December 9, 1978 - Norman Isaacs, editor-in-residence at the Graduate School of Journalism and chairman of the National News Council, speaks on freedom of the press and newspapers in modern society. Isaac’s address was at the Minnesota Press Club. This program is a summary of those remarks.
December 11, 1978 - MPR’s Dan Olson interviews Jose Trejo, director of the governor's Spanish Speaking Affairs Council; and Manuel Guerrero, St. Paul attorney and former chair of the Chicano Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, who discuss the plight of illegal aliens in the region.
December 27, 1978 - Donald Fraser, Minnesota's 5th district congressman, speaking to an audience at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. Fraser’s address was on the topic of human rights. Fraser has been called one of the nation's strongest champions of human rights. Fraser has served on the House International Relations committee and was instrumental in the house investigation of the so-called 'Koreagate' scandal in congress.
January 2, 1979 - MPR’s Dale Connelly interviews Ann Clark, of the Lesbian Resource Center, about the struggles for lesbian mothers in the community. Clark describes how the center attempts to provide support.
January 3, 1979 - Martin Olav Sabo, former state House speaker and current 5th district congressman, speaking at a Citizens League breakfast. Federal topics of address included taxes and budget. Sabo also talks of state issues including development of urban areas, social service funding, energy, and health care funding. Sabo then mentions highlights from previous state legislative session.
January 13, 1979 - On this regional public affairs program, Dr. Arthur Harkins, of the School of Education at the University of Minnesota, discusses his thoughts on the label of “futurist” attributed to him and why future research is important.
January 18, 1979 - Excerpt of Dr. V. Elving Anderson, director of the Dwight Institute at the University of Minnesota, speaking on the topic of genetic engineering and human values.
February 6, 1979 - MPR's John Ydstie interviews Charles Lutz, the director of the World Hunger Program for the American Luther Church. Lutz speaks on the irony of hunger in a time of world food surpluses.
February 6, 1979 - Report on the abandonment of a hundred-mile branch line railroad track in southeastern Minnesota and how that abandonment would affect the communities, residents and businesses along its route. Minnesota has about 7,000 miles of rail lines - that figure was 8,000 miles just over ten years ago. Since then, rail line abandonment has increased, and the pace of abandonment is picking up. Railroads operating in the state have requests before the Interstate Commerce Commission that 400 miles of track be scuttled. Minnesota officials say another 300 miles of line may become moribund in the next three years. One of the requests before the ICC is that a 100-mile branch line in Southeastern Minnesota be abandoned. The track follows the root river from La Crescent on the Mississippi River to Ramsey just north of Austin in Mower County. The rail serves 12 communities and about 50 businesses. But Milwaukee Road officials say the line is a loser because there isn't enough traffic. MPR's John Gaddo of KLSE in Rochester visited some of the businesses along the track and prepared this report.
February 16, 1979 - MPR reporter Dan Olson speaks with with Gregory Reed of the Afro-American Cultural Arts Center in Minneapolis about the history of Black people in Minnesota.