July 11, 1996 - On July 11, 1996, Land O'Lakes celebrated its 75th anniversary with a gala celebration at its corporate headquarters with a VERY special guest. Culinary guru Julia Childs traveled to Arden Hills to celebrate the dairy products company's big day by, among other things, milking a cow. MPR's John Rabe was on hand to record the event…and even gets a cooking tip.
July 6, 1996 - MPR’s Catherine Winter reports on insect threat to state park trees in northern Minnesota. Winter talks with Becky Marty, resource manager at Itasca State Park, about efforts to save the woods.
July 4, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Rachel Reabe visited Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota as part of a report that years of bare bones budgets have taken their toll on Minnesota's park system. Officials say the resources and facilities are being neglected, as funding for parks has not kept pace with popularity.
July 3, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger visits the central Minnesota town of Crosby, which is having a comeback of sorts…from prospering former mining town to bustling “antique” town. Those windows now contain 40 antique stores. Locals are hoping the recovery expands to other businesses for community.
June 27, 1996 - Midday rebroadcasts the Minnesota Public Radio documentary Signs and Wonders, produced by Mary Losure. It takes a look at tongue-speaking and the rapidly growing Pentecostalism movement.
June 24, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports on ‘fiber farming’ in Minnesota. Northern Minnesota farmers are trying to grow and harvest hybrid poplar trees as a new source of pulp for the paper industry and even a possible savior of Minnesota forestlands.
June 17, 1996 - As U.S. farmers are getting older and the high price of starting an agricultural operation increases, Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil reports on a Minnesota program based in Granite Falls that is making efforts to get young farmers in the business. The hope is that by matching beginning farmers with established farmers, farm ownership can gradually be transferred to a new generation.
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.