July 26, 2000 - Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil reports on tornado that struck Granite Falls, Minnesota. Steil gets firsthand accounts of the storm. The tornado is the latest disaster for a city which has seen floods and job losses in the last few years.
August 8, 2000 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports on a unique new Minneapolis bookstore.
August 14, 2000 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone speaks from the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Program also includes clips of speech Wellstone gave at "shadow convention.”
August 15, 2000 - MPR’s Gary Eichten has phone conversation with former Vice President Walter Mondale, who is attending the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Program also includes clip of speech about party history that Mondale gave at convention.
August 15, 2000 - MPR’s Lorna Benson talks with Ryan Olcott, founder of the rock band 12 Rods, about the group’s album “Separation Anxieties.”
August 15, 2000 - One of the great unanswerable questions of U.S. geography is: exactly where does "the west" begin? On the South Dakota border there's a lake that could be used to make a case for Minnesota as the gateway to the west. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil profiles Salt Lake, which has more in common with the land of cowboys and cattle than any of Minnesota's 10,000+ other lakes.
August 17, 2000 - MPR’s Annie Feidt reports on a local team of adventure-enthusiasts competing in the Eco-Challenge held in Sabah, Malaysia. The four members of team Northstar have spent months preparing to endure the 300-mile race that will test their skills in jungle trekking, river paddling, sailing, scuba diving, caving and mountain biking.
August 21, 2000 - MPR’s Mike Edgerly talks with Native American writer James Welch, author of “The Heartsong of Charging Elk.” Welch discusses his book, culture, and Native American history. Welch also answers listener questions. Welch is well known for his previous works, including his book “Killing Custer.”
August 24, 2000 - Republican U.S. Senator Rod Grams at the MPR booth at the State Fair answers listener questions about politics and the election this year.
August 24, 2000 - Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota Climatologist, joins Gary Eichten to answer listener weather questions live from the MPR booth at the State Fair.