August 19, 1996 - This hour of Midmorning features Voices of Minnesota segments with David Lanegran, an urban geographer; a Minnesota Twins update, including interviews with players Frank Rodriguez, Scott Stahoviak, and Paul Molitor; and an Odd Jobs piece on mussel transport.
August 20, 1996 - MPR’s Garrison Keillor interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning oral historian, Studs Terkel, as part of the Portland Arts and Lectures Series. Terkel talked about his life and family, and his days in radio. Studs Terkel is the author of several best-selling books including Race, and Working, and The Good War: An Oral History of World War II, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize.
August 21, 1996 - Midday examines The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). As President Clinton prepares to sign it, guests Jim Koppell, member of the Children's Defense Fund and a vice president at the MN Hospital and Health Care Partnership; and former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger, discuss its impact on the public. Koppell and Durenberger also answer listener questions.
August 22, 1996 - On this special All Things Considered live at the Minnesota State Fair, Kevin Kling performs a piece from "Diary of a Madman."
August 22, 1996 - Excerpt of former U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz stumping with constituents at the Minnesota State Fair. MPR’s John Rabe briefly interviews Boschwitz.
August 22, 1996 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on the changing dynamics of the Minnesota State Fair, with more metro-centric visitors. The State Fair dates back to 1855, before Minnesota was a state, when organizers wanted to promote agriculture to entice people to settle in the area. Fair officials insist the focus on agriculture hasn't changed, although the presentation has.
August 22, 1996 - Excerpt of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone stumping with constituents at the Minnesota State Fair. MPR’s John Rabe briefly interviews Wellstone.
August 23, 1996 - Garrison Keillor hosts his annual “Minnesota Quiz” in MPR booth at the Minnesota State Fair. Audience members try to answer various questions about for prizes. Topics of quiz include state history, sports, weather and arts. Gary Eichten briefly closes out program.
August 26, 1996 - MPR’s John Rabe visits Minnesota autor Pete Hautman at the Minneosta State Fair to talk about pigs and his book, “Mortal Nuts.” Hautman shares how his book owes much to the Fair experience.
August 28, 1996 - MPR’s Bob Collins interviews Ben Frazier on finally becoming a Minnesota delegate for the Democratic National Convention. A mainstay in running the DFL booth at the Minnesota State Fair, Frazier is now in Chicago to participate in convention.