May 12, 1998 - Kate Trewick, assistant commissioner of the Department of Children, Families and Learning; and State Senator Larry Pogemiller, chair of the Senate K-12 Budget Committee, discuss the newly approved graduation standards called "Profile of Learning." Trewick and Pogemiller also answer listener questions.
May 8, 1998 - Midday presents an MPR special on the tobacco settlement. Program includes report from MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki, followed by speeches and interviews from Skip Humphrey, Minnesota attorney general; Michael Ciresi, state's lead attorney; jurors, and others. A key component to settlement was the banning of tobacco marketing to children.
February 25, 1998 - A Twin Cities speech by public radio host Ira Glass, host of "This American Life." He spoke as part of the MPR Broadcast Journalist Series, and talked about radio story-telling.
February 23, 1998 - As part of the continuing MPR series Voices of Minnesota, a presentation of conversations with James Griffin, one of Minnesota's first Black police officers and first deputy police chief for St. Paul; and Hennepin County Judge Pamela Alexander, Minnesota's first Black female judge.
February 13, 1998 - A Westminster Town Hall Forum address by former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove. Rita Dove's speech is entitled "The Poet's Voice."
February 3, 1998 - Midday previews the State of the State address and looks back in history to previous addresses. Guests Al Quie, former Republican governor; and Bob Vanasek, former DFL Speaker of the House share their reflections and listeners call in with questions.
January 2, 1998 - Midday presents the January edition of MPR’s Voices of Minnesota series, featuring interviews with three outgoing Minneapolis City Council members, who have nearly 70 years of experience between them: Alice Rainville, Walt Dziedzic, and Dennis Schulstad.
December 31, 1997 - A Midday rebroadcast of historian Stephen Ambrose's visit to MPR in 1997. Ambrose is the author of the best-selling books Citizen Soldiers, about D-Day until the end of World War II in Europe; and Undaunted Courage, about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
December 25, 1997 - This PRI Special, “It’s a Wonderful Christmas,” presents the book “The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale” by Philip Van Doren Stern, and read by Andy Williams. Originally created as a Christmas card by author, the story became known as the source material for the classic Capra film “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
December 25, 1997 - This PRI Special, “Voices of the West: A Cowboy Christmas,” presents a collection of thoughts, commentary, and music of the rural great west. Program is hosted by author Hal Cannon.