September 25, 2001 - Last summer's special session of the legislature changed the way Minnesotans pay for public schools. The state will now pay almost 80% of the basic public schools costs. The money will come from a new statewide property tax on businesses and cabins as well as from income and sales taxes. The reform was designed to ease the local property tax burden. But many rural school officials say they still aren't getting enough money from the state, and they plan to ask voters to approve additional property taxes to bridge the gap. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. { Superintendents say they're glad the state is increasing its spending on schools, but they say it's not enough. Most districts will cut budgets, or ask local voters to approve excess levies, or both.
September 28, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with climatologist Mark Seeley, who provides insights on the value of warm dirt. Summer severe weather topics are also discussed.
October 3, 2001 - Packing food for animals was usually done by union workers. Now that the strike is happening, managers and non-union staff is taking over that job.
October 3, 2001 - The planned expansion of a landfill which serves seven southwest Minnesota counties is on hold because of a dispute over a wetland. Lyon County officials lack the necessary state and federal permits for the expansion and the landfill is almost out of garbage storage capacity. The federal Environmental Protection Agency is the latest to step into the fight, citing the county this week for illegally dumping fill material into the wetland. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports:
October 3, 2001 - Minnesota mining is at a crossroads. A slump in the nation's steel industry has hammered the state's taconite producers. One Minnesota mine has closed, others have cut production and jobs. Now, fallout from the terror attacks threatens to push the industry, and the nation into recession. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher has the next installment of the MPR series, Economy On The Edge, a report on how different parts of the state are faring in the slowdown.
October 3, 2001 - Dry weather last week allowed for the DNR to set portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on fire to help growth.
October 3, 2001 - In Washington, the House of Representatives is expected to begin debate this week on a new farm bill. The bill contains a dramatic increase in funding for a program that helps livestock farmers cut pollution. But critics say most of the money would go to big, factory-style farms. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
October 9, 2001 - Heritage Farms in Decorah, Iowa grows heirloom seeds. The seeds came from all over the world, some from Bavaria and some from the Mayflower. Some are seeds from Thomas Jefferson's lettuces and General Lee's tomatoes. Now they are all being grown in Iowa.
October 9, 2001 - Static electricity can be amusing, annoying, and dangerous to our electronics.
October 10, 2001 - FBI agents wearing white moon suits and gas masks scoured the newspaper offices of two men whose exposure to anthrax has prompted heightened fear of bioterrorism across the country. The search turned up no further sign of anthrax in Robert Stevens' Florida office since traces were discovered on his computer keyboard. Stevens, a photo editor with the Sun tabloid newspaper, died last week of inhaled anthrax, a rare, particularly lethal form of the disease. Anthrax cases are rare in humans. The disease is much more commonly found in animals. Today, the University of Minnesota's Center for Animal Health and Food Safety is sponsering a teach-in on bio and agro-terrorism. Dr. Will Hueston (Houston) is the director of the Center. He says his veterinary students could play a key role in the fight against terrorism.