February 7, 1997 - Midday examines aviation safety with pilot and author John Nance, a commercial pilot and a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserves. He's written a number of aviation thrillers, the most recent, Medusa's Child. Nance also answers listeners call-in questions.
February 8, 1997 - From slumber parties to the therapists couch...the short stories in Minnesota author Julie Schumacher's new book "An Explanation for Chaos" weave tales of searching for meaning in life.
February 10, 1997 - Midday looks at drunk driving and the proposal to reduce the legal blood alcohol limit for driving to .08 with Steve Simon, University of Minnesota law professor and director of the MN Criminal Justice System DWI Task Force; and Lynn Goughler, public liaison and legislative chair of the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
February 10, 1997 - Minnesota storyteller, playwright and actor Kevin Kling says his storytelling is from personal experience. The stories use humor because Kling says humor is a solvent that helps us accept the difficulty of our lives. Today on our Voices of Minnesota interview, Kevin Kling talks about storytelling. Riding the 21A bus line between St. Paul and Minneapolis was the source for one of Kling's best known works. "Fear and Loving" is a new collection of Kling stories about growing up. He was recently on stage at the Jungle Theatre in Minneapolis playing one of the leads in "Waiting for Gadot". Kling was born in Missouri and grew up in the Twin Cities suburbs of Brooklyn Center and Maple Grove.
February 10, 1997 - Storyteller and playwright Kevin Kling talks with MPR'S John Rabe about life in Minnesota as material for his work.
February 12, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports that there's a chance deep snows of the 96-97’ winter are only "part one" of a weather disaster. The spring flood potential may lie in a secret hidden within the snow…the water amount it contains.
February 13, 1997 - Midday rebroadcasts award-winning MPR documentary Song Catcher, Frances Densmore of Red Wing. Following documentary, MPR’s Gary Eichten holds a discussion with guests Marcia Anderson, chief curator and head of the Museum Collections Department at the Minnesota Historical Society; and Faith Bad Bear, assistant curator of Ethnology at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
February 14, 1997 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports on Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton State of the City address. Sayles Belton described Minneapolis as a strong, vibrant place, but also stated a need of stronger efforts to reduce gang violence. In addition to crime prevention, the mayor also highlighted education and economic development efforts.
February 14, 1997 - Of course today is Valentine's Day, and love seems to be in the air. If you'd like to continue your celebration into tomorrow night, you might want to check out the Walker Art Center's 4th Annual LOVE BASH. This year the show features performers all over the age of 40. This fact is the inspiration behind the show's title--"Mid-life Love Bash!" Leslie Ball hosts this ecletic evening. She proudly reveals she is over 40--42 to be exact. She says she's happier in this new decade and also has a new outlook on love.
February 14, 1997 - Strike the flint of holocaust revisionism, the belief the holocaust never happened, against the steel of the free speech rights guaranteed by the first amendment, and you set off the sparks that fly in the Illusion Theater's latest production. "Denial" is a play written by former Minneapolis resident and Jerome Fellowship winner Peter Sagal to explore his own Jewish identity and the limitations of the First Amendment.