May 28, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports of an emerging safety issue in rural Minnesota…a lack of firefighters. Even as demands for fire protection rise, the number of volunteers is shrinking; in many communities there are barely enough firefighters to answer a call for help.
May 20, 1996 - All Things Considered’s John Rabe reports from the press box of the Metrodome. Rabe gets a tutorial on how to act, orders food, gathers a few dome stories, and captures moments of the ball game.
May 20, 1996 - Midday speaks with Minnesota 8th District Congressman Jim Oberstar, whose in the studio to talk about aviation safety, the BWCA, the congressional debate over the budget, and more. Oberstar, the senior member of Minnesota's congressional delegation, also answers listener questions.
May 15, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Catherine Winter caught up with the Rolling Plains Gallery as it made a stop on Minnesota's Iron Range. The mobile art gallery has paintings bolted to the inside of a semi trailer. The Plains Art Museum in Fargo saw it as a unique solution to the problem of art galleries being few and far between in rural Minnesota, where residents don't often get to see works by professional artists.
May 8, 1996 - Midday presents a special Talk of Minnesota program to hear the views of Minnesota Public Radio listeners on the proposed cut in the federal gas tax repeal and energy conservation in general.
May 6, 1996 - Midday examines land mines and their disastrous effects. In the first half of the program, a rebroadcast of the Minnesota Public Radio documentary about about efforts to clear land mines in Cambodia called A Plague of Plastic Soldiers. Afterwards, a call-in program about land mines and defense and military procurement issues with David Evans, director of National Defense Issues for Business Executives for National Security.
May 3, 1996 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson reports that in rural areas of Minnesota, a profound silence about AIDS and HIV is present. As a result, people with AIDS find little support…and sometimes encounter outright rejection. That stigma is of great concern to family members, church, and health officials.
May 2, 1996 - Midday presents Scott Cook, the Founder and Chairman of Intuit, speaking at Minnesota Meeting held at Hilton in downtown Minneapolis. Cook’s address was titled "Buying and Selling in Cyberspace: The Future of Electronic Commerce and Financial Services in the Information Age." After speech, Cook answers audience questions.
May 1, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Rachel Reabe visits the Cass Lake-Bena School District in northern Minnesota and has this report on alternative education programs. Reabe interviews students and educators about ALC’s benefits to some.
April 30, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Catherine Winter reports on efforts of a restorative justice program in Bemidji. Winter talks with criminal justice officials about the approach to better connect criminals to understanding and addressing their unlawful acts beyond the sole consequence of incarceration.