June 29, 1998 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on multiple storms causing havoc in southeastern Minnesota. An uncommon weather scenario flooded homes and roads in a weekend filled with heavy rains, high winds and rapid-fire lightning in southeast Minnesota.
July 10, 1998 - One more house was demolished in St. Peter. It was old...built in the 1860's...and in need of restoration, but still, it was someone's home until the March 29th tornado. MPR's Lynette Nyman interviews the owner, Tom Gravelin, as she follows him through the recovery. His business is back up...while his home has finally come down. Frequently referred to as the 1998 Comfrey–St. Peter tornado outbreak, 14 tornadoes (including an F3 & F4) wrought destruction in southern Minnesota on March 29, 1998. More than 3,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes. The towns of St. Peter and Comfrey were utterly devastated. Storms left two people dead and dozens injured.
July 20, 1998 - A severe thunderstorm moved through St. Peter July 20th, 1998, downing trees and damaging roofs, with winds of 60 miles an hour. MPR’s Lynette Nyman interviewed Tom Gravelin on the impact this has on his life and how he plans to rebuild.
August 26, 1998 - (Saint Paul Wednesday ATC) There is a general sense of contentment among Americans about the good state of the nation's economy. Yet, here in Minnesota, family farmers are said to be facing a crisis because of low crop prices and a series of natural disasters. It's an issue that's now become part of the governror's race. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen Louise Boothe reports: Fall Harvest begins in less than a month. Even though a BOUNTY is expected there's little optimism among some farmers because of low commodity prices. Democrats place the blame on the Republican-backed Freedom to Farm bill that phased out federal price subsidies. In this year's mid-term elections, they're
August 27, 1998 - Mark Seeley presents his annual weather quiz to the audience at the State Fair. Topics include history of State Fair weather, hurricanes, and upcoming winter. Seeley also answers audience questions.
September 3, 1998 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on the short and long term affects of a warming Lake Superior. While swimmers enjoy a comfortable swim in the usually frigid waters of Lake Superior, the conditions might help predict some troubling consequences should the region warm several degrees over the next decades.
September 8, 1998 - LEAD: Over the past year, the number of genetically engineered crops grown in Minnesota has increased dramatically. Soybeans, corn and wheat have all been genetically altered to withstand disease and pests. But a growing consumer movement is fighting to ban the foods from grocery store shelves. Mainstreet Radio's Kathryn Herzog reports. Minnesota Morris Experiment Station to view the latest variety of Roundup Ready soybeans.The beans were created by the Monsanto corporatio
September 17, 1998 - Norm Coleman says HE's the only candidate for Governor who knows how to lower taxes -- and keep them low. He's been campaigning on that theme for months, but today (THURS) he got specific for the first time about which taxes he plans to cut -- and by how much. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: In the three months since the Republicans endorsed him for Governor, Norm Coleman has hinted he'd emphasize cuts in INCOME taxes over other kinds of tax relief. Now he's put hard numbers to his tax-cut promises, and it appears income tax cuts do indeed take the lion's share: Of the $1.08 Billion dollars in permanent tax relief, 1 Billion is income tax cuts and credits. ((COLEMAN: What we're looking for is something that is clear and is simple, soemthing that cuts across the board for all taxpayers. So we're giving the m9oney back the way it came in, and the simplest way, the most equitable way, so I can tell every Minnesota who's listenin
October 12, 1998 - Recovery from a natural disaster takes time. Months and years can go by before life seems normal again. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman returned to Saint Peter to see how people are doing just six months after the tornado disaster. She met with Saint Peter resident and business owner Nancy Jordett . Nancy Jordett is busy these days. She's rebuilding her life. Her home has a new roof. Her business...more than six months after the storm, is still in the basement of an employee's home. Her family? She says they're fine, but she says summer was a challenge.
November 10, 1998 - Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist, discusses Minnesota's long tradition of nasty blizzards that have marked Veteran's Day/Armistice Day over the decades, and Minnesota weather lore.