November 21, 2003 - Minnesotans throughout the state are bracing for the first major snowstorm of the season. And like any major storm, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is urging motorists to use extreme caution when traveling. But a news release issued by MnDOT today also says travelers may notice fewer snow plows on the roads due to reduced overtime costs and staffing changes. The news releases were sent by district engineers in several rural parts of the state. House and Senate DFLers say the changes are a result of budget cuts, another example, they say of how the state's budget cuts are affecting Minnesotans. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
November 21, 2003 - The U.S. Senate is expected to vote today on the federal energy bill. The bill would provide money to help build a new power plant in northern Minnesota. The plant would convert coal into gas to make electricity. Burning gas is much cleaner than burning coal. But critics say the Iron Range isn't the best place to use the technology. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
November 24, 2003 - A stalled federal energy bill is causing major headaches for Minnesota's wind energy industry. The legislation extends a tax credit for wind production. Without the credit some wind projects in the state could be in jeopardy. If the energy bill fails to pass, it could also affect ethanol production and a planned Iron Range power plant. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.
November 25, 2003 - Polar explorer Will Steger is preparing a quest across Northern Canada - a six month sled dog adventure that will bring the arctic into thousands of classrooms. Steger hasn't led a sled dog journey in five years, but says he came out of retirement concerned about global warming. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports:
November 26, 2003 - Minnesota DNR conservation officers are investigating a possible suspect in a tree top caper, that's devestated a state-owned black spruce plantation. Officials say the tops of ten to twenty thousand spruce trees were lopped-off recently, in a remote area north of Nashwauk on the Iron Range. It's thought the tree tops are on their way to other cities where they will be sold as small Christmas trees. Brian Buria is with the DNR's Bigfork office. He says a commercial first tippped him off to the theft.
November 26, 2003 - The last downtown movie theater in Duluth closed last month. But locals are trying to re-open it. A national historic preservation group is helping. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
December 4, 2003 - Minnesota's Iron Mining Industry is disappointed with President Bush today. But some people involved in the state's manufacturing sector are pleased. President Bush announced today he's dropping tariffs on imported steel products. The President's decision averts a threatened trade war with the European Union. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports.
December 5, 2003 - A scientist and former meteorologist was studying the language of elephants in the wild, and especially their mating calls. He found that the females emit an extremely low tone long sound wave mating call at certain times of the year, but they wait to do so typically until sunset or shortly after. These sounds can be heard by male elephants from as far as 10 miles. He inferred that elephants were using their meteorological knowledge in two respects 1 sound travels much farther over a landscape when there is a temperature inversion colder, denser air near the surface and this is often the case shortly after sunset; 2 surface winds often subside and calm after sunset and therefore permit sound to be detected at greater distances not having to compete against the aeolian sounds of the wind. In addition, sounds of longer wavelength tend to travel farther in the atmosphere than high pitched short wavelength sounds. On the other hand, perhaps elephants are simply in a more romantic mood after the sun goes down.
December 10, 2003 - The state Department of Natural Resources says more deer hunters are illegally leaving venison to rot or grabbing only the choicest parts instead of butchering the animal properly. Officials say hunters are taking the hind quarters, backstraps and tenderloins -- and leaving the front end of the deer. Some hunters are also improperly disposing of deer remains. Mark Johnson is executive director of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. He says a few bad apples are giving all hunters a bad name.
December 12, 2003 - The National Academy of Sciences is questioning the value of expanding the lock and dam system on the Upper Mississippi River. The Army Corps of Engineers commissioned the report released this week. The document urges the agency to pursue less expensive and more timely alternatives. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports.