Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
February 10, 1998 - The Minnesota River valley could look different in a few years...and the river water may be much cleaner. What may be the most concentrated effort ever in Minnesota to clean a river is set to begin this spring..... assuming the U.S. Agriculture Department okays the state/federal effort. That approval is expected this month. The goal is to reduce the amount of agricultural run-off entering the river. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: This southern Minnesota field doesn't look much out of the ordinary with its spikes of brown grass poking through ice-encrusted snow: SOUNDS OF FOOTSTEPS FADE UP UNDER PREVIOUS :11 (We got good snow cover out here, we're looking
February 27, 1998 - Minnesota convicts are about to make a six million dollar difference in the state's schools by breaking up old computers. Inmates at the state prisons in Lino Lakes and Stillwater are cannibalising, rebuilding and upgrading thousands of used, computers which will end up at schools throughout Minnesota. Statewide, there are now about seven students for each computer in the schools. Organizers of the Computers For Schools project say they hope to lower that ratio to five to one. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... 4197 (Sound) A remodeled industrial classroom at the Minnesota Correctional Faci
February 27, 1998 - In the art world, sometimes the story behind an artist is just as important and capitivating as his or her work. Such is the case with Minneapolis artist Dennis Behr (Bear), who's having his drawings shown for the first time at Bloomington City Hall, as part of the Bloomington Art Center's Art in Public Spaces program. Behr is 52-years old and lives in a nursing home, because he's severely schizophrenic. He says he creates art to break out of the isolation imposed by his living quarters, and to do battle with the dark forces of his mental illness. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts reports. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 5123 | TIME: 11:55 | OUTCUE: "...SOC ---------------------------------------------------------
March 3, 1998 - The cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks... at least as the locals knew them... disappeared April 19th, 1997, when the Red River burst the dikes, washing through the streets, destroying houses and businesses. In the days following the flood local officials worried about a mass exodus from the area. Some people predicted as many as 20 percent of the people would leave forever. That didn't happen.... in the end, only three percent moved elsewhere. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports in the second report of our flood series, rebuilding has been a long and frustrating process that is still far from over.... (sound of measuring...work, etc.)
March 5, 1998 - FOR AIR THURSDAY AM Late last week the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks City councils officially endorsed a 300-million dollar flood protection plan. The proposed dikes will snake along both sides of the Red River...and if all goes as the Army Corps of Engineers plan it will prevent the re-occurrance of flooding on the scale of 1997. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports in Part 4 of our flood series, the construction of new dikes will come at the cost of more peoples homes and local history. For the people of Greater Grand Forks, the planning see
March 10, 1998 - Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist, answers listener questions about the weather. Topics include El Niño, and the warm winter.
March 10, 1998 - Midday continues a second hour with Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist, who answers listener questions about the weather. Topics include weather guide, ball lightning, and weather cycles.
March 20, 1998 - The economy is strong - unemployment is low...seems just the equation that MIGHT mean the end for the nation's food shelves. But many food shelf operators say it's likely they'll serve even MORE people this year because of welfare reform. There have already been reports of a jump in the number of new clients looking for food. At this point, the connection isn't conclusive, but food shelf operators believe they are in a unique position to gauge the effects of welfare reform. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports. It's the beginning of the month, the only down time here at St. Francis Food Shelf in Little Falls. By month's end, when paychecks have been stretched thin, there will be a long line of people waiting to pick up their monthly allot
March 27, 1998 - The recovery from last spring's flooding is going faster in Breckenridge, Minnesota, than anywhere else in the Red River Valley. Dikes already line the river banks of two rivers in the city. The Army Corps of Engineers is studying the city's need for further dike protection. But city officials are concerned the community could experience spring floods for years while they wait for the study to be completed. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports. In the middle of downtown Breckenridge, the Bois De Sioux River and the Ottertail River converge to form the Red River. This spring the rivers look peaceful...the water is slowing moving through the channel. It's a much
March 30, 1998 - Midday presents a special report on the tornadoes that destroyed large parts of St. Peter and Comfrey. MPR’s reporters detail the massive destruction in the Minnesota towns and provide updates on aftermath. Program also includes various interviews and accounts from listeners.