October 24, 2003 - The string of warm days earlier this week produced a number of high temperature records for individual communities, but perhaps the most remarkable record occurred on Sunday, October 19th when Browns Valley, MN Traverse County reported 90 degrees F. A temperature this high is most unusual for the second half of October, and was indeed a new state record high for October 19th, breaking the old record of of 88 F at Milan in 2000 and at Winona in 1950. There have been only five other years in Minnesota history, when temperatures of 90 F or higher have been recorded in the second half of the month they were 1910, 1927, 1947, 1950, and 1958. October 30, 1950 at Canby, MN marks the latest fall occurrence of 90 degrees F in the state. But the rest of this October looks to be colder than normal around the state.
October 28, 2003 - A winter storm warning is in effect for the Northeastern part of Minnesota due to heavy snow and periodic freezing rain. A small craft advisory is also in effect along the North and South shores of Lake Superior. Craig Sanders is a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Duluth. He says his office initially issued only a winter weather advisory this morning, but changed it to a warning once more information came in.
October 29, 2003 - MPR’s Stephanie Hemphill looks back at fight to stop the pollution of Lake Superior, an early chapter in the history of the environmental movement. It established the principle that the government can force industry to clean up its pollution.
October 30, 2003 - There's a tiny piece of the Big Woods still standing in Wayzata. Tuesday, voters in the western Twin Cities suburb next to Lake Minnetonka will decide its fate. On the ballot is a proposal, which if approved, would tax Wayzata property owners about three million dollars to help pay for preserving fourteen acres of trees. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
October 30, 2003 - The Duluth Schools are in trouble. The district is short $6 million dollars for next school year. The district is asking voters to raise property taxes to help close the gap. But even if the tax increase wins at the polls, the district will face a $2 million shortfall. And Duluth is not alone. On Tuesday, voters in more than 60 Minnesota school districts will decide whether to raise their taxes. Two years after the legislature took school funding off the property tax, 80% of districts are taxing themselves anyway. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
October 31, 2003 - Preliminary Climate Summary for October. It appears that mean October temperatures will range from 1 to 3 degrees F warmer than normal for most communities around the state. Temperature extremes during the month ranged from just 13 degrees F at Embarrass back on the 2nd, to 90 degrees F at Milan on the 7th and at Browns Valley on the 7th and the 20th..the latter being a new all-time state high temperature for that date.
November 14, 2003 - An 800-million dollar loan package earmarked for an electrical power plant on Minnesota's Iron Range has survived in the Federal Energy Bill. The loan package is one provision in a 17-hundred page bill that's expected to go before the U-S House and Senate next week. The bill also includes support for the region's ethanol industry. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports
November 14, 2003 - Some people in northern Minnesota are frustrated over a new law regulating all-terrain vehicles. The law says it's illegal to ride an ATV on certain types of wetlands. But in Koochiching County on the Canadian border, most of the land -- more than a million acres -- is wet. County officials say the law needs to be changed. As Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports, some lawmakers agree...
November 19, 2003 - Columbia Heights is trying to figure out what to do about the approximately 45 deer that have made themselves at home in the Twin Cities suburb. The herd resides on a 76-acre enclosed area owned by the Minneapolis Water Works. The land houses one of the state's largest water treatment plants and doesn't provide enough space or food for the dozens of deer that occupy it. Yesterday a task force recommended that the deer population be reduced by bow hunters. City Manager Walt Fehst says it's not uncommon to hear about deer popping up in the metro area. But he says the situation in Columbia Heights is unique.
November 21, 2003 - The U.S. Senate is expected to vote today on the federal energy bill. The bill would provide money to help build a new power plant in northern Minnesota. The plant would convert coal into gas to make electricity. Burning gas is much cleaner than burning coal. But critics say the Iron Range isn't the best place to use the technology. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.