April 28, 1979 - On this special regional public affairs program, MPR’s Rich Dietman interviews Dale Simonson of the Mental Health Association of Minnesota; Judge Susanne Sedgwick of Hennepin County District Court, Family Division; and Reverend Jay Croft, director of the Minnesota State Council for the Handicapped, who discuss mental health resources in the community. Highlighted topics include a definition of mental health, child abuse, and coping with special frustrations of being handicapped.
May 12, 1979 - On this special regional public affairs program, MPR’s Nancy Fushan and Tom Meersman examine current economic and legal issues affecting visual artists. The landmark court action involving late abstract painter Mark Rothko's estate is highlighted, via the comments of an attorney on the case.
May 15, 1979 - MPR’s Rich Dietman interviews Maynard Reynolds, professor of educational psychology at University of Minnesota, who discusses mainstreaming in school classrooms. Interview took place during National Handicapped Awareness Week.
May 17, 1979 - Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Wahl speaking at the first Farm Women's Forum, in Rochester. The subject of address was on farmers, farmers wives and farm ownership.
May 18, 1979 - MPR’s live coverage of Minnesota House of Representatives debating the issue of removing Independent-Republican Representative Robert Pavlak from his seat due to an election law violation in his campaign over former DFL Representative Arnold Kempe. (ADDITIONAL REFERENCE - Bob Pavlak was expelled for unfair campaign practices, and the seat was declared vacant. Pavlak ran unsuccessfully in the special election. Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. won the special election, and the DFL gained control of the House. In the process of selecting a Speaker, the DFL split into factions, with 26 DFLers supporting Fred C. Norton and 42 supporting Irv Anderson; however, 49 Independent-Republicans sided with the pro-Norton faction, and Norton became Speaker for the 1980 session.)
May 18, 1979 - MPR’s live coverage of The Minnesota House of Representatives completing final vote on the issue of removing Independent-Republican Representative Robert Pavlak from his seat due to an election law violation in his campaign over former DFL Representative Arnold Kempe. (ADDITIONAL REFERENCE - Bob Pavlak was expelled for unfair campaign practices, and the seat was declared vacant. Pavlak ran unsuccessfully in the special election. Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. won the special election, and the DFL gained control of the House. In the process of selecting a Speaker, the DFL split into factions, with 26 DFLers supporting Fred C. Norton and 42 supporting Irv Anderson; however, 49 Independent-Republicans sided with the pro-Norton faction, and Norton became Speaker for the 1980 session.)
May 29, 1979 - Joe and Nancy Paddock presents South Dakota Penitentiary inmates who write poetry. The prison program is called Poets at the Pen.
June 25, 1979 - Edwin Knoll, editor of The Progressive magazine, talks about the H-bomb article which was banned from publication in his magazine. Erwin Knoll explains why he should be able to publish an article on the working of a hydrogen bomb.
July 26, 1979 - Kenneth Young, Director of the Department of Court Services, Hennepin County; Cindy Turnure, Director of Research for the Crime Commission Planning Board; and Ray Cummings, Director of Planning and Evaluation for Court Services talks with MPR’s Dan Olson about crime in Minnesota. Topics include FBI study noting 17% increase in national crime statistics.
August 11, 1979 - On this regional public affairs program, C. Donald Peterson, Minnesota State Supreme Court justice; John Finnegan, executive editor at St. Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch; and Marshall Tannick, Minneapolis attorney and former journalist, discuss a number of 1979 court decisions affecting first amendment press rights including freedom of the press, the right to privacy, and the people's right to know.