January 5, 2005 - Duluth and St. Paul moved a step closer today (WED) to winning millions of dollars to build new community centers to be run by the Salvation Army. The money comes from the estate of Joan Kroc, the widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
February 9, 2005 - Mainstreet Radio's Tom Robertson reports on a plan to build an interpretive center in the Big Bog State Recreation Area in northern Minnesota. The idea is making its way through the Legislature as the Senate has earmarked $1.4 million for the project. Supporters are hoping to get the project added to the House bonding bill in the coming weeks. The 9,000-acre Big Bog State Recreation Area was created by the Legislature five years ago.
February 22, 2005 - MPR’s Mike Edgerly and Sasha Aslanian present an American RadioWorks documentary, titled “Toxic Traces.” The documentary raises questions about who is responsible for the safety of the public and the environment, and about whether state agencies are doing enough to protect citizens from toxic chemicals.
February 23, 2005 - Retired federal judge Miles Lord is asking Governor Pawlenty and the legislature to put a moratorium on new taconite projects on the Iron Range, until questions are answered about health concerns. Lord issued the landmark ruling in 1974, that forced Reserve Mining Company to stop dumping its waste rock into Lake Superior. Scientists had found asbestos-like fibers in the rock. Now Lord says the state hasn't done enough to find out whether those fibers are making miners sick. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
February 23, 2005 - Retired federal judge Miles Lord says Minnesota should do more to protect the health of taconite miners -- before the going ahead with several new taconite projects on the Iron Range. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
February 23, 2005 - Retired federal judge Miles Lord is calling on Governor Pawlenty and the legislature to do more to protect the health of taconite miners -- before they go ahead with several new taconite projects on the Iron Range. Lord issued the landmark ruling that forced Reserve Mining Company to stop dumping its waste rock into Lake Superior, because scientists had found asbestos-like fibers in the rock. Now he says those fibers could be making a lot of miners sick.
February 24, 2005 - Retired federal judge Miles Lord is calling on Governor Pawlenty and the legislature to do more to protect the health of taconite miners -- before they go ahead with several new taconite projects on the Iron Range. Lord issued the landmark ruling that forced Reserve Mining Company to stop dumping its waste rock into Lake Superior, because scientists had found asbestos-like fibers in the rock. Now he says those fibers could be making a lot of miners sick.
March 8, 2005 - White Earth has become the first reservation in the country to ban the introduction or growth of genetically modified wild rice seeds. Now, some White Earth Band members want to take it one step further. They want the Legislature to ban genetically modified wild rice statewide. Wild rice experts with the University of Minnesota, however, say the tribe's worries are unwarranted. The lakes and rivers on the White Earth Indian Reservation in northwest Minnesota are an ideal habitat for wild rice, and an important cultural food to the Ojibwe people.
May 4, 2005 - Duluth cookbook author Bea Ojakangas has won an award from the James Beard Foundation in New York City. Chefs and food writers around the country voted to induct Ojakangas into the Cookbook Hall of Fame. They cited her "Great Scandinavian Baking Book" as having lasting impact in the field. She published it 15 years ago, after research on recipes in the Scandinavian countries.
May 20, 2005 - Governor Pawlenty today (FRIDAY) proposed that the state collect an additional 75-cents a pack on cigarettes. He's calling the new money a "health impact fee," and says the money would be used to pay for state health care costs. Pawlenty insists his proposal is a fee, not a tax. The distinction is critical because a budget deal could hinge on Pawlenty's ability to come away from negotiations saying he's standing by his pledge to not raise taxes. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...