Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
May 15, 1998 - While many farmers are enjoying perfect conditions for early spring planting there's an area in northeastern South Dakota into southeastern North Dakota where floods prevent farmers from getting to their fields. After years of wet weather, the water tables in this region are so close to the surface, that water is bubbling up from the ground. Recent heavy rains - with more than 12 inches in the past two weeks are making things worse. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: Rolling plains and expansive prairie is the typical landscape in northeastern South Dakota. It's an area where excess water fills sloughs then runs into the creeks that feed some of South Dakota's few lakes. The Glacier Lakes watershed is saturated adn the water now covers nearly every road in Day County. The lakes have swollen and are covering up a
May 18, 1998 - As many as 25,000 Twin Cities residents will be without power until tomorrow, four days after tornadoes and thunderstorms swept through the area. Northern States Power company says Friday's storms knocked out electricity to more than 400,000 customers in Minnesota and parts of the Dakotas. The utility says the storms affected more households than a l996 ice storm. Cleanup crews are hauling away debris and dealing with the thousands of downed trees caused by the storm. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports. The beads of perspiration popping from John Schotzsnyder's forehead gleam in the midday sun. He welcomes a chance to take a break from storm clean up to show a visitor the damage to his Shoreview home and the trees on his lot. Several damaged boughs hang precarious
May 19, 1998 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from the small community of Comfrey, Minnesota. Following the destructive March tornadoes that struck the area, Mark Steil talks with residents and local officials about recovery, rebuilding, and remembering. The topic of small towns in general and their economic health is also discussed.
May 26, 1998 - The federal government has awarded more than $21 million dollars to the city of Minneapolis for housing and community development. Federal officials say Minneapolis is an example of what they want cities to do to get federal housing money. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports.
May 28, 1998 - Minnesota is one of the few places without complaints against El Nino. The mysterious change in the weather has brought us a mild, sunny spring and staved off the humidity of summer. Commentator Wendy Knox says that the fabulous weather makes her think of cows. Wendy Knox is the artistic director of the Frank Theater and a gardening enthusiast. Sun 28-MAY 11:03:53 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
June 1, 1998 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on severe storms that rolled through the state the night of May 30th. The storms dumped hail in central Minnesota and roared through the Twin Cities, snapping trees in half and downing power lines. One particularly hard-hit area was South Saint Paul, with 80 mph winds measured.
June 2, 1998 - The Who's Song "My Generation" spoke for many baby boomers in the sixties, who couldn't envision the day when they'd be their parents' age. Thirty years on.... it's happened. According to the American Association of Retired People, one person every eight seconds turns 50 in the United States. Over time, the impact of baby boomer numbers has changed schools, the workplace and family life. And now, officials in Minnesota and throughout the country are trying to anticipate what kind of impact they'll have on the greying of America. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports.
June 2, 1998 - The March tornadoes in southwestern Minnesota forced many farmers to ask some very tough questions about their future. Rebuilding a farm operation broken apart by a tornado is difficult.... and this year's recovery is complicated by low grain, livestock and milk prices. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: The tornado tore a good chunk of the roof off the dairy barn on the Ron and Penny Mohr farm near New Ulm. It also ruined a couple of feed silos, toppling concrete blocks from one into the barn. Ron Mohr says within a few hours of the storm he knew he might have to sell his milk cows: :17 (There was guy came here at ten o'clock at night to help
June 2, 1998 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen visits St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood, where the clean up along the Highland Parkway is taking place after a windstorm downed much of the tree canopy in area. Along with trees, homes and cars were left damaged or destroyed.
June 2, 1998 - Stress is taking a toll on residents of Newport who are still without power. The town of four thousand people is eight miles south of St. Paul on the Mississippi river. About half of Newport's residents are still without power. The Saturday night storm hit the town hard, felling hundreds of old trees and causing extensive property damage. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more. audio . . .ambience Newport has the feel of a village. Modest homes, some only a stones throw from the Mississippi are shaded by state