February 20, 2001 - The rebound in the number of birds of prey is due in part to the work of a small branch of researchers and volunteers at the University of Minnesota. As part of our series this week, "Universal U," Minnesota Public Radio's Steven John reports on the work of The Raptor Center. {Dr. Pat Redig was a veterinary student in 1974 when he co-founded the Raptor Center. The Raptor Center would play a key role in bringing back from the brink of extinction, the bald eagle, peregrine falcon and osprey.
February 20, 2001 - Developed in the 1960s in the town of Bethel, the University of Minnesota took it over and has developed it at Cedar Creek.
March 6, 2001 - Snow drifts are piled high in western Minnesota reminding many people of the winter four years ago when the spring melt lead to record flooding. But the snow is not quite as deep as 1997, and that has most hoping this year's high water will be more a nuisance than a threat. As the snow begins to melt, residents of the Minnesota River valley are preparing; hoping for a slow, controlled melt, but ready just in case March brings more heavy snow or rain. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports:
March 7, 2001 - Spring in the Red River Valley is often a mixed blessing. Residents welcome the warmer temperatures, but shudder at the inevitability of at least some flooding along the Red River of the North. Now after years of discussion, planning and testing, the national Weather Service has developed a new system for issuing flood forecasts. As Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services or A-H-P-S is getting mixed reviews. (22) {
March 9, 2001 - INTRO-- Tigers will be in the spotlight at the Minnesota Zoo this weekend. The zoo has organized a weekend of speakers, films, kids' games, and other activities-- all to educate the public about tiger conservation. The Minnesota Zoo has five Amur tigers of its own-- and it's also considered a leader in international tiger conservation efforts. Dr. Ron Tilson is the director of conservation at the zoo. He's just returned from Indonesia, where the zoo is involved in an ongoing study of wild Sumatran tigers. He says tigers are in big trouble.
March 9, 2001 -
March 12, 2001 - Today's big snowstorm was a reminder that it is still winter, despite the few signs of spring we've seen lately. This storm dumped as much as 8 inches of new snow in extreme southern Minnesota, with lesser snowfall amounts throughout the rest of the region. Bill Togstad is a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.
March 13, 2001 - Minnesota's boom and bust taconite industry enjoyed a long healthy period in the 1990's. But by 1998, steel makers began to feel the full of effects of open trade on the global market. The struggle ended for Minnesota's second largest taconite producer in January, when LTV Steel Corporation closed it's Hoyt Lakes mine and taconite pellet plant. Now, as Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports, other producers are fighting to stay open.
March 13, 2001 - Despite exploding consumer demand, the state's Department of Agriculture plans to slash funding to organic and sustainable programs under a budget proposal currently awaiting legislative approval. Under the 2002-2003 budget, money will be redirected to new initiatives designed to attract a broader range of farmers. The state's agriculture commissioner says his department needs to invest money in more market friendly programs, despite numbers from the Organic Trade Association indicating US sales of organic produce has jumped more than 122-percent since 1996. Mainstreet's Erin Galbally reports the first of two stories on the state's shifting marketing philosophy when it comes to agriculture.
March 14, 2001 - Koochiching County officials in northern Minnesota are sponsoring a snowmobile radar run this weekend in Voyageurs National Park, despite warnings from park officials that the event is against federal regulations. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports... For the past 18 years, Voyageurs National Park has allowed an International Falls area snowmobile club to conduct a radar run on Lake Kabetogama within park boundaries. Snow sleds would race one at a time across the frozen surface competing for the fastest speeds. But this year, park officials denied the request. That irked the Koochiching County Board enough to prompt them to host their own radar run. Commissioner Wade Pavleck...