November 21, 1997 - Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone joins Midday to talk about his completed "Poverty Tour" and his possible campaign for president. Wellstone also answer listener questions about issues before the U.S. Congress.
November 27, 1997 - On this Midday call-in program, a focus on questions about charitable giving…Who we help and why we help? Does the help make a difference in people's lives? Studio guest Major Robert Thomson, the northern division secretary of the Salvation Army in Minnesota and North Dakota, answers these and other questions from listeners.
November 28, 1997 - Midday presents an NPR recording of Norman Corwin's play The Secretariat. Performers include Hume Cronyn, William Shatner, and Tandy Cronyn (who is Hume's daughter).
December 2, 1997 - Leigh Kamman, long-time host of The Jazz Image, reflects on the artistry of the late great French violinist Stephane Grappelli. Listener also call-in with comments and questions.
December 5, 1997 - Midday presents a special Voices of Minnesota, with Minnesota writer Bill Holm reading from his book Faces of Christmas Past, a collection of essays and reminiscences about Christmas in Iceland and Minnesota.
December 9, 1997 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on the disturbing history of Canton Insane Asylum…and of the dead from institution that are now buried in the middle of city's Hiawatha golf course.
December 12, 1997 - Nowadays the Lake Mille Lacs region is best known for its walleye fishing, but since the days of Father Hennepin and before, it has had immense historical and archaeological significance...and as a result it's one of the most studied areas in the state. Archaeologists first explored the region back in the 1880s and crews have continued to visit to dig and explore ever since. Despite all the work, there has yet to be a book or single source which brings all this research together...that is, until now.
December 12, 1997 - A Hennepin County judge denied a request from a Hmong woman who wanted to peform a traditional ceremony in the courtroom. Ilean Her, executive director of the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, talks about traditional acts in Hmong culture. Her says these ceremonies can take different forms, but often include drinking a ceremonial beverage.
December 17, 1997 - Minneapolis City officials now say there's hope of saving the historic Shubert Theater in downtown Minneapolis . The classic-revival style Shubert sits vacant on Block E across from the Target Center. City officials are leaning toward approving a retail/cineplex and parking complex on block E that can't accomodate the Shubert. But today, Council President Cherryhomes and Rebecca Yanish, executive director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency announced a possible solution to the development versus historic preservation fight.
December 19, 1997 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on Penumbra's Black Nativity. Every family has their holiday traditions, but few are as complex as one Minneapolis family, whose season revolves around the Penumbra Theatre's annual production.