September 12, 1996 - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and Nobel Prize winner, speaks at Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for the annual Global Voices Lecture series. Heaney reads numerous poems during speech.
September 30, 1996 - A special Midday re-broadcast of national "Congressional Debate" in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Debate features Newt Gingrich, speaker of the House; Trent Lott, Senate majority leader; Tom Daschle, Senate minority leader; and Dick Gephardt, House minority leader. Topics include Medicare, Family First, tax credits, terrorism, and environment. Debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer, host of PBS’s NewsHour. After debate, political analysts Tom Horner and Bob Meek provide commentary on debates and report on the congressional elections in Minnesota.
September 30, 1996 - A special extended Midday program about 1996 election with two debates and commentary.
October 7, 1996 - Midday presents a rebroadcast of the first Presidential debate between President Bill Clinton and his Republican challenger Bob Dole. The debate was held at Bushnell Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut. Debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer, host of PBS’s NewsHour.
October 10, 1996 - Midday presents a rebroadcast of the vice-presidential debate between Vice President Al Gore and his republican challenger, former Congressman Jack Kemp. The debate was held at St. Petersburg, Florida. Debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer, host of PBS’s NewsHour.
October 17, 1996 - Midday presents a rebroadcast of the second and final Presidential debate between President Bill Clinton and his Republican challenger Bob Dole. The townhall debate was held at Shiley Theatre, University of San Diego. Debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer, host of PBS’s NewsHour.
November 5, 1996 - St. Paul native Toni Stone, the first woman to play on a men's professional baseball team, died on November 2nd, 1996 at a nursing home near Oakland, California. She was 75 years old. In 1990, Stone came back to St. Paul to talk to a group of students during Women's History Month. MPR’s Bill Wareham was there and presents this audio from an original 1990 broadcast as a remembrance.
November 6, 1996 - Midday looks at election results with MPR political analysts DFLer Bob Meek and Republican Tom Horner. Program includes news conferences by the winners/losers and call-in from listeners and local political members.
November 25, 1996 - Midday presents a Westminster Town Hall Forum with writer, photographer, and artist Gordon Parks. His address is entitled “A Life of Art.” Parks recalls his family, time in St. Paul, and his art. Following the speech, Parks answers audience questions.
January 9, 1997 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports on Minnesota Twins release of stadium proposal. State lawmakers now know it will cost upwards of $200 million to ensure the Twins remain in Minnesota. The team announced it would contribute $83 million of the estimated $350 million needed to build a new ballpark. Though the public would have to come up with the rest, it would get something no other community has…a 49% ownership interest in the team.