October 29, 1997 - Midday features a discussion with candidates for mayor of Minneapolis…current Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton; and her challenger, former Minneapolis council member Barbara Carlson. Topics include crime, city investment, education, and local economy. Belton and Carlson also answer listener call-in questions.
October 31, 1997 - With a mandolin revival underway in the music world, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles the University of Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra.
November 2, 1997 - Female vocal ensemble Anonymous 4 bring the music of Hildegard of Bingen to Saint Paul Sunday. Anonymous 4 perform the festal chants Hildegard composed to honor Ursula, a fifth-century saint who, along with the 11,000 women she inspired, chose martyrdom over forced pagan marriage.
November 2, 1997 - Minneapolis, Taos, and Europe and are among the locations captured in Natalie Goldberg's new book "Living Color: A Writer Paints Her World". The book contains more than 60 full color paintings and explores Goldberg's symbiotic relationship between painting and writing. Goldberg says she began painting at 26--when she used a cheap children's water-color set and crayons to make her art. But she credits bad teeth and frequent trips to the dentist office as the beginning of her artistic spark.
November 4, 1997 - This Midday program features an election day special about voting with Elaine Voss, Minnesota’s Deputy Secretary of State. Issues covered are who votes and why; whether the elections system can, or needs to be, improved; citizenship; and meaning of a democracy. Listeners call in with questions.
November 5, 1997 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Philip Blackburn and Chris Strouth about the creative world of electronic music. Blackburn is with the American Composers Forum in St. Paul, which promotes the work of avant-garde, jazz, classical and new age composers. Strouth works for Twin/Tone records, the label associated with Minneapolis' most famous rock bands, like The Replacements and Soul Asylum. Strouth also runs his own experimental electronica label, called "Ultramodern."
November 5, 1997 - Midday discusses 1998 election results with political analysts Bob Meek, a Democrat; and Nancy Longley, a Republican, to get their perspectives. Topics include Twin Cities mayoral races. Listeners call in with questions.
November 6, 1997 - Midday features a Mainstreet Radio special about deer hunting, broadcast from Bemidji. A huge number of Minnesotans participate in this annual event. In the second hour of program, host Rachel Reabe talks with Bemidji hunters Kevin, Brett and Corey; and psychologist Dr. Dwight Phelps on the culture of deer hunting. Reabe also interviews Jean Bergerson about women deer hunters.
November 6, 1997 - Midday features a Mainstreet Radio special about deer hunting, broadcast from Bemidji. A huge number of Minnesotans participate in this annual event. In the first hour of program, host Rachel Reabe talks with guests Jim Bryant, regional wildlife supervisor with Minnesota DNR; and Joe Wood, executive director of the MN Deer Association about the hunting regulations, management of season, and environmental impacts. Program closes with James Baden, editor of Mille Lacs Messenger, providing a commentary from the non-hunter perspective.
November 7, 1997 - Midday offers another program in the continuing "Voices of Minnesota" interview series, featuring conversations with Andre Lewis of the Honeywell Foundation; Win Wallin of Medtronic; and Dominique Serrand of Theatre de la Jeune Lune.