April 27, 2001 - Minnesota rivers still face the threat of floods and with rains expected over the weekend, it will be awhile before waters recede. The Minnesota River at Jordan is expected to remain above flood stage for at least three to four weeks. In St. Paul, the Mississippi River could remain at flood stage for the next three weeks. And, the St. Croix crested today in Stillwater at its highest level since the record flood of 1965. The town of Afton is nestled alongside the St. Croix. In the past 24 hours they've stacked 12-thousand sandbags and today, mayor Charlie Devine ordered eight-thousand more. Water is filling basements in homes in the flood plain, and Devine has required the shutoff of septic systems.
April 27, 2001 - It's been three years since a tornado wiped out Saint Peter's famous canopy of trees. This weekend, a new playground is going up to mark the spot where one of the town's huge trees grew. More than a thousand volunteers will transform an empty spot into a scene out of ninetieth century river town life. Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally reports:
April 30, 2001 - Water levels remain high across Minnesota. Officials report the Mississippi river will crest a second time in Saint Paul today.
May 1, 2001 - Severe weather continues to pummel parts of Minnesota. We've had reports of several possible tornadoes. Currently there is a tornado warning for Waseca and Steele counties until 6:45. There have also been numerous thunderstorms. We have a warning in effect for Dakota, Washington, Ramsey and Pine counties until 6:30. Rich Nystat is a meterologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. He says these storms have been very strong.
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May 4, 2001 - The Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, a research group, reports lead, cadmium, chromium and arsenic are just a few of the toxic metals that appear in many fertilizers.
May 4, 2001 - The Spring Fire season has arrived with a vengeance in Minnesota, with more than 300 wildfires last weekend. It's an ominous sign of what could be very lively fire season. In Northeastern Minnesota, officials worry about fire in timber badly damaged in a July 1999 blowdown storm. Despite intense planning and preparations, some believe the danger of fire might be higher this year than last, although as Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports, not everyone: {sfx, chain saw)
May 4, 2001 - Allergies are spurred from the late start of spring.
May 7, 2001 - Saint Paul is solidifying its plans for three summers from now, when a fleet of riverboats will come churning upstream bringing visitors to explore the Upper Mississippi. City officials today (Mon) released a list of thirty-seven projects that various neighborhood, business, and arts groups have commited to complete in time for the "Grand Excursion of 2004." Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...