March 6, 1997 - Midday looks at proposals to cut taxes, give tax rebates, or reform the tax system. Studio guests Jim Girard, commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Revenue; and DFL State Representative Dee Long, who chairs the House Tax Committee, provide details of the tax proposals and answer listeners call-in questions.
March 10, 1997 - Midday presents two Minnesota Public Radio documentaries by producer Stephen Smith and Michael Montgomery. The first, Face of Mercy, Face of Hate, is about the life and mysterious death of a Bosnia Serb. The second, A Plague of Plastic Soldiers, is about efforts to clear land mines in Cambodia.
March 12, 1997 - A special Midday program on history of the fur trade, hosted by Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Farrell. Why did it become important in 17th and 18th centuries and who profited?
March 13, 1997 - Midday presents a live broadcast of the Westminster Town Hall Forum, featuring author Rabbi Michael Lerner. The title of his presentation is “Transcending Racism and Hate.”
March 14, 1997 - MPR’s Maryann Sullivan interviews jazz bassist Anthony Cox, who discusses his return to Twin Cities in hopes of supporting a stronger jazz scene in area.
March 14, 1997 - This Midday program holds a discussion about questionable campaign fundraising in Washington. Guests are Minnesota Public Radio political commentators DFLer Bob Meek and Republican Tom Horner. They share their perspectives and answer listener questions.
March 17, 1997 - MPR’s John Rabe talks with Minnesota musician Peter Ostroushko about his CD release “Pilgrims on the Heart Road."
March 18, 1997 - Midday examines the ethics of cloning with guests Susan Wolf, assistant professor of Law and Medicine at the University of Minnesota Law School and faculty associate at the University's Center for Bio-medical Ethics; and Thomas Bouchard, University of Minnesota psychology professor. Wolf and Bouchard also answer listener call-in questions.
March 19, 1997 - State education officials say the state's eighth-grade students did slightly better in the second year of the basic skills reading test...but test scores stayed the same in math. Nearly a third of the students who took the tests for the first time last year failed. The Department of Children Families and Learning released the latest test scores today, and like last year they show nearly a third of the students are not meeting the minimum standards. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... The basic skills tests are the first phase of the state's new minimum high school graduation standards. The tests help determine if students are on track for graduation. This is the second year students have taken th
March 19, 1997 - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is making a concerted effort to increase the number of dairy cows in the state. The Ag Department says Minnesota needs nearly 60,000 more cows for the state's dairy processing plants to run at full capacity. But family farm proponants say encouraging dairy farmers to expand their herds could come at the expense of small farms. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.