January 13, 1997 - A Voices of Minnesota interview with Tom Webber, Director of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota and South Dakota. Webber discusses his work on women's reproductive health issues. Also, a recorded interview with Margaret Atwood, author of "Alias Grace".
January 14, 1997 - Midday’s Gary Eichten discusses crime, criminal defense, punishment, and crime prevention with newly-appointed Hennepin County Chief Public Defender William McGee. Program includes listener call-in questions.
January 14, 1997 - A new report by the state Department of Economic Security sheds a positive light on job prospects for welfare Recipients who'll SOON be required to seek work. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: The report says Minnesota's favorable economy will benefit those on A-F-D-C, because as they move from welfare to WORK under new guidelines of federal reform, they'll find more OPEN doors than closed ones. The report says the influx of some 15 thousand welfare recipients into the job market this year ALONE, will have minimal affect on the job opportunities for other job seekers or on the level of COMPETITION for jobs.
January 14, 1997 - As part of a series on poverty, MPR’s John Biewen looks at the "rent-to-own" industry and issues regarding interest rates.
January 15, 1997 - MPR’s John Rabe interviews local composer Paul Siskind about his composition “Fantasy-Variations.” The piece started off as a music school assignment, and sat on the shelf for a few years. Now the Minnesota Orchestra, under Eiji Oue, will give the world premiere performance of Siskind's “Fantasy-variations : on a fragment by Schoenberg.”
January 15, 1997 - Saint Paul loses another small community hospital today (WEDNESDAY). After 70 years, Midway Hospital is shutting down. HealthEast, which owns Midway, decided to close it and open a new facility in a more populated suburban area. The decision came as no surprise to many employees who knew Midway Hospital was financially vulnerable. But as they told Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson, the Midway closing could signal the end of a unique era in hospital care.
January 15, 1997 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports on the debate over potential removal of the children’s book series “Goosebumps” in some Minnesota school libraries, including titles such as “The Horror at Camp Jellyjam.” The Goosebumps debate began last Spring at Johnsville Elementary School in Blaine.
January 15, 1997 - As part of a series on poverty, MPR’s Stephen Smith reports on low-income housing.
January 16, 1997 - MPR’s John Rabe calls various students (MPR employees' kids) at home to see if they are reading, per Governor Carlson’s guidance, who ordered kids to read books today and report back on their reading in school tomorrow.
January 16, 1997 - Midday features live coverage of Governor Arne Carlson's State of the State address. He speaks in the Minnesota House Chamber well over an hour. Highlights of speech include a state disaster fund, property tax reform, crime control, welfare reform, arts funding, and Twins stadium.