April 1, 2003 - Duluth's port director is retiring. Davis Helberg has been in charge of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority for 24 years. That makes him the longest serving port director in the Great Lakes, and second in seniority among all the nation's ports. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill talked with Helberg as he packed up his things, and found he's concerned about the port's future.
April 11, 2003 - Though the 71 degrees F high temperature at International Falls, MN on Wednesday, April 9th did not set a new record, it was only the 3rd time in history that the temperature has reached 70 F or higher there on that date.....the others were 72 F in 1977 and 77 F in 1987. Many other Minnesota communities reported highs of 70 F or above on Wednesday as well.
April 18, 2003 - New all-time state high temperature records were set on April 13 and 14 earlier this week. Both Benson and Montevideo reported highs of 93 degrees F on those dates, while Madison also reported a high of 93 F on April 14th. Numerous individual community record highs were set on both days as well, including an 89 F reading in the Twin Cities on April 14th....recall last year a new record high of 91 F was set on April 15th...
April 23, 2003 - Macalester College in Saint Paul officially flipped the switch today Wednesday on a 10 kilowat wind turbine that will feed electricity directly into the college's power grid. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
May 2, 2003 - Minnesota's reputation for cold was preserved during the month of April, when the state reported the nation's lowest temperature on three separate dates. On April 23rd, Embarrass reported a morning low of 17 degrees F. Again on April 29 and April 30, Embarrass reported morning lows of 12 F and 11 F, respectively, both record lows for that community, as well as lowest in the nation.
May 5, 2003 - Lots of people have a compost pile in the back yard. They throw their grass clippings and kitchen scraps in a pile and let it sit. Eventually it turns into rich black stuff that can be spread on the garden. In Duluth, folks have moved beyond the back yard pile. They compost on an industrial scale, using some surprising ingredients. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
May 9, 2003 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports on a Minnesota House Committee has voted to sell state land lying within the Federal Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. But it's raised fierce opposition from the environmental community and from within the Legislature. Report includes various speaking and interview clips.
May 9, 2003 - May's weather already has our attention... We are not very deep into May yet, but the month's weather has certainly grabbed our attention. In northern Minnesota, Embarrass reported a morning low of just 11 degrees F on the 2nd, the lowest temperature in the nation that day. May 4th and 5th brought severe weather to the nation primarily the central and southeastern states, and heavy rains to parts of Minnesota as well. The following locations reported new daily record rainfall amounts on May 5th..
May 14, 2003 - EVTAC has made it's last pellets. The Eveleth taconite company is shutting down. Four hundred and fifty workers will be laid off by the weekend. Company officials hope to eventually reopen EVTAC's iron mine and taconite pellet plant. But many fear that may never happen. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports:
May 16, 2003 - As winter turns to spring in Minnesota's North Woods, the owlman comes back. His real name is Bill Lane. His passion is northern forest owls. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.