August 28, 2001 - The honking of a flight of geese is a common sound across the Great Lakes region, perhaps a bit too common. Later this fall, the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service plans to propose options for reducing the population of Giant Canada geese. A flock of the big birds can quickly cause thousands of dollars in damage to farm crops. The birds are also a big nuisance in urban areas because of the mess they leave behind. Biologists say it's critical the population be controlled.
August 28, 2001 - New reseach shows catnip offers an effective alternative to traditional mosquito repellents. Two researchers at Iowa State University found an oily substance in the plant is ten times more effective than DEET at keeping mosquitos away. Lead researcher Joel Coats tested the catnip oil on the yellow fever mosquito, a variety that isn't common in the midwest. But he says he's confident the oil will repel other types of mosquitos.
August 29, 2001 - New research shows radio waves may be an effective tool in fighting destructive infestations of Zebra Mussels. In an aquarium study, low frequency waves killed the Zebra Mussels without affecting fish or other native clam species. Treatment plants and utilities across the country have spent (M)millions of dollars removing the mussels from clogged intake pipes and equipment. Purdue University Chemistry Professor Matthew Ryan led the study. I asked him to describe how the radio waves work:
September 4, 2001 - People in Minnesota know what it means to have a short summer, and they're eager to get outside while the warmth lasts. If you need proof, look at the statistics. Minnesota has more golfers per capita than any other state. And you might be surprised to learn that Minnesota also leads the country in bicycle trails. Wisconsin is a close second. They each have about 13-hundred miles of trail. In fact, one-fourth of the bike trail miles in the country are in Minnesota and Wisconsin. This week, as part of our series, "Pedaling Minnesota," we'll take a closer look at the state's bicycle trails. We'll hear about building them, which is sometimes controversial. We'll hear why the state does so little to market its bike trails. And today, reporter Chris Julin takes us to one of the state's first -- the Munger Trail, which runs from Hinckley to Duluth. BACKANNOUNCE: Tomorrow on All Things Considered, we continue our "Pedaling Minnesota" series with a look at why Minnesota's recreation trails remain one of the state's best kept secrets. And, there's more information on our "Pedaling Minnesota" web page at www.minnesotapublicradio.org.
September 4, 2001 - Many communities in Minnesota are struggling to provide municipal water and sewer systems to residents. Small towns with aging septic tanks and other contamination problems want a clean drinking water supply. But finding funding and navigating state and federal bureaucracies is a daunting task. The town of Laporte in north central Minnesota, has been trying for eight years, and locals say they're running out of time. As Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson reports, the opening of a brand new school now hinges on completion of the water system... {
September 4, 2001 - (to follow NPR piece on efforts to control the virus in houston) Twin Cities mosquito control officials say its just a matter of time before West Nile virus shows up in the Minnesota. Two dead crows found in Wisconsin tested positive for the virus last week. Jim Stark is public affairs director for the Metropolitian Mosquito Control District. He says the virus is spreading across the U-S more quickly than most people thought:
September 6, 2001 - Connects central Minnesota towns Avon, Sauk Centre, Melrose, Albany, and Freeport. Landowners that have land next to the Lake Wobegon Trail have problems with people using it from instances of invasion of privacy and noise pollution from snowmobiles.
September 21, 2001 - SHOULD BE A GOOD WEEKEND TO OBSERVE FALL COLORS IN FAR NORTHERN COUNTIES... Topic September 11, 2001 A meteorological perspective The terrorists who flew commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center in New York City back on September 11th may have factored meteorology into their plans. A cold front with associated thundershowers had just passed through the region the previous night, ending shortly after sunset. As forecasted by the National
September 25, 2001 - There has been a lower demand for air travel and that also means low demand for jet fuel. In turn, that will help bring down the price of gas.
September 25, 2001 - State officials are asking pipeline operators around Minnesota to step-up security in the wake of this month's terrorist attacks. 85 pipeline companies operate 62-thousand miles of line that carry natural gas and several hazardous liquids. Those lines criss-cross the state. A presidential commission warned in 1997 that the nation's pipeline system is an attractive targets to terrorists. But Univeristy of Minnsota Chemical Engineering professor Lenny Schmidt says terrorists using the pipelines wouldn't get an effect anything like the September 11th attacks.