February 3, 2003 - When Governor Tim Pawlenty outlined his plans for erasing a $356 million deficit projected between now and the end of June, affected interest groups converged on St. Paul to beg a reprieve. Producers of the corn-based fuel ethanol were among the most visible -- and not surprisingly, they've seen the most success at preserving their funding. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo examines the lobbying war at the Capitol.
February 3, 2003 - Coal has been admired as a precious stone, cursed as a health hazard, and hailed as the foundation of modern industry. Today, coal is the state's primary fuel for power plants. But, like most people, Barbara Freeze had never thought much about it. That changed when the former state assistant attorney general was assigned a case overseeing Minnesota's air quality laws. The case granted Freeze a unique look inside the coal industry. What she saw convinced her to quit her job and immerse herself in coal's 350 (m)million year history. Freeze's new book "Coal: A Human History" takes an in-depth look at that history and argues that the world's reliance on coal is taking a huge environmental toll. Freeze says it's hard to underestimate the impact coal has had.
February 5, 2003 - Minnesota corn growers are waiting to find out whether they can use a new herbicide this spring. "Balance Pro" is used in 17 states. But not in Minnesota, Michigan, or Wisconsin. Critics say Balance gets into rivers and lakes too easily, and it could harm wildlife or even humans. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
February 7, 2003 - The 3.8 inches of snow that fell on Groundhog Day Sunday, Feb 2 was the 3rd highest total historically for that date in the Twin Cities area. The 6.0 inch storm total snowfall, occurring over the 2nd and 3rd of the month was the second highest storm total historically, surpassed only by the 6.5 inches that fell in 1983. The Twin Cities now reports 8.0 inches of snowfall for February which is above normal.
February 17, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio’s Dan Gunderson reports on pesticide misuse in Minnesota, and investigates how violations of the law are often not punished, and sometimes ignored.
February 21, 2003 - Former Minnesota Governor Orville Freeman, who served as Agriculture Secretary under Presidents Kennedy andohnson, has died. He was 84. His family says Freeman died last night of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He had been living at Walker Methodist Health Center in south Minneapolis. Minnesota's 29th governor was a Minneapolis native. He was a University of Minnesota football star, a Marine during World War II and a close friend of Hubert Humphrey. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
February 21, 2003 - The Climate Prediction Center releases the new seasonal outlook on Thursday Feb 20 this week. This will look ahead to the period from March through May. I will have some comments. This weekend, I will be attending the Annual Lake Superior Design Retreat of the American Institute of Architects in Duluth. The topic I am covering concerns "Weather Myth and Little Known Weather Facts"......I have some examples...
February 27, 2003 - The John Beargrease Sled Dog race starts near Two Harbors Sunday. Organizers had to postpone the race for a month, and move the start 20 miles north because there isn't enough snow. But the thin snow cover won't bother one musher. Dee Morris drove up from St. Petersberg, Florida with her nine huskies. It's her first race. It's also the first time her dogs have seen snow. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
March 3, 2003 - The federal Environmental Protection Agency is getting ready to issue new rules about what taconite plants in Northeastern Minnesota can release into the air. But some environmental activists are upset that the new rules don't say anything about mercury. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
March 6, 2003 - The moose on Lake Superior's Isle Royale are some of the most closely studied animals in the world. Moose on the mainland of Minnesota are not so well known. There's more than 4,000 moose living in Minnesota's Arrowhead. Nobody's studied them at all. But a team of researchers is trying to change that. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill went along last week when the team was hunting moose to fit them with radio collars.