July 6, 2001 - More than a million tiny weed-eating beetles have been released in endangered wetlands around the state by the Department of Agriculture. Since the early 90's beetles have been used as natures foil to purple loosestrife, a noxious, invasive weed that has crowded native plants out of more than 50-thousand Minnesota acres. Now a group of Red Wing High School students plan to build on the beetle's success, by introducing them to a new loosestrife-ridden site. But first, as Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally reports, they have to catch some. Carloads of Fish and Wildlife students bunch out along the edge of a Frontenac State Park waterway not far from their Red Wing school. Armed with small plastic bottles, students in waders and tennis shoes like Trent Nolton, examine tall purple-flowered reeds for galerucella beetles.
July 9, 2001 - Where can you hear works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Darius Milhaud, (me-YOH) and Bernstein's (BURN-stine) "West Side Story" performed on the same Wednesday evening? In Duluth, of course. The Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra's adventurous artistic director and conductor Warren Friesen, says he programs concerts the way he fixes dinner -- tossing together a tasty variety of interesting flavors and textures. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill samples a few courses.
July 10, 2001 - Dry conditions have prompted a number of Minnesota cities to enact water restrictions. Public Works Supervisor Doug Hartman. In Prior Lake, officials have issued an emergency ban on all outdoor watering. Hartman says new water emergency means Prior Lake's 15,000 residents face steeper fines for violations.
July 11, 2001 - In Duluth tonight, the Parks and Recreation Commission hears public comment on a controversial proposal to build a golf course and lodge on Spirit Mountain. The Commission approved the $24 million project last month, but people opposing it are still hoping the development can be stopped. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
July 12, 2001 - Dry conditions are forcing new restrictions on wilderness hiking, campfires and outdoor burning in Northeastern Minnesota. Firefighting reinforcements are arriving in case wildfire breaks out in the huge blowdown in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
July 12, 2001 - A report to be released today by the Brookings Institution says the Twin Cities are among the fastest-sprawling areas in the country. The report says the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area is developing a vast amount of open land to accommodate relatively small increases in population.
July 12, 2001 - The dry weather has prompted officials in the Boundary Water Canoe Area to ban open fires throughout the BWCA. Officials are worried that a fire could quickly get out of control and could ignite the hundreds of thousands of blown down trees that were knocked down during a severe storm two years ago.
July 12, 2001 - The weather has been dry as a bone in the last three weeks in Minnesota. Since mid-June, the Twin Cities has had only 4 days with rain. The recent dry weather is making life difficult for farmers who, a few weeks ago, were worried about flooding.
July 12, 2001 - For many lake cabin owners, those cattails and other plants growing along the shore are weeds cluttering the beach. But those plants are an important part of aquatic habitat, and the Department of Natural Resources is trying to reduce the amount of lakeshore cleared each year. It's prepared to use the courts in some cases.
July 13, 2001 - Ecological economics is a relatively new field combining economics with environmental and social issues. A conference in Duluth this week is bringing together about 200 academics, business people, and government officials. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill visited with some of them to find out what ecological economics is all about.