June 5, 1989 - Socorro Diokno, head of the Free Legal Assistance Group in the Philippines, discusses human rights in the Philippines. Diokno also answers listener questions. FLAG provides legal advice to Filipinos who have been victims of human rights abuses. Listener participation.
June 5, 1989 - House Speaker Bob Vanasek shares his frustration with Governor Rudy Perpich’s attitude in the tax bill. Vanasek feels the governor has had ample chance to act regarding tax reform and that delay is unnecessary.
June 6, 1989 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports on the Carlisle Band, a community band in small town Carlisle, MN. The band is known as the longest continously active band in the Midwest. Gunderson interviews members of the band.
June 10, 1989 - MPR’s Catherine Winter reports on the Bad Jazz performance at the Walker Art Center. Bad Jazz is a local three-men jazz music performance.
June 11, 1989 - Stephen Hawking, theoretical physicist and author of "A Brief History of Time”, speaking in Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota, as part of the Abigail and John Van Vleck lecture series. As Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at England's Cambridge University, Hawking occupies a chair once held by Isaac Newton. Hawking is renowned for his theories of black holes and the structure of space-time. He found that black holes - dense objects with gravity so strong even light can't escape - emit radiation just outside the boundary beyond which nothing can overcome the pull of gravity. He also initiated the concept that the continuity of space-time breaks down at infinitesimally small distances. Hawking has suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and now speaks about 10 words a minute with the aid of a computer voice synthesizer. By preparing speeches in advance, however, he can "speak" at a normal rate, although with an American accent.
June 13, 1989 - MPR’s Mike Mulcahy reports on rock star Prince's theatrical songs for the Tim Burton movie “Batman.” Mulcahy interviews individuals in the music industry about album release.
June 14, 1989 - Today on Midday is South African journalist Dumisani Kumalo. Working as a reporter in South Africa, Kumalo exposed the working conditions of miners and others subjected to harsh treatment. Then, later, Kumalo reported on South Africa's police force and the use of detention without trial. Kumalo is a founding member of the Union of Black Journalists, a group banned by the white-ruled South African government. Kumalo became an activist in the Black Consciousness Movement during the time of Steven Biko. Kumalo now lives in the United States due to police harassment in his own country. He spoke recently at Augsburg College in Minneapolis .
June 17, 1989 - Mike Mulcahy with Jack from the American Refugee Committee. The organization started in Chicago and is now 10 years old. The organization provided medical care to refugees in different areas of the world and is currently serving in Thailand, in the refugee camps.
June 20, 1989 - Rev. Jesse Jackson giving keynote address at the annual Minnesota Bar Association. Jackson’s speech was titled "The Future of Justice in America: Lawyers as Agents of Change."
June 21, 1989 - MPR’s Kate Smith reports on a Minnesota Twins try-out camp being held at the Metrodome. 30 young players show their talents in hopes of catching the eye of Jerry Bell, director of Scouting for the Twins organization.