November 8, 1985 - MPR’s Mark Heistad unravels a chapter in Minnesota history and lore with documentary titled “A Story of Crime, Criminals and Corruption." Heistad tracked down numerous stories about some notorious gangsters in Minnesota, including John Dillinger shooting it out with G-Men in St. Paul, Al Capone buying moonshine in Stearns County, and Barker-Karpis gang vacationing in White Bear Lake.
November 19, 1985 - Lane Kirkland, AFL-CIO president, speaking at Carlson Lecture Series in Northrop Auditorium. Kirkland’s address was on the topic of unions and the American future. Following speech, Kirkland answered audience questions. Kirkland has been appointed to several presidential commissions, including the Presidential Commission to Study Social Security (1983) and the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America (1984). Among the boards he serves on are the American Council on Germany, American Arbitration Association, the Rockefeller Foundation, International Broadcasting, the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Planning Association and the National Endowment for Democracy. The Carlson Lecture Series was established by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
November 20, 1985 - Mitch Snyder, director of the Center for Creative Non-Violence in Washington D.C., speaking to the National Forum on Urban Homelessness, held at the University of Minnesota. Snyder’s address was on the problems of the homeless. Snyder was the subject of a made-for-television 1986 biopic, “Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story,” starring Martin Sheen.
December 5, 1985 - Jonathan Kozol speaking at a meeting hosted by the Minnesota Literacy Council. Kozol’s address was on illiteracy in United States. Kozol is a graduate of Harvard University. He is a Rhodes Scholar and has taught at Yale. Kozol has been researching illiteracy problems for more than two decades. His newest book is entitled "Illiterate America".
December 27, 1985 - MPR’s Stephen Smith presents the documentary "Shelter for the Night," which examines the plight of the homeless over a period of 12 hours in the St. Stephen's Emergency Shelter.
December 27, 1985 - A Midday program on the subject of homelessness.The first part of program presents Stephen Smith’s documentary report "Shelter for the Night," which examines the plight of the homeless over a period of 12 hours in the St. Stephen's Emergency Shelter. Following documentary, Mary Jo Jackson, director of Housing Resource Program for Lutheran Social Services and 1986 chair-elect of the Minneapolis Coalition for the Homeless, discusses the homeless problem in Minnesota and what can be done about it. Jackson also answers listener questions. Homeless, discusses the homeless problem in Minnesota and what can be done about it. Jackson also answers listener questions.
January 4, 1986 - On this Weekend program, Futurist Arthur Harkins discusses how new technology and other changes will affect people's personal relationships in the future. Topics include growth in use of information technology, social dynamics, and personal commitments. Harkins also answers listener questions.
January 13, 1986 - MPR’s George Boosey reports on Potter v. LaSalle Court Sports & Health Club case being heard at the Minnesota Supreme Court. The case stems from a complaint by gay man that health club discriminated against him due to his sexuality. Report includes clips of arguments presented by attorneys.
January 18, 1986 - Minnesotan politicians LeClair Lambert and Don Fraser reflect on being present in D.C. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. The day included the famous Martin Luther King Jr. speech “I Have a Dream.”
January 20, 1986 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten gets multiple reports on the status of Hormel strike situation in Austin. Striking meatpackers have amassed at gates of Hormel plant in order to disrupt. The company and city have requested the National Guard.