February 10, 1989 - On this Midday program, a presentation of a Mainstreet Radio documentary on rural homelessness. There are people in rural Minnesota who can't afford to put a roof over their heads and advocates for the poor say rural homelessness is a growing problem.
March 7, 1989 - Dean Abrahamson, professor of public affairs and director of the Global Environmental Policy Project at the Humphrey Institute, discusses the latest developments in the global warming crisis. Topics include CFCs, debate on average temperature rise, climate patterns, and the future consequences. Abrahamson also answers listener questions.
March 8, 1989 - Bill Rathje, archaeologist from the University of Arizona in Tucson, speaking at National Recycling Coalition conference held in St. Paul. Rathje’s address was titled "What Our Landfills Say About Us." After speech, MPR’s Dan Olson interviews Cathy Berg Moeger, environmental planner and pollution control specialist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Moeger answers listener questions about recycling efforts in Minnesota. The 7th National Recycling Congress was held in St. Paul on September 27, 1988.
March 11, 1989 - Misti Snow, editor of the Star Tribune "Mindworks" series, discusses what today's kids are thinking. Snow also answers listener questions. “Mindworks” is a Star Tribune program in students were asked for their insights on a different topic every month of the school year.
March 17, 1989 - Pelagie “Mike” Snesrud, director of Public Health Nursing at the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior near Cloquet, speaking at “The Health of Indian Health Care” symposium at College of St. Scholastica. Snesrud discusses the role of the federal Indian Health Service, or IHS, and tribal government in meeting Indian health needs.
March 17, 1989 - Dr. Kathleen Annette, acting Chief Medical Officer for the Bemidji, Minnesota regional office of the Indian Health Service, speaking at “The Health of Indian Health Care” symposium at College of St. Scholastica. Annette discusses the many health and social challenges of Indian community. Dr. Annette is a family practice physician and graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth Medical School. She previously held the post of Clinical Director at the Leech Lake Medical Facility and is on the board of the National Association of Native American Physicians.
March 17, 1989 - Eleanor Robertson, RN and acting director of the Bemidji region of the Indian Health Service, speaking at “The Health of Indian Health Care” symposium at College of St. Scholastica. Robertson discusses problems facing her agency, especially as it works on its first budget under the Bush administration.
March 31, 1989 - Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, activist, author and hunger coordinator for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America West Metro Synod, speaking at a conference in Minneapolis. Nelson-Pallmeyer’s address was on the topic, "The War Against the Poor: Low Intensity Conflict and Christian Faith." He critiques the U.S. involvement in Central America. He traces the development of the phrase, "low intensity conflict," and he gives his view of how the U.S. military and foreign policy toward Central America has been developed.
April 3, 1989 - Richard Thomas, Elanor Clift, John McCormick, and John Barry, all Newsweek magazine editorial writers, are members of a panel discussion at Minnesota Meeting. Their discussion was titled "Uncovering New Policies with Those Who Cover Them". The panelists are presented with numerous questions involving politics, world affairs, and economy. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
April 4, 1989 - Midday highlights the controversy surrounding an increase in the minimum wage. It's being debated in the individual states and in the Congress - the U.S. House recently voted to increase the minimum wage, and the Senate is expected to take up the issue this week. The Bush administration has threatened a veto if the bill is not to its liking. Program begins with an independently produced documentary called "Minimum Wage: Maximum Controversy". Documentary is followed with MPR’s Bob Potter talking with Ken Peterson, Minnesota's Labor and Industry Commissioner; and John Fossum, director of the Industrial Relations Center at the University of Minnesota. "Minimum Wage: Maximum Controversy" was written and produced by Carlos Davidson, an independent producer in California. The narrator was Charles Bloomer. Funding was provided by the Eastman Fund, The Funding Exchange, Nu Lambda Trust, the Skaggs Foundation and the Vanguard Foundation.