Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
April 30, 1997 - Governor Carlson met today, with heads of state agencies, involved with the newly formed Flood Disaster Task Force. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: The task force signals a shift from emergency services and rescue efforts...to long term planning and policy for the recovery. The Governor told task force members , they must help the state begin to EMOTIONALLY prepare for the re-building of their communities because flood victims are beginning to ask the most fundamental questions as they return home: BITE: (blue one) Carlson says one of the more immediate pieces to the puzzle, is the HOU
April 30, 1997 - The National Weather Service has removed the flood warning for the Big Sioux River around Sioux Falls and city officials are busy removing protective dikes and levees surrounding the city. A hundred thousand sandbags were distributed in preparation for spring flooding and now it's time to take them all back. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: Sandbags are piled waste high and 15 feet wide in the zoo parking lot Tuesday morning. Six people are digging through the heep of burlap to find bags that aren't broken and put in their trunks or pick-up beds. Troy Path is hoping for about 400 pounds of sand.
May 1, 1997 - FEMA PHONE NUMBER = 1-800-462-9029 As homeowners return to flooded homes....they face some complex financial decisions on repairing the damage. It's likely that even those with flood insurance will find that not all their losses are covered. Some will fix their homes...others may decide its not worth the money. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports:
May 1, 1997 - While flood recovery is just beginning in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, just to the southeast the small community of Ada is further along. School reopened this week for high school students in the town of 1700, and emergency meals will only be served by the Salvation Army until the end of the week. Leif Enger of Mainstreet Radio reports.
May 1, 1997 - Some residents of East Grand Forks might have to find new places to live after the flood. City officials say homes in the Griggs and Sherlock parks neighborhoods of the city are so severly damaged, residents will probably have to rebuild elsewhere. Federal regulations state homes in a floodplain damaged beyond more than 50 percent of their assessed value cannot be rebuilt. Dick Grassel represents those neighborhoods on the city council. Dick Grassel is a member of the East Grand Forks City Council. Residents of the Griggs and Sherlock parks neighborhoods will meet with city off
May 1, 1997 - intro: Hundreds of people gathered in Fargo today to observe the National Day of Prayer. The mayors of Fargo and Moorhead, pastors from Grand Forks and Wahpeton, and teachers and students prayed for strength to rebuild their flood-damaged communities. Leif Enger of Mainstreet Radio has this sound portrait of today's ceremony. D-CART #9889 Runs 2:14 Music Out NOTE -- Host Backannounce 340 woman singing: "God is in control, we believe that his children will not be forsaken. God is in control, we will choose to remember and never be shaken..." FADE W/CROWD FX 4538 then to 1430: "Lord, it's been a tough year for many in this Valley. Many have fought long and hard to win a battle against nature. For some i
May 5, 1997 - For the last few weeks we have been hearing from the Reverend Craig Hanson from his home on the banks of the Red River in Fargo. He told us of the struggle to build the dikes... and the 24 hour-a-day watches to guard against leaks. He spoke of the ewxcitement as it appeared the river was going down, and then the distress as the Red began to rise again. The houses along his street were eventually ring-diked. Now the water is receding and the Fargo clean-up is in full swing. In the last of his floood diaries Craig Hanson looks back over all that happened. The Reverend Craig Hanson lives by the Red River in Fargo. We would like to thank him for sharing his story with us over the past month. Sun 28-MAY 19:41:27 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
May 5, 1997 - Though the flooding in Grand Forks has been dubbed a once-in-500-years event, experts say the next flood could happen soon -- like next year. University of North Dakota geographer Paul Todhunter says it's more than likely next spring will also bring high waters, if not as bad as last year. Floods, he says, naturally come in clusters: University of North Dakota geographer Paul Todhunter Sun 28-MAY 19:41:15 MPR NewsPro Archive - Fri 04/13/2001
May 5, 1997 - EVERY DAY, victims of domestic abuse looking for a way out quietly endure a frustrating search for shelter, only to hear repeatedly that there is no space available...they should call another shelter. What many women do not realize is that of the twelve domestic abuse shelters in the Twin Cities, there is almost ALWAYS a space somewhere. The challenge is finding it. But a new project underway this spring could make the search a little bit easier. The "Day One" project encourages shelters to share bed information with each other, so if they don't have space, they can refer women to another shelter that does have a bed. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, the project is long overdue in the eyes of abuse victims: | D-CART ITEM: 9585
May 6, 1997 - The Minnesota Senate has approved a PERMANENT gas tax increase of four cents, along with an additional PENNY tax for ONE year to help pay for repairs to roads and bridges damaged in Spring floods. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: The vote was close...34-to-31...and debate often broke down along urban-rural lines. It's a split that OFTEN surfaces over debates concerning transportation dollars, and was most evident during an exchange between DFL Senator Jane Ranum of Minneapolis, and Minority Leader Dean Johnson of Willmar: BITE: 22-secs Metropolitan legislators want the formula for divvying up