November 18, 1997 - Midday examines Y2K, the year 2000 computer problem. Is it a $600 billion dollar disaster that will trap us in elevators, cause planes to crash, and banks to fail? Or something the computer geeks can fix if they get going on it soon enough? Host Gary Eichten interviews Mohinder Goswami, president of Advanced Information Network Systems, Inc. of Rockville, Maryland. Listeners call in with questions.
November 19, 1997 - Midday discusses smoking, ways to quit, and who should pay for it. Guests Dr. Rob Jeddeloh, Medical Director of Allina Health System; and Mary Hauge, RN, Chair of the Tobacco Control Committee of the American Cancer Society of MN discuss cessation options and answer listeners questions.
November 20, 1997 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles the Gay 90’s and the unanticipated consequences of non-gay crowd changing the scene at Minneapolis bar. Roberts interviews individuals about the reasons and its social impact to LGBTQ community.
November 21, 1997 - Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone joins Midday to talk about his completed "Poverty Tour" and his possible campaign for president. Wellstone also answer listener questions about issues before the U.S. Congress.
November 22, 1997 - This is National Children's book week. From HOP ON POP to WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE--children's books are the foundation for a life long love of literature. As the holidays approach many of us turn to critics to guide us towards good gift books. Jane Resh Thomas has reviewed books for the Star Tribune newspaper for the past 25 years. She's also written 11 children's books--including her latest book CELEBRATIONS. Resh Thomas says although the colorful illustrations in children's books are better than ever...things are not ROSY in the world of children's publishing.
November 27, 1997 - On this Midday call-in program, a focus on questions about charitable giving…Who we help and why we help? Does the help make a difference in people's lives? Studio guest Major Robert Thomson, the northern division secretary of the Salvation Army in Minnesota and North Dakota, answers these and other questions from listeners.
November 29, 1997 - Can you go home again--that's the question posed in Jonis Agee's new book "South of Resurrection". The story centers on Moline Bedwell--a tough-minded woman who returns to her hometown of Resurrection, Missouri after 20 years. "South of Resurrection" is Agee's third novel. Agee says her new book is a tale of modern rural life and is a tribute to her family's homestead. Agee's spending a lot of time these days thinking about "Home." She recently left her teaching position at St. Catherine's in St. Paul to teach in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
December 2, 1997 - Leigh Kamman, long-time host of The Jazz Image, reflects on the artistry of the late great French violinist Stephane Grappelli. Listener also call-in with comments and questions.
December 9, 1997 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on the disturbing history of Canton Insane Asylum…and of the dead from institution that are now buried in the middle of city's Hiawatha golf course.
December 9, 1997 - A survey by the StarTribune and Harvard University finds a majority of Minnesota doctors have a lower opinion of managed care than patients. In the survey, doctors gave HMOs an average score of C, whereas patients gave their managed care plans a B-average. The survey comes as the American Medical Association is holding its annual meeting in Dallas, where managed care was supposed to be at the top of the agenda. Dr. Andrew Smith, a Minneapolis neurosurgeon, is a delegate to the AMA. I asked him why many doctors have negative feelings about managed care.