May 19, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from the small community of Comfrey, Minnesota. Mark Steil takes a closer look at new laws governing the regulation of feedlots in Minnesota…laws which give more control over feedlots to local governments. Steil talks with State Legislators Steve Dille and Gary Kubly, as well as local officials.
May 19, 1998 - The reaction to news of a compromise on the BWCAW worked out between U.S. Representatives Jim Oberstar and Bruce Vento has been swift... and mixed. Oberstar's proposal to allow trucks on two wilderness portages has been entered into the transportation bill now under consideration by a Congressional Conference Committee. It has Vento's reluctant support after the addition of a provision removing some lakes from motor access.
May 20, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports that leading environmentalists are vowing to fight a proposal that would return trucks to two boat portages in Northern Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
May 20, 1998 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports that Tom Clancy has dropped his bid to purchase the Minnesota Vikings. The best-selling author had emerged as the surprise top bidder for the Vikings, but the efforts fell apart. The result is an open question on who will be the new owner of team.
May 21, 1998 - Mainstreet Radio's Catherine Winter reports on Cass Lake-Bena school district, a small district on the Leech Lake Reservation that has struggled with racial tension for years. The district is trying to serve its Native students better, but the case is still not settled.
May 25, 1998 - MPR’s Amy Radil reports on the history of musicians coming out of the Iron Range, which had a vibrant music scene, with scores of bands that never made the bigtime but played to packed dance halls every weekend.
May 26, 1998 - MPR’s Gary Eichten presents a public reponse call-in show on the Minnesota Citizens’ Forum about crime. Various issues on crime, including racism, prevention, and poverty are commented upon.
May 26, 1998 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports on the fourth Citizen's Forum on the Governor's Race, held in four locations around the state on Friday, May 22, 1998. The subject of forum was crime. People from across the state gathered in Duluth, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Mankato to discuss and develop questions for the candidates running for Governor of Minnesota.
May 29, 1998 - MPR’s Dan Olson profiles the local band Speaking in Tongues, a quartet which blends musical traditions from four different cultures. Olson interviews percussionist Marc Anderson and Chinese pipa master Gao Hong.
June 1, 1998 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on severe storms that rolled through the state the night of May 30th. The storms dumped hail in central Minnesota and roared through the Twin Cities, snapping trees in half and downing power lines. One particularly hard-hit area was South Saint Paul, with 80 mph winds measured.