May 10, 2001 - Now that trees are budding and the ground is warming up, officials at the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area are assessing the damage from a large wildfire. About 6500 acres of state forest, grassland, and wetland went up in flames last October. The fire burned for eight days, and cost an estimated two million dollars. I visited the area with manager Dan Rhode. He says the fire was strong enough to cause a good amount of damage.
May 11, 2001 - More than a thousand people toasted Mississippi River revitalization at a banquet at Saint Paul's River Centre last night (Thurs). The dinner capped a day-long conference at which people involved in river development from Bemidji to Saint Louis traded advice and anecdotes about their efforts. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...
May 14, 2001 - President Bush will unveil his energy policy next Thursday when he visits St. Paul. He'll highlight the efforts of the city's riverfront District Energy plant, which provides heating and cooling to many downtown businesses. The President is expected to encourage conservation and the development of more renewable energy sources. But as midwest gas prices hover around the two dollar mark, his primary focus will be increasing conventional energy supplies. Mayor Norm Coleman says the trip is a tremendous honor for St. Paul.
May 15, 2001 - A wet spring has put many farmers behind schedule planting their crops. In fact inclement weather in the northern part of North Dakota has put some farmers way behind schedule harvesting some of last year's sunflower crops. The wet spring is an unpleasant reminder of last summer when a early season storm moved through the Red River Valley and northwest Minnesota, dumping up to eight inches of rain in the area. The deluge caused millions of dollars in damage to homes and crops. Researchers at North Dakota State University not only lost last years harvest, but valuable time in developing new hybrid crops that farmers need to remain competitive. MainStreet Radio's Bob Reha reports. { For Al Schneiter, *Chair of the Plant Sciences department at North Dakota State University* the flood is just a bad memory. Something he can joke about now. Asked if theres anything positive that came out of last summers disaster he chuckles.
May 15, 2001 - The farmers had to start planting late because of flooded fields from melted snow and preciptation. It's not a bad thing because this is prime spouting time.
May 16, 2001 - Even as people are cleaning up from this year's spring flooding, the clean-up continues from flooding LAST year. Last June heavy rains and sewer back-up swamped the basement of the North Dakota State University library. The water damaged more than 20-thousand books, micro film, magazines,and computers. Now almost a year later the staff is still working to recover from the deluge. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.
May 16, 2001 - A man made pond in Walker, Minnesota was drained, forcing birds to migrate. The DNR had to pull an illegal plug, which prohibited migration and animal population growth. The owner of the pond was not informed at all about the plans to pull the plug.
May 17, 2001 - The head of the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) should step up and help solve starvation and world hunger crises. What are the environmental and ethical issues involved? Charles Remenschneider, North American representative on the FAO, is interviewed.
May 17, 2001 - Now it's time for your comments. With president George W Bush is in Minnesota this morning to unveil his energy plan, we asked you, the listeners and visitors to our web site, for comments on what you think America's energy policies should be. And you responded with comments to our Soap Box feature at Minnesota Public Radio dot o-r-g. ... Brent in St. Paul writes: Conservation and efficient energy use must the central element in any energy plan. Americans by nature are wasteful. This habit has got to change. Increased use of renewable resources must also be a big part of any energy plan. There are plenty of sources out there just waitng to be tapped or futher exploited. These include wind, and solar energy. How about a tax credit for installation of solar panels on homes? Yet, why did the President cut funding for research and development into these renewable sources of energy? Those in charge of setting long-term policy should realize that these alternative sources of energy are INfinite and must be the central piece of any long-term plan. Richard Peterson of Moorehead writes: The Free-Market Approach Won't Work. The problem with it when it comes to energy is that the free market has a very short-term view. It will use up a resource before the rising costs promotes the development of alternatives. We must be proactive by promoting alternatives to burning fossil fuels. Yes, there are problems to be solved in developing alternative energy sources, but that is an opportunity for innovation and creativity. It can, and must be the next big driver for our economy, but it will require public, legislative incentives to start it up. The free market will wait until we use up the most convenient energy source before moving on to alternatives. Ken Hinnenkamp of Eden Prairie wrote this in our online Soapbox: We should think more long-term when trying to find solutions to our tough energy problems, which are likely to continue to get worse unless we all change our behavior. Cheap gas prices causes us to bu
May 17, 2001 - Over the last few weeks bright orange and black butterflies have been returning to the Minnesota landscape. As ever the Monarchs look remarkably fresh for having flown a long and circuitous route from their winter homes in Mexico. That journey has long been a source of fascination and mystery to humans. Every year volunteers, many of them school students, tag thousand of butterflies in the hope they will be captured in Mexico, and reveal a little more about how the Monarchs make their trip. For her book "Four Wings and a Prayer" author Sue Halpern spent almost a year travelling the Monarch flyways meeting the scientists and others who are trying to piece the puzzle together. She told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr her fascination began in Mexico. Author Sue Halpern will read from her book "Four Wings and a Prayer" at the Como Lakeside Pavilion on North Lexington Avenue in St Paul tonight at 7.