December 8, 2000 -
December 8, 2000 -
December 8, 2000 - Environmental groups are calling on Congress to reform the Army Corps of Engineers in the wake of a Pentagon report confirming the Corps doctored numbers in a feasibility study of expanded locks on the Mississippi River. Critics say the Corps of Engineers is too quick to back massive engineering projects. But farm groups say they NEED bigger locks on the Mississippi to reduce their shipping costs. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. For more information about the controversy over expansion of locks and dams on the Mississippi go to minnesotapublicradio.org to see our series called "Changing Course: The Future of the Mississippi." {
December 12, 2000 - The State Department of Commerce predicts demand for electricity in Minnesota will outstrip supply in five years. Now business leaders and others are urging state regulators to prevent a shortfall ... without permitting big price hikes. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce held a forum today to examine the choices Minnesota faces in deciding how to restructure its power sector. The chamber also brought in officials from other states to relate their triumphs, and failures. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
December 13, 2000 - More natural gas was found, but it won't be accessed until spring. It will provide more business and work. Right now, the fixed amount of natural gas makes the prices very high.
December 15, 2000 - Mark Seeley talks about the warm up from last week's frigid temperatures.
December 20, 2000 -
December 22, 2000 - A Fillmore County judge this afternoon ruled against the state's pollution control agency and ordered further environmental testing of a proposed feedlot site. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports.
December 28, 2000 - Health officials in Wisconsin and Minnesota are re-evaluating the effectiveness of efforts to get the word out about the dangers of mercury in fish. Mercury can cause developmental and neurological problems, especially in fetuses and young children. Most Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes are contaminated with mercury as a result of airborne pollution, and both states publish advisories indicating how much fish people should eat from various lakes. But a recent study showed only about a fourth of Wisconsin women of childbearing age know about the advisories. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. Mercury accumulates in the flesh of fish. The older and larger a fish, the more contanimated it's likely to be. Minnesota's advisories are lake-specific suggesting limits depending on fish size and the age of the consumer. For instance, it tells children - and women who might have children - they should not eat 20-inch or larger walleye from the St. Louis River near Duluth. And they should limit their meals of smaller walleye to one each month. But how are non-angling fish-eaters to know that? For years the advisories have been available with fishing licenses and at bait shops. The Wisconsin DNR's Jim Amrhein (AM-rine) says the word isn't getting from the anglers to their families.
December 28, 2000 - By the time this storm ends tomorrow, the Twin Cities could see up to 9 inches of new snow added to our current 21 inches, moving us close to a December record. Meteorologist Bruce Watson says it has also been unusually cold this month.