August 17, 2000 - Donald Blom will be sentenced today for kidnapping and murdering Katie Poirier. He now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The sentencing comes just one day after a jury found him guilty. Minnesota Stephanie Hemphill reports on events at the courthouse in Virginia Wednesday. The St Louis County courtroom was packed, and the tension evident after five weeks of difficult and emotional testimony. Judge Gary Pagliacetti sternly warned against any outbursts regardless of the verdict. But when the crowd heard the word "guilty," a collective gasp of relief and satisfaction broke out. Defense attorney Rodney Brodin asked for a poll of the jury, and as each juror was called by name, they said yes, that is my verdict. Throughout Donald Blom was still, his hands clasped on the table in front of him, no emotion on his face. Katie Poirier's mother, Pam Poirier, sobbed silently and curled against her son Patrick. Outside, there were tears, grins and hugs, and people applauded as the Poirier family walked out of the courthouse for the last time.
August 17, 2000 - Donald Blom has received the maximum possible sentence in Minnesota - life in prison without parole - for kidnapping and murdering Katie Poirier. Today's sentencing hearing in Carlton was another dramatic episode in a case that has left many people feeling relieved but still angry. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. { The Poirier family asked that sentencing take place on Monday so they could have more time to prepare their victim impact statements. But in court, both of Katie's parents and her brother talked about how her murder has affected their lives. Steve Poirer, Katie's father, said to Donald Blom, "I don't know what God has coming for you but hopefully he'll allow Katie to put some boards on your fire."
August 18, 2000 -
August 22, 2000 - People in the tiny Northern Minnesota community of Meadowlands held a memorial service today - for their school. The Toivola-Meadowlands Charter School, one of the first in the state, is closing after seven years. Like many rural schools, it's a casualty of declining enrollment. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. { sfx: hymn (fades under):
August 24, 2000 - Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota Climatologist, joins Gary Eichten to answer listener weather questions live from the MPR booth at the State Fair.
August 28, 2000 - Minnesota farmers are getting ready to harvest what looks like another huge crop of corn and soybeans, something which seemed unlikely a few months ago. Drought concerns have disappeared and so have farmers hopes that dry weather and a poor harvest would boost rock bottom grain prices. That means many Minnesota farmers who gambled on drought have lost out. If predictions for a record harvest come true, grain prices will remain at the same depressed levels where they've been for the past three years. Tonight in the first of two stories looking toward harvest season, Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports:
August 29, 2000 - Hearings continue today on the Minnesota portion of the proposed power line between Duluth and Wausau Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports on last night's opening session. { The evening hearing started noisily. But once those crowd got into the hearing room, the discussion was detailed and wide-ranging. Technically, the question in this week's hearings is, should the short 12 mile section of the project in Minnesota be exempt from the normal environmental revuew? But opponents are discussing much broader questions about how we should power our lives. Speakers last night raisedf concerns about possible health effects of electromagnetic fields, more mercury in the environment, and lower property values. Northern Manitoba's Cross Lake Cree were represented by William Osborne. He said flooding from the massive hydroelectric power plants that the new line will allow to be sold in Wisconsin and throughout the midwest have destroyed his peoples way of life.
September 1, 2000 - weather insights from Professor Seeley.
September 4, 2000 - As of Sunday, attendance was up by about 50,000 people over last year and organizers say the great Minnesota get-together has gone smoothly. In a festival that celebrates sameness and tradition, fairgoers gave thumbs up to some of this year's new, adventurous culinary offerings. Meanwhile, some merchants blamed this year's cool weather for throwing off sales of thirst-quenching treats. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this report.
September 6, 2000 - The Nature Conservancy of Minnesota has nearly doubled its holdings with the purchase of 25,000 acres in Northern Minnesota. While it is now prairie, gravel and wetlands, the conservation group's new land once was completely underwater, part of the Lake Aggasiz lakebed. Aggasiz was huge, three times the size of Lake Superior. It covered parts of what is now Minnesota, the Dakotas and Canada. When it drained, the Aggasiz shoreline became wetlands and prairies. "Glacial Ridge," as the Nature Conservancy is calling its new purchase, was part of that former shoreline. Rob McKim, the State Director of the Minnesota Nature Conservancy, says that the area is important because it connects other wildlife management areas, and because Aggasiz left behind a unique topography.