August 21, 2000 - A plant genetics conference in Minneapolis this week has drawn protesters who oppose the use of genetically modified foods. The conference, sponsored by the Cambridge Healthtech Institute at the Marriott downtown, addresses uses of genetics in crop production. But neither the Minneapolis police department nor the protesters are looking to repeat the confrontations that occurred at an animal genetics conference in July. Those face-offs resulted in arrests for demonstrators and criticism of police tactics. Minneapolis Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
August 21, 2000 - Agriculture changed forever in 1946 when the first herbicide, 2-4D, was introduced. Easy weed control meant higher yielding crops and less work for farmers. Many thought the endless battle against weeds was over. But in a growing number of cases, *54 years later* the weeds are winning. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
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 23, 2000 - Another exotic species is causing concern, this time in the Northeastern part of the state. Curly leaf pond weed has been in Minnesota since the late 1800's but a warm spring has boosted its population on lakes near Biwabik, Minnesota. Wendy Crowell, of the D-N-R's Eurasian water milfoil program, answered questions on the nusiance weed at meeting last night sponsored by the Cedar Island Lake Association. She says curly leaf pond weed has a distinct look:
August 23, 2000 - Federal divers have found a large infestation of zebra mussels on the Saint Croix River. The mussels were discovered last week on the lower end of the river, north of Prescott, Wisconsin. It's the first significant foothold by the mussels in the federally protected river. Jay Rendall is the exotic species program coordinator for the D-N-R. He says the Saint Croix has been considered a high risk location because it is so close to the infested Mississippi:
August 24, 2000 - The Clinton Administration gave its approval to guidelines that will allow scientists to use federal money in doing research with stem cells from human embryos. The National Institutes of Health issued the guidelines hoping for breakthroughs in treating diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes. Opponents say it's ethically wrong to use human embryos for such research. But in making his announcement, President Clinton said there could be "potentially staggering benefits" from stem cell research. Joining us on the line to talk about that potential is Catherine Versaillie (ver-SIGH), director of the Stem Cell Institute at the University of Minnesota.
August 24, 2000 - The price of gas has gone up 10 cents in the last month and is expected to keep climbing higher. According to the Triple-A in Minneapolis, the average price of unleaded in the Twin Cities is $1.47 a gallon. That's up almost 25 cents from a year ago at this time. Triple-A spokeswoman Dawn Duffy says this latest jump shouldn't come as a complete suprise:
August 25, 2000 - They're good for the garden, but in northern Minnesota's hardwood forests, earthworms are a regular menace. That's according to University of Minnesota-Duluth researcher Cynthia Hale. She says earthworms are killing tree seedlings by consuming duff. That's the layer of decaying plant matter on the forest floor, which seedlings prefer to grow in. She says there are two things you can look for in a forest bed to determine whether there is an infestation of worms.
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 5, 2000 - An early start to the bear hunting season hasn't done much to thin the state's growing black bear population. A third year of bumper crops of the bear's natural food source of nuts and berries have kept the animals healthy and reproducing at record rates. The Department of Natural Resources was hoping this hunting season would reduce the population by about 6,000 bears, but early numbers suggest hunters will only bring in about two-thirds that number, mainly because the well fed bears are not enticed by hunters bait. David Garshelis is the DNR Bear Project leader based in Grand Rapids. He says bear mortality is also low because North Woods residents are giving pesky bears a little more leeway.