Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
June 4, 1997 - Farm drainage ditches help keep thousands of acres of Minnesota cropland dry enough to produce crops each year. Some say the ditches do their job too well and are such efficient water movers they contribute to downstream flooding. During this year's floods one county engineer said ditches became "raging rivers", with their own distinct flood plains. Economic gain versus environmental damage....that's the arguement behind a dispute between two southwest Minnesota counties over the reconstruction of a farm drainage ditch. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports: The farmland water Yellow Medicine and Lyon
June 5, 1997 - When the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks abruptly canceled the remaining weeks of spring semester because of flooding... some of the l4 hundred seniors felt it was an early graduation present. They could proceed directly to the job market without taking finals or turning in papers. But it hasnt been as easy for others ..........especially those facing state examinations in the medical field and a tight local job market. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team has the story. Jennifer Bry was in the home stretch of nursing school. Finishing up four years of classes and practicums, she was looking forward to graduating from the University of North Dakota with a nursing degree. She had a surgical nursing job lined up at United Hospital in Grand Forks. After passing the state n
June 9, 1997 - Today is the 25th anniversary of one of the most deadly flash floods in U-S history. The Rapid City, South Dakota, flood killed 238 people and four additional bodies have never been found. In this first of two reports - Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland talks with several people who lost their homes and neighbors in the flood. ANNOUNCER OUT COPY: Tomorrow we'll hear about that clean-up - the funerals and the recovery in Rapid City and how some of the decisions made 25 years ago effect how we handle natural disasters today.
June 10, 1997 - The tabloids in Britain recently told how a young British exchange student essentially revived the spirit of the blitz when she volunteered during the flooding of the Red River Valley. Trouble is, the papers exaggerated a little about brave young Katie Ballinger, an 18-year old exchange student spending the school year in Baudette. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 6120 | TIME: 2:48 | OUTCUE: "...THAT WAS ENOUGH." --------------------------------------------------------- Liz Ballinger and her exchange student daughter Katie return to England next week. They're staying with Katie's host family in Baudette, Minnesota. She attended Lake of the Woods High School. Sun 28-MAY 19:11:12 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
June 10, 1997 - The 25th Anniversary of one of the most deadly flash floods in U-S history is being remembered today as a successful recovery effort - NOT for the devastation. In Rapid City South Dakota 238 people died in June of 1972 in a matter of hours as water rose to as high as 10 feet in places. Minnesota Public Radio has more on the recovery efforts: In the wee hours of the morning of June 10th 25 years ago people were starting to realize the devastation of the flash flood from the night before. Houses that once rounded out a neighborhood were blocking major roads - cars were stacked like dominoes and dead bodies were scattered in the debris. Sonya Sykora was 14 years old at the time of the flood. She says the da
June 11, 1997 - Relief has poured into flood ravaged Grand Forks... bottled water and cleaning supplies by the truck load... mountains of clothes.... and much needed cash. But at this point, a month and a half after the flood, one of the most precious commodities is musclepower.......people willing to pitch in and help residents put their houses and lives back in order. Some of that brute-strength is coming from an unlikely source..... Minnesota prison inmates. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team has the story.
June 12, 1997 - During this springs flooding in the Red River Valley, dotted through the coverage of the human drama were stories of deer and rabbits marooned on islands in the rising waters. Squirrels and raccoons were stranded in the treetops as the flood swirled around them. Its going to cost millions and take month if not years to rebuild the towns and the farms....but the flood is not expected to make a significant dent in wildlife populations. Most species are well adapted to survive natural disasters--- although human caused changes are another matter. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
June 12, 1997 - SPECIAL INTRO FOR MORNING EDITION As anyone in the Red River Valley can tell you, floodwaters dredge up an awful lot of junk you might never expect. And though the flooding wasn't as severe, when the waters of the Mississippi through the Twin Cities receded, tons of garbage was left along the banks. Dozens of volunteers boarded the Harriet Bishop Riverboat yesterday (THU) to help clean up some of that trash. Minnesota Public Radio's John Rabe was on the banks in Saint Paul riverboat stopped to drop off bags of garbage. That report from Minnesota Public Radio's John Rabe. Sun 28-MAY 19:10:01 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11
June 13, 1997 - When President Clinton declared major portions of Minnesota and North Dakota disaster areas two months ago, hundreds of federal disaster assistance employees poured into the flood stricken areas from all over the country. Their job was to help the thousands of flood victims with everything from temporary housing to unemployment to small business loans. Almost a quarter of a billion dollars of federal assistance has already been funneled to flood relief in Minnesota and North Dakota. In addition to writing the checks, disaster assistance employees have served up reassurance and compassion to people who feel like they've lost everything. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team prepared this profile of a federal worker assigned to the flood relief effort in East Grand Forks.
July 2, 1997 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on the clean-up effort underway in Monticello. A major storm front carved a 15-mile path of destruction through Wright County, downing trees and power lines.