October 28, 1997 - Midday offers live two-hour coverage of the legislative Special Session with a debate on the Twins ballpark/stadium in the Minnesota Senate. Debate includes gambling as a funding source. MPR reporter Martin Kaste joins Gary Eichten to provide analysis as debate plays out.
May 15, 1997 - Midday looks at Governor Arne Carlson's insistence that tax breaks for education expenses, including private school costs, be part of any education funding bill passed by the legislature. On this Talk of Minnesota, listeners call in and comment on whether the governor should stick to his guns or be willing to compromise.
April 17, 1997 - Midday focuses on education with guests Larry Pogemiller, DFL state senator, and Sandra Peterson, president of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers. Pogemiller and Peterson discuss common schools proposal, education standards, school choice, various programs, and answer listener call-in questions.
January 7, 1997 - On the opening day of the Minnesota Legislature, a Midday discussion with key legislators on the major issues coming up this session: taxes, welfare reform, education, crime, and Twins stadium. Program also includes an interview with Governor Arne Carlson about his hopes for the 1997-98 and a short profile on two new legislators.
March 28, 1996 - Midday discusses the 1996 Education Bill and changes in public education with guests DFL State Senator Larry Pogemiller, the chair of the Senate Education Committee; and Republican State Senator Gen Olson. Guests also answer listeners questions.
September 20, 1995 - Matthew Little, former president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP; Curt Johnson, chair of the Metropolitan Council and Minneapolis State; and Larry Pogemiller, Minnesota state senator, discuss the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's lawsuit against the state of Minnesota involving school desegregation.
August 18, 1995 - Arne Carlson, Minnesota governor, speaking to school administrators at Radisson hotel in Bloomington. Carlson addressed was about ways to improve Minnesota's education system. The Governor said school buildings should be open for a longer day and spoke about vouchers, performance-based pay, changes in teacher tenure and collective bargaining. Following speech, MPR’s Mike Mulcahy interviews Larry Pogemiller, Minnesota state senator and chair of the Senate Education Committee; and Alice Johnson, DFLMinnesota state representative and chair of the House Education Committee, give a DFL response to his speech. Mulcahy also takes listener comments.
May 18, 1995 - On this Midday, MPR’s Mark Mulcahy reports on the status of Minnesota state legislative as session nears an end. Following report, MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Steve Sviggum on jets and corporate blackmail, Larry Pogemiller on K-12 education, Becky Kelso on higher education, Carol Flynn on transportation, John Marty on elections and gift bans, Matt Entenza on child support, Ron Abrams on city/suburb wars, Gene Merriam on the big picture, and Doug Johnson on taxes.
January 10, 1995 - Larry Pogemiller, Minneapolis DFL state senator and chair of the State Senate's Education Committee; and Arlene Bush, the president of the Minnesota School Boards Association and a member of the Bloomington School Board, discuss public school funding issues. Topics include failed referendums and school cuts to staff and programs. Pogemiller and Bush also answer listener questions.