May 16, 1988 - On this Midday call-in program, MPR’s Dan Olson interviews Jim Nichols, Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture, about the drought and current farm issues in Minnesota. Nichols also answers listener questions.
May 16, 1988 - Mainstreet Radio-Brainerd’s Leif Enger rides along for the day for group fishing launch onto Mille Lacs Lake with Joe Fellegy, a local historian, musician, writer, and fishing expert. Report includes various interviews.
May 19, 1988 - With the suicide death of Roger Caldwell, MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten takes a look back at the 1977 murders of Duluth heiress Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse. Caldwell plead guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to time served, or five years. Despite this, Caldwell repeatedly claimed innocence, including in a suicide note.
May 21, 1988 - A profile of the 1960s’ band The Gestures. Dale Menten, guitarist of the band, talks about the history of the band and his later career in advertising jingles. The Mankato band was famous for the song "Run, Run, Run."
May 28, 1988 - On this Weekend program, Cynthia MacArthur, project coordinator of the Minnesota Community Bicycle Safety Project, discusses bicycling. Topics include safe riding, types of riders, and bike repair. MacArthur also answers listener questions about bicycling.
June 4, 1988 - On this Sportfolio program, Jo Ann Shroyer, spouse of major sports fan J.G. Preston, and Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, author of “Me and DiMaggio,” discuss the topic of sports fans. Program begins with Chuck Heaton, sports reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reflecting on an infamous “10 Cent Beer Night” riot that took place at a Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers baseball game on June 4th, 1974.
June 6, 1988 - Mainstreet Radio’s Rachel Reabe reports from the Paul Bunyon Trail north of Brainerd. There are numerous paved bike trails now traversing areas of northern Minnesota, all routed along old railroad tracks. The development of the scenic recreation trails is a boon to both local cyclists and those visiting.
June 7, 1988 - MPR’s Tom Meersman reports on the troubling conditions facing farmers as drought conditions set in across many areas of the state. Meersman interviews farmers and officials about the potential impact.
June 13, 1988 - Irwin Jacobs, Minnesota businessman, discusses entrepreneurship, takeovers, and leadership. Jacobs also talks about the Special Olympics coming to Minnesota, and answers listener questions.
June 14, 1988 - MPR’s Dan Olson talks with local climatologists about the patterns that led to extreme drought and what might change to break the dry conditions.