May 5, 1998 - [Desk attempted to smooth out levels on the last piece from Robertson but they are still a little wild. Operator should ride them, especially transitions from actualities to middle voice track.] The upper midwest's warm dry spring continues to cause concern about grass and forest fires. In northern Minnesota, forest fire crews have been on standby for weeks... newly planted seedlings may die without rain... and the summer construction season is in full swing a month ahead of schedule. This is one of the driest springs in ten years for northern Wisconsin, where strict fire restrictions are in place. Minnesota Public Radio's Todd Moe has the first of several reports on the effects of the dry weather around the region.
May 6, 1998 - Warm, dry weather has helped spring fieldwork progress rapidly in the Dakotas and Minnesota. At least 81 percent of Minnesota's corn crop is in the ground -- one of the earliest planting seasons ever. In South Dakota, about 20 percent of the corn is in the ground...and the dry spring is allowing some South Dakota farmers into fields they haven't planted, for years. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: There are high hopes out in the farm fields this season. Mild weather and dry soil are allowing some of the earliest planting on record. On Bob White's farm in eastern South Dakota the red tractor has been working overtime,
May 7, 1998 - Recovery from a natural disaster takes time. Sometimes years. Since the tornado hit southern Minnesota last March, people across the region have been working to make life normal, or at least comfortable. Over the next few months we will be visiting with some of the people of St Peter, to see how they are doing. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman went back to meet cafe owner Tom Gravelin who is now living in a FEMA trailer. Tom Gravelin knows a lot of people in St. Peter. Those he knows best are artists, writers, and musicians...people who until recently had their own studios. Now they're knocking on the door of th
May 8, 1998 - When tobacco companies agreed to settle 40 state lawsuits against them last June, it did so with astonishing enthusiasm considering it was going to cost them more than 368-billion dollars. Critics, who are naturally suspicious of anything the Companies find acceptable, had little to use in an argument against the settlement.....until the Minnesota tobacco trial started. When it did, momentum toward a national deal stopped and the settlement collapsed. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Collins looks at how the Minnesota trial has changed the national debate on tobacco.
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.