February 17, 1997 - The U-S Department of Agricutlture will save billions of dollars as millions of acres of land return to production. The Freedom to Farm legislation passed last year requires millions of acres to be removed from the Conservation Reserve program. The program was established in the mid-80's to protect land from wind and water erosion and to help farmers through tough times. As ten year contracts begin to expire farmers are forced to decide if they're eligible to renew for another decade of guaranteed payments or if they'll farm the land and take advantage of higher prices for crops. Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland talked to two Lincoln county farmers about their plans: Minnesota's Lincoln county has the most Conservation Reserve Program acres per county in the state. 50 thousand acres lie untouched by the farmers who chose to turn it into conservation land in exchan
February 18, 1997 - On its rail lines across the country Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad plans to increase train speeds through towns to sixty miles per hour. Many towns and cities now have ordinances limiting train speeds but the Federal Railroad Administration has given BNSF the okay to increase speeds. Some North Dakota communities are trying to put the brakes on the plan. Minnesota Public Radio’s Dan Gunderson reports.
February 18, 1997 - The Twin Cities metropolitan area is the third most spread out in the country. It sprawls more than Phoenix or Dallas or even Los Angeles, a city notorious for its seemingly endless suburbs. Unlike states such as Florida or Oregon , Minnesota has no state wide land use planning to direct its growth. Bills that would take the first steps in that direction are expected to be introduced this session at the state capital, but no one expects easy solutions. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
February 19, 1997 - Minnesota's quarter of a million snowmobilers could pay more for registering their machines and be required to buy a ten dollar permit to ride on state trails. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports the measures passed their first hurdle at the legislature when members of a house committee endorsed them.
February 20, 1997 - THE F-B-I IS TRYING TO STEM THE FLOOD OF FORGED E-MAIL MESSAGES SENT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. THE MESSAGES THREATEN TO DELETE EVERY FILE ON COMPUTERS ON CAPITOL HILL. THE "SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS" SAYS THE MESSAGES CLAIM TO BE FROM A "GANG OF CYPHERPUNKS" DEDICATED TO WIPING OUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS OF THE NATION'S LAWMAKERS. THE E-MAIL MESSAGES CARRY THE RETURN ADDRESSES OF SOME LEGITIMATE INTERNET USERS. BUT THE IDEN
February 20, 1997 - Members of the environmental group Earth First! are stepping up their protests against logging practices in Minnesota. In December, Earth First demonstrators blocked the cutting of mature white pines in the Superior National Forest. Now the group says a council charged with protecting the state's forests is dragging its feet. Earth First! wants a ban on logging on public land until the Minnesota Forest Resources Council comes up with a plan to ensure forests are protected from overcutting. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
March 20, 1997 - The U.S. Forest Service is asking for public comment on a plan to log 110-year old red and white pines in the Superior National Forest. A blockade by members of the environmental group Earth First! stopped the logging in December, but if the new plan goes ahead, the trees will be logged next winter. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
March 26, 1997 - With all the predictions of severe flooding this spring, some Minnesotans are considering taking rather extraordinary precautions, such as flooding their basements themselves before murky flood waters can penetrate them. In the southwestern Minnesota town of Dawson, the local fire department has told residents it will fill their basements with clean water when flood waters begin to rise. The idea is to equalize pressure inside the home to protect foundations from crumbling and prevent the muck from gathering in the basement. We contacted Duane Hoeschen (Hession), regional coordinator in Mankato of the department of public safety's division of emergency management, to find out what he thought of the strategy and to explain it in a little more detail. Duane Hoeschen, regional coordinator of the state's divisio
March 26, 1997 - A new study shows a 25 percent drop in the rate at which mercury is accumulating in Minnesota lakes. The decline comes despite the fact that mercury contamination levels worldwide continue to climb. Like acid rain, mercury pollution is hard to fight, since it can spread thousands of miles from its source. The study, published in the April issue of Environmental Science and Technology, offers some of the first evidence that local cutbacks in mercury emissions are paying off close to home. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
March 31, 1997 - As farmers in Minnesota deal with the potential of flooding, they're also starting the spring planting process. But Minnesota News Network Farm Director Tom Rothman says it's too early to be making a lot of guesses about what the spring will bring. Tom Rothman of the Minnesota News Network. Sun 28-MAY 20:11:58 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001