January 21, 2008 - As part of MPR's coverage of Minnesota's sesquicentennial, Midday asks who was living in Minnesota 150 years ago? Who's come since, and where did they come from? What brought people to Minnesota? Everyone's got a story. Here's your chance to ask historian Annette Atkins and Minnesota State Demographer Tom Gillaspy about your ancestors.
January 23, 2008 - Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Al Franken takes listener questions for Midday's "Meet the Candidates" series. Franken, 55, was born in New York City, but grew up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
January 24, 2008 - MPR's Gary Eichten interviews Louis Johnston, an economics professor at St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict, to discuss the tumultuous economy. Eichten also talks to MPR’s chief economics correspondent Chris Farrell to analyze the situation.
January 30, 2008 - Members of St. Paul’s House of Mercy Band think there's nothing hypocritical about parking on a bar stool on a Saturday night and then sliding into a church pew the following Sunday morning. MPR’s Chris Roberts talks with founder C.P. Larson, who says they're comfortable in both worlds.
January 31, 2008 - MPR’s Marianne Combs looks at the growing representation of transgender storytelling in local theater community. Combs highlights the play “Looking for Normal.” It's just one of several stories reaching Twin Cities stages about being transgender.
February 5, 2008 - MPR’s Laura Yuen visits International Market, a no-frills Asian shopping bazaar in St. Paul, which attracts thousands of customers a day. Now, the owner of International Market wants to expand his business into a tourist destination. He's asking the city of St. Paul for 2-million-dollars in tax breaks to complete his dream. But first, he may need to improve his reputation with city inspectors and some tenants.
February 7, 2008 - Minneapolis writer Charles Baxter describes his new novel "The Soul Thief" as being about "soul vampirism." It's a bit like identity theft, only instead of stealing a person's bank account and social security numbers, a Soul Thief tries to actually become the other person. Baxter who was nominated for a National Book Award for his book "Feast of Love," told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr "The Soul Thief" grew out of something that happened to him many years ago.
February 8, 2008 - All Things Considered’s Tom Crann interviews Ann DeGroot, outgoing executive director & co-founder of OutFront Minnesota. DeGroot shares her thoughts on the most impactful things to have happened in the gay and lesbian movement over the previous two decades.
February 8, 2008 - MPR’s Nanci Olesen talks with parents and students about what it is like to be away from one another while in college.
February 11, 2008 - Former Governors Al Quie, Arne Carlson and Wendell Anderson join Midday to preview the opening of the legislative session and Gov. Pawlenty's State of the State address.