside of the metro. There are 88 charter schools in Minnesota. While about two-thirds of those are in the Twin Cities, a growing number of charter schools are popping up in greater Minnesota. Supporters say starting charter schools in rural Minnesota is tough and they face resistance from school districts afraid of losing students.
December 11, 2003 - Six children were crushed to death by a collapsing wall during an assault by U.S. forces on a compound stuffed with weapons in eastern Afghanistan, an American military spokesman said Wednesday, the second time in a week that civilians have died in action against Taliban and al-Qaida suspects. Today on MIDDAY, an update on the situation in Afghanistan and a discussion with Ambassador Peter Tomsen.
December 11, 2003 - A remembrance of the late Gisela Konopka, U of M professor, an expert on helping troubled kids. The internationally known University of Minnesota professor of social work died Tuesday (12/09/2003). She was born in Berlin, Germany, and was a resistance fighter during World War II. She was interviewed in 1995 for MPR's Voices of Minnesota series.
December 18, 2003 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Mee Moua, a Minnesota state senator, about the potential of new Hmong refugees to the Twin Cities. The U.S. State Department has reached an agreement with the government of Thailand which could bring thousands of new Hmong refugees to the United States. 14,000 Hmong people are living in the last refugee camp of its kind in Thailand.
December 29, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio’s Chris Julin reports from Duluth, about the Woodland Hills treatment program and the efforts of incorporating ballet to help kids untangle themselves from drugs and crime.
January 15, 2004 - MPR’s Jeff Horwich reports the number of home sales in the Twin Cities soared in 2003, setting a new record and topping the previous year's sales by more than 10 percent. Minnesota is already the top home-owning state in the nation, and realtors are preparing for more big years ahead.