July 3, 1998 - As part of the country’s 222nd birthday celebration, this program focuses on listener commentary on America, freedom, and what it means. Gary Eichten talks with callers, many of which are new immigrants. Program begins with a report from NPR’s political analyst Kevin Phillips.
July 10, 1998 - Minnesota Senator Rod Grams discusses major issues before Congress, including farm policy, IRS overhaul, tobacco bill, social security and sanctions. Grams also answers listener questions.
July 14, 1998 - Barb Frey, a human rights law consultant and University of Minnesota professor, discusses human rights and international tribunals. Frey is a delegate for Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights to the Diplomatic Conference on the International Criminal Court in Rome, and she shares her views. Frey also answers listener questions.
July 15, 1998 - Jim Koppel, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund of Minnesota, and Lynn Reed, research director for the Minnesota Taxpayers Association, discuss a new report on the effect of federal and state tax policies on families. Premise of study notes increase in taxes on families vs individuals, the causes, and potential solutions. Koppel and Reed also answer listener questions.
July 22, 1998 - Steve Correll and Vicki Tobin, representatives of the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, discuss how criminal background checks are done, and their effectiveness. Main topic is on checks done during a hiring process. Correll and Tobin also answer listener questions.
July 23, 1998 - Will Alexander, Community Notification Coordinator of the Department of Corrections, discusses the process in providing information to the public as it applies to Sex Offender Notification Law. Alexander has participated in 50 public meetings held to notified neighbors that a convicted sex offender will be living in their neighborhood. He shares his experiences of those meetings, and answers listener questions.
August 4, 1998 - Two candidates for Hennepin County Attorney discuss their plans for fighting crime. Sheryl Ramstad Hvass, of Rider Bennett law firm, is the Republican candidate. Amy Klobuchar, of Gray Plant Moody law firm, is the DFL candidate. Topics include burglary, juvenile justice system, National Night Out, and repeat offenders. Hvass and Klobuchar also answer listener questions.
August 4, 1998 - Susan Stamberg report on Miep Gies, a Dutch woman who hid Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis for 25 months before they were discovered on August 4, 1944. Gies was the woman who preserved Anne Frank's diary. Report is followed by Dan Olson interviewing Lucy Smith, a Holocaust survivor.
August 5, 1998 - Charlie Weaver, Republican candidate for Attorney General, discusses his campaign for Minnesota Attorney General. Topics include juvenile violence, and public safety focus vs. consumer advocacy. Weaver also answers listener questions. Program begins with a report from MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki on the issues and candidates for Attorney General.
August 14, 1998 - Sharon Sayles Belton, mayor of Minneapolis, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about her new budget for the city and the wide range of issues facing the city: housing, crime, schools, jobs, transportation and more. Program starts with discussion about Shubert Theatre and Block E development.