March 15, 2002 - Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered that a special bile found in large quantities in the gall bladders of black bears can reduce damage caused by strokes and possibly other brain afflictions. Black bear gall bladder is enriched in urso-dioxy-cholic acid. Humans have the acid as well, although in very small quantities. Professor of Medicine, Dr. Clifford Steer, says the acid basically protects brain cells. He says the study confirmed what some ancient cultures already knew about black bear bile.
March 15, 2002 - Iron Range Steelworkers are pushing Congress to help the Steel industry provide promised health and pension benefits. This week a U.S. Senate Committee heard the latest plea from steel companies for a bailout of what's called legacy costs - the costs of providing health insurance to a retired work force. Thousands of older Northeast Minnesotans are losing those benefits in the aftermath of LTV Steel's bankruptcy. Thousands more wonder if they might be next. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports:
March 19, 2002 - (FOR M.E. TUESDAY)
March 20, 2002 - Interest groups with vastly different visons of the future of the Mississippi River turned out last night for a public meeting held by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps presented its latest version of a study on whether to expand the lock and dam system on the upper Mississippii. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
March 20, 2002 - One popular prediction before the release of the redistricting plan was the political powerhouse of Northern Minnesota would lose a lot of clout. With population shifts, political leaders were expecting the plan to eliminate some northern seats in the state legislature. But Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports the new lines turned out to be less traumatic for northern politicians than many expected:
March 20, 2002 - Spring is officially underway and so is the annual bird migration. Soon Minnesotans will see millions of robins, ducks, cranes and geese as they make their way north. Three years ago at this time, Englishman William Fiennes, was on his own North American journey following migrating snow geese from the plains of Texas to frigid Baffin Island ... an adventure he recounts in his new book, "The Snow Geese." Fiennes says his fascination with the birds was peaked after he read a book by Paul Gallico called "The Snow Goose." The story is about a migrating bird that gets blown off course, is shot down over England by a hunter and then saved by a lonely artist who provides sanctuary for the goose. Fiennes says he was haunted by the snow goose tale because it mirrored some of the circumstances of his life at the time.
March 21, 2002 - Even though spring has officially arrived - these recent temperatures and windchills are more typical of mid-winter. After a very mild January and February, March may be recorded as the coldest month of the year. Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay says the noticable drop in temperatures is statistically significant.
March 21, 2002 - Northern Minnesota is better known for iron mines and wilderness areas than for cutting edge industry. But one start-up company in Duluth is out in front in an important field - water quality monitoring. Apprise technologies products help protect water supplies all over the world. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
March 22, 2002 - To: The MPR Morning Edition Crew From: Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota Department of Soil, Water, and Climate Topic: Snow in Abundance Marquette, MI has recorded an exceptionally snowy winter. With 60 inches of snowfall so far in March, their winter total is now over 277 inches, breaking the record for seasonal snowfall of 272 inches set in 1996-1997. A warmer than normal Lake Superior has fueled this abundant snow
March 26, 2002 - Habitat for Humanity chapters around the country are building a new kind of volunteer crew. Women make up half of Habitat's volunteer force, but they do a lot of behind-the-scenes work like fundraising and public relations. Not many of them pound nails or fire up a saw. On the construction crews, only about one in seven is a woman. A new program called Women Build helps women develop construction skills, and gets more homes built for people in need. Two Women Build homes are under construction in Duluth. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {