November 8, 1985 - MPR’s Mark Heistad unravels a chapter in Minnesota history and lore with documentary titled “A Story of Crime, Criminals and Corruption." Heistad tracked down numerous stories about some notorious gangsters in Minnesota, including John Dillinger shooting it out with G-Men in St. Paul, Al Capone buying moonshine in Stearns County, and Barker-Karpis gang vacationing in White Bear Lake.
November 15, 1985 - Tony Bouza, Minneapolis police chief, discusses current law enforcement issues. Topics include 2nd precinct problems, pornography, and demonstrator arrests at Honeywell. Bouza also answers listener questions.
November 23, 1985 - University of Minnesota housing expert Bill Angell talks about consumer problems in the home improvement market and the victimization of elderly people.
November 27, 1985 - MPR’s Beth Friend presents a profile of the Twin Cities band “The Jets,” a Polynesian-American eight-member musical group. Friend interviews oldest member, LeRoy, who discusses personal history of the Wolfgramm family, and that of the band itself. Segment also includes brief interview with band manager, Don Powell.
November 28, 1985 - A special Thanksgiving presentation of “Blessing of the Fields,” a documentary program about how farming has changed over the years in our region especially the change from horse power to tractor power. That transition was one of the most important factors leading to the Midwest's amazingly productive agricultural system. But it had other affects - not all of them as highly thought of.
December 5, 1985 - MPR’s Jennifer Schmidt profiles the West Bank School of Music. Schmidt interviews Executive Director Dale Dahlquist and a few students.
December 7, 1985 - MPR’s Mark Heistad interviews Dale Warland, American conductor, composer, educator, and founder of the Dale Warland Singers. Warland talks about his choirs and choral music.
December 21, 1985 - MPR’s Mark Heistad interviews outfitter Bill Hansen, whos resides at Sawbill Trail on the southern edge of the Boundary Waters. Hansen talks about life in the Northwoods during winter.
December 23, 1985 - MPR’s Beth Friend profiles St. Paul native Louie Anderson, a rising comedic star. Segment includes Anderson discussing humor elements from his Minnesota childhood and clips of his stand-up routine.
December 27, 1985 - MPR’s Stephen Smith presents the documentary "Shelter for the Night," which examines the plight of the homeless over a period of 12 hours in the St. Stephen's Emergency Shelter.