June 12, 2002 - An unusual house is going up in Duluth. The beams and outside walls were built in a factory, using technology developed in Japan. It's only the second house to be built in North America with the Japanese system. The builders say the idea could be an opportunity for a new industry in Minnesota. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
June 17, 2002 - People in Roseau, near the Canadian border, are beginning the process of cleaning up after the worst flood in that town's history. Water from the rain-swollen Roseau River receded over the weekend, after nearly a full week of devastation. City officials place early damage estimates at more than $120 million dollars as residents are discovering just how much they've lost.
June 19, 2002 - Oral arguments concluded today in a hearing over Donald Blom's request for a new trial. Blom was convicted two years ago of murdering Moose Lake convenience store clerk Katie Poirier. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
June 25, 2002 - The three major party candidates for governor debated in Duluth today. They spoke at the Minnesota Rural Summit, a yearly meeting of rural economic development workers. This year the summit's focus was the link between health care and rural economic development. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
June 25, 2002 - State climatologist Bruce Watson explains the concept of wet-dry cycle and how recent heavy rains are part of a long term weather cycle. 8 inches of rain fell in the metro area on the night of June 24, 2002. Watson says the month ranks among the top ten soggiest on record.
July 8, 2002 - Nearly one third of homes in Minnesota use on-site systems to treat household wastewater. And the number is growing, as baby boomers retire to northern lakes. Many on-site systems, especially in northern Minnesota, don't protect groundwater and nearby lakes from contamination. Now, people are trying new technologies that may cost more but may work a lot better. And health officials are gradually moving toward new ways of monitoring the performance of on-site septic systems. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
July 10, 2002 - Northeastern Minnesota has some special challenges when it comes to handling human waste. Health officials say most of the septic systems in St. Louis County don't function properly. Now, people are beginning to experiment with new kinds of septic systems that might work better than the traditional trench system. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
July 12, 2002 - The stadium debate will be back at the Capitol again next year. Now that a new Twins ballpark in St. Paul seems all but dead, Hennepin County officials say they'll try to persuade lawmakers to take up the issue again next session. The four major party gubernatorial candidates say they're willing to allow Hennepin County to bid for a new ballpark, but some key legislators are skeptical about the prospects for revisiting the issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
July 30, 2002 - Many Americans are distressed about the stock market, and angry about corporate fraud. At a conference in Duluth, some people are trying to get organized to do something about both. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
August 2, 2002 - The tall-masted sailing ship Niagara is visiting Duluth this weekend. During the War of 1812, the original Niagara helped defeat the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry made his famous remark - "We have met the enemy and they are ours" from the deck of this ship. The original Niagara was built in Erie, Pennsylvania. The replica is part of a living museum collection, and it's on a tour around the Great Lakes. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.