May 8, 1998 - MPR special on the tobacco settlement. Includes report from MPR’s Elizabeth Stawiki, 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.
May 11, 1998 - Michael Ciresi, Minnesota’s lead state attorney for the tobacco trial, discusses the tobacco settlement, in which the tobacco industry will pay the State of Minnesota 6.1 billion dollars, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield 500 million dollars. Topics include banning of tobacco marketing to children, collaboration with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and litigation choices made. Ciresi also answers listener questions.
May 20, 1998 - Steve Young, a former dean of the Hamline University law school says it's unethical for the Robins Kaplan Miller & Ciresi Law Firm to charge $560 Million dollars for its work on the state's recently-settled tobacco lawsuit. Young filed a complaint with the Lawyers' Professional Responsibility Board, alleging that the size of the fee violates professional rules.
May 26, 1998 - MPR’s Gary Eichten presents a public reponse call-in show on the Minnesota Citizens Forum about crime. Various issues on crime, including racism, prevention, and poverty are commented upon.
May 26, 1998 - Minnesota Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III and Andrew Czajkowski of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota addresses Minnesota Meeting. Their presentation is titled: "Minnesota vs. Big Tobacco: Now What?" Speeches are followed by a question and answer period. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
May 26, 1998 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports on the fourth Citizen's Forum on the Governor's Race, held in four locations around the state on Friday, May 22, 1998. The subject of forum was crime. People from across the state gathered in Duluth, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Mankato to discuss and develop questions for the candidates running for Governor of Minnesota.
May 28, 1998 - As part of our "Meet the Candidates" series, the DFL candidates for Attorney General, State Senator Ember Reichgott Junge; former Commerce Commissioner Mike Hatch, and former US Attorney David Lillehaug, answer questions from listeners about various topics, including gun laws, HMOs, and death penalty. Program begins with a Minnesota attorney general report.
June 29, 1998 - Suzanna Sherry, professor at the University of Minnesota law school, talks about Supreme Court rulings that have come down at the end of the term. Rulings included Indian rights and State rights over federal courts. Justice Blackman’s legacy is also discussed. Sherry also answers listener questions. Program contains pledge drive segments.
July 1, 1998 - Ken Peterson, Chair of the Management Department at Metropolitan State University, discusses Metropolitan State University's annual Civic Confidence Poll. Peterson was co-director of the poll and shares the results. One of the key takeaways of poll showed that while participants had confidence in the future, a large number saw crime as a serious problem. Peterson also answers listener questions.
July 2, 1998 - Bob Walker, the President of Handgun Control, Inc and the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, discusses gun laws debate both nationally and in Minnesota. Topics include licensing, gun use by children, and gun legislation. Walker also answers listener questions.