July 25, 1997 - Cable television subscribers in Winona will soon have a choice of cable providers if the Winona City Council approves a franchise agreement with a local company on Monday. Once the new company lays cable around the city, Winona will become one of the few small cities in the nation with competing cable providers. But it may be part of a growing trend as cable, telephone, and internet companies vie with each other for direct access to people's homes through fiber optic cables. Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports on how competition will affect subscribers and why it developed in Winona.
July 25, 1997 - Police say six years ago, there were eight so-called saunas and health clubs operating illegally in St. Paul. Lee Lenore's was the last one. But in Minneapolis, some neighborhood saunas are still up and running, in addition to legal strip joints and dirty book and video stores. Such businesses are intentionally confined to the Warehouse district downtown. The city council is considering new laws designed to address both the illegal and the legal sex industry. Minneapolis City Councilmember Joe Biernat and the commander of Saint Paul's vice unit, Lieutenant Richard Iffert, explain exactly what goes on in these places.
July 27, 1997 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports outside All God’s Children’s Metropolitan Church, where picketers from Fred Phelps anti-gay group were met by hundreds of gay rights supporters. Attenddees at service included four of the DFL gubernatorial candidates.
July 28, 1997 - Midday examines the growth in popularity of organic food and locally-produced food with guests Edward Brown, produce manager at the Wedge Co-Op in Minneapolis, and Greg Reynolds, who owns and operates Riverbend Farm in Delano. Listeners call in with questions.
July 28, 1997 - Gary Sudduth, the 44-year-old president of the Minneapolis Urban League died today. Sudduth... who is believed to have had a history of heart problems, collapsed while working out at the Northside YMCA. Friends and co-workers call Sudduth a far-sighted civil rights leader who understood the battle against racism is a long-term struggle.
July 31, 1997 - MPR’s Perry Finelli talks with Becky Rom, of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness; and Mike Forsman, St. Louis County Commissioner about BWCA legislation in Congress and the mediation process.
August 1, 1997 - Midday presents converations with former Governor and Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman and the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John Vessey, as part of the continuing "Voices of Minnesota" series, with reporter Dan Olson.
August 5, 1997 - Midday provides an update on the Twins ballpark situation, and a chance to hear comments and suggestions from Minnesota Public Radio listeners. Guest Jay Weiner, sports reporter at the Star Tribune; and MPR's reporter Bill Wareham provide details and analysis of the stadium debate.
August 7, 1997 - Midday rebroadcasts a Minnesota Public Radio documentary produced by MPR’s Mark Heistad. The Strike is On! is an oral history of the early labor movement in Minnesota, with emphasis on the struggle to organize Iron Range workers, Austin’s Hormel strike, the Minneapolis truckers strike of 1934, and more.
August 8, 1997 - Michael Osterholm, state epidemiologist, answer listener questions about infectious diseases, bacteria and antibiotics, encephalitis, and much more. This was Osterholm’s last appearance on Midday. At end of program, he and Eichten share an appreciation of the other. [Please note program is joined “in progress”, and beginning of hour is not present]