November 20, 1985 - Mitch Snyder, director of the Center for Creative Non-Violence in Washington D.C., speaking to the National Forum on Urban Homelessness, held at the University of Minnesota. Snyder’s address was on the problems of the homeless. Snyder was the subject of a made-for-television 1986 biopic, “Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story,” starring Martin Sheen.
November 21, 1985 - A Midday broadcast of Westminster Town Hall Forum with novelist and short story writer Isaac Bashevis Singer. His address is entitled "The Stories of Isaac Singer."
December 5, 1985 - Jonathan Kozol speaking at a meeting hosted by the Minnesota Literacy Council. Kozol’s address was on illiteracy in United States. Kozol is a graduate of Harvard University. He is a Rhodes Scholar and has taught at Yale. Kozol has been researching illiteracy problems for more than two decades. His newest book is entitled "Illiterate America".
December 9, 1985 - Irwin Jacobs, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Minstar Incorporated, and president of the Jacobs Management Corporation, and Raymond Plank, chairman and chief executive officer of Apache Corporation debate at Minnesota Meeting. The topic of debate was “Corporate Takeovers: Who Wins? Who Loses?" Irwin Jacobs is a well-known corporate raider. Raymond Plank is the founder and co-chair of Stakeholders in American, a national coalition of CEOs that attempts to counter hostile takeover attempts. Ted Weyerhaeuser, chairman of Minnesota Meeting, moderated. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
January 13, 1986 - MPR’s George Boosey reports on Potter v. LaSalle Court Sports & Health Club case being heard at the Minnesota Supreme Court. The case stems from a complaint by gay man that health club discriminated against him due to his sexuality. Report includes clips of arguments presented by attorneys.
January 17, 1986 - Bob Dole, Kansas U.S. senator and senate majority leader, speaking to Carlson Lecture Series at the University of Minnesota's Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis. Dole addressed the topics of his wife Elizabeth, and the upcoming politics of 1986. After speech, Dole answered questions from the audience. Harlan Cleveland, the dean of the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, introduced Senator Dole.
January 18, 1986 - Minnesotan politicians LeClair Lambert and Don Fraser reflect on being present in D.C. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. The day included the famous Martin Luther King Jr. speech “I Have a Dream.”
January 20, 1986 - Dr. Alice Rivlin, director of economic studies at the Brookings Institution, speaking at Minnesota Meeting. Rivlin’s address is on the topic "Economic Choices 1984." Dr. Rivlin served for eight years as the first director of the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan agency of the U.S. Congress, which provides Congress with economic forecasts, budget projections and an analysis of budgetary issues. Dr. Rivlin has been an assistant secretary for planning and evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. She has also written extensively on economic, budgetary and public decision-making issues. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
January 28, 1986 - Midday broadcasts live coverage immediately after the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. The catastrophic failure took place during ascension about a minute after launch. Program presents various reports, commentary, and sounds upon aftermath of disaster.
January 28, 1986 - Don Fraser, Minneapolis mayor, gives his State of the City address. MPR’s Dan Olson and Euan Kerr report prior to the address. Afterward, they get commentary from various individuals at the event.