September 8, 1989 - Mainstreet Radio’s John Biewen presents the documentary “Dancing on Beat: Portrait of a Reservation Family,” which follows the daily life of an Ojibwe family on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. Following documentary, Midday’s Bob Potter interviews Mike Bongo, director of American Indian OIC in Minneapolis, about his thoughts about documentary.
September 2, 1989 - Hyman Berman, history professor at University of Minnesota, discusses Minnesota's colorful labor history and the context that provides for current labor issues. Berman also answers listener questions.
August 17, 1989 - On this Midday, local author Howard Mohr answers listener questions and reads from his book, A Minnesota Book of Days (And a Few Nights). The book is a humorous almanac that chronicles Minnesota life through 366 daily entries.
July 26, 1989 - On this Midday program, conductor Leonard Slatkin, who is concluding his tenure as artistic director of the Minnesota Orchestra Sommerfest, has a conversation with MPR’s Bob Potter and answers listener questions about his approach to music making.
May 26, 1989 - A tribute to the late University of Minnesota political science professor, Mulford Q. Sibley. Program features his popular speech entitled, "My Last Lecture," as well as excerpts from an interview on Midday in June, 1982, and excerpts from a call-in program.
May 6, 1989 - Don Willeke, chairman of the Minnesota State Shade Tree Advisory Committee; and Dr. David French, professor of plant pathology and forestry resources at the University of Minnesota, discuss tree diseases, treatments, and tree planting at the start of Arbor Month. Willeke and French also answer listener questions.
April 4, 1989 - Midday highlights the controversy surrounding an increase in the minimum wage. It's being debated in the individual states and in the Congress - the U.S. House recently voted to increase the minimum wage, and the Senate is expected to take up the issue this week. The Bush administration has threatened a veto if the bill is not to its liking. Program begins with an independently produced documentary called "Minimum Wage: Maximum Controversy". Documentary is followed with MPR’s Bob Potter talking with Ken Peterson, Minnesota's Labor and Industry Commissioner; and John Fossum, director of the Industrial Relations Center at the University of Minnesota. "Minimum Wage: Maximum Controversy" was written and produced by Carlos Davidson, an independent producer in California. The narrator was Charles Bloomer. Funding was provided by the Eastman Fund, The Funding Exchange, Nu Lambda Trust, the Skaggs Foundation and the Vanguard Foundation.
March 28, 1989 - James Oberstar, Minnesota congressman and chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, discusses current air travel safety issues, including airport security, aging aircraft, and airplane maintenance. Oberstar also answers listener questions.
March 23, 1989 - Minneapolis businessman Harvey MacKay answers listener questions about how to succeed in business. MacKay is author of the best-selling book, How to Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten Alive.
March 18, 1989 - Joe Nathan, director of Center for School Change, discusses school choice in the public education system. Nathan also answers listener questions. Nathan is the author of "Public Schools by Choice: Expanding Opportunities for Parents Students and Teachers."