November 26, 2001 - The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging states to adopt new quarantine laws to prepare for bioterrorism. Legal experts say if there were an outbreak of smallpox or some other highly contagious disease, the legal authority to act would fall to states, NOT the federal government. The CDC has floated a model state law calling for strict quarantines and compulsory vaccinations. So far, at least seven states including Minnesota are considering measures based on the CDC model. Minnesota's proposed legislation would give state health authorities powers greater than any they've used in the past, even during historic outbreaks of smallpox. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
November 9, 2001 - Last night in Minneapolis a croud of more than 200 gathered to support Minnesota's Somali community. It's been hit hard by the federal crackdown on financial organizations allegedly linked to terrorism. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
November 7, 2001 -
October 26, 2001 - A new report charges the Minnesota Department of Agriculture with failing its responsibility to protect the state's waters from pesticide contamination. A non-profit environmental group, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, will release the report on Monday. It's based on two years of research by the environmental group. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
October 3, 2001 - In Washington, the House of Representatives is expected to begin debate this week on a new farm bill. The bill contains a dramatic increase in funding for a program that helps livestock farmers cut pollution. But critics say most of the money would go to big, factory-style farms. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
September 19, 2001 - The prospect of increased military spending in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks has prompted a dramatic rise in the stock prices of some defense contractors---including Edina-based Alliant Techsystems. The company makes ammunition and precision guided munitions that may be needed as the nation goes to a war footing. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
September 10, 2001 -
September 3, 2001 - MPR’s Mary Losure reports on a union survey being highlighted at Minnesota State Fair that show issues in affordable housing for members.
August 20, 2001 - Pilots in ultra-light planes have led sucessful migrations of Canada geese, trumpeter swans and sandhill cranes. Now they're hoping to use the same technique to save an endangered species, the whooping crane. At a remote refuge in Wisconsin, pilots are training ten young whooping cranes for a twelve-hundred mile flight to Florida this fall. If all goes well, it will be a giant step toward taking the whooping crane off the endangered species list. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
August 10, 2001 - Prounouncer ValAdCo= val ADD koh A giant hog farm in southwest Minnesota is being investigated by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a sister agency of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. The agency is examining potential public health risks posed by ValAdCo (val ADD koh), a problem-plagued hog operation in Renville County. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.