June 13, 1997 - When President Clinton declared major portions of Minnesota and North Dakota disaster areas two months ago, hundreds of federal disaster assistance employees poured into the flood stricken areas from all over the country. Their job was to help the thousands of flood victims with everything from temporary housing to unemployment to small business loans. Almost a quarter of a billion dollars of federal assistance has already been funneled to flood relief in Minnesota and North Dakota. In addition to writing the checks, disaster assistance employees have served up reassurance and compassion to people who feel like they've lost everything. Rachel Reabe of our Mainstreet Radio team prepared this profile of a federal worker assigned to the flood relief effort in East Grand Forks.
June 14, 1997 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews Phil Gotsch and Scott Wolter, two ‘rockhounds’ who discuss their fascination with Lake Superior agates, which are among the oldest and most colorful agates in the world.
July 3, 1997 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports that local officials expect cleanup from the July 1st storm to last weeks, as several of the city's schools sustained heavy damage. One of the most damaged was Edison High School in Northeast community of Minneapolis.
July 9, 1997 - self-contained In the early 1800's, folk historians swept through the Finnish hinterland. What they collected ended up in the epic Kalevala (KAH-lay-vah-luh). It includes the story of a young girl who evades marriage to a 9-hundred year old magician by turning herself into a salmon. MUSIC UP
July 15, 1997 - It's been nearly three months since the swollen Red River gushed over the dike protecting the Lincoln Drive neighborhood in Grand Forks; yet the lives of neighborhood residents are still in flux. They've learned that flood recovery is agonizingly slow, and continues long after the nation's attention has moved on to another disaster. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum has been following the recovery progress with three families who live in the Lincoln Drive neighborhood, and has this report...
July 17, 1997 - capitol Members of a Senate K-12 Budget commitee heard testimony today from school officials representing flood-stricken communities who said their school must be re-built soon if students are to succeed. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: In small and medium sized communities...civic life revolves around the schools. And for communities like, ADA, the loss of a school building because of the Spring flooding and subsequent storms...the loss is about MUCh more than simply a BUILDING. School Superintendent Don Vallenga told committee members, the estimated cost of a new school is about 11-million dollars. The FEDS will pay about nin-million of it, but he's asking the state for the rest Vallenga says loca
July 18, 1997 - Midday discussion about Minnesota’s other state bird…mosquitos. Studio guests are Dave Noetzel, professor emeritus and extension entomologist at the University of Minnesota; and Jim Stark, public affair coordinator for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District. Listeners call in with questions about the pest.
July 31, 1997 - MPR’s Perry Finelli talks with Becky Rom, of the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness; and Mike Forsman, St. Louis County Commissioner about BWCA legislation in Congress and the mediation process.
August 18, 1997 - Families who lost their homes in spring flooding hope to find permanent housing before cold weather arrives. Many are still living in trailers or other temporary shelter. In the Minnesota River valley in the southern part of the state, flood repairs continue. Some people though are finding few housing options available. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports: Pettijohn street in Montevideo is nearly deserted. Most of the houses will be torn down, after being soaked by (in) six feet of flood water. Some homes are swathed in yellow police tape, condemned to the wrecking ball. Behind one house, there are signs of life:
August 20, 1997 - capitol Lawmakers completed their work of the special session in one day...and sent three major pieces of legislation to the Governor. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: Lawmakers in BOTH houses quickly passed the main bill BEHIND the special session...a 124-million dollar flood relief package that frees up money for home buyouts, flood prevention projects and economic development strategies aimed at keeping Minnesota businessness in the state. Governor Carlson calls the aid package, "unprecedented" while Republican Representative Tim Finseth says it gives flood victims a Hand UP not a hand OUT. BITE: green one Finseth, whose district in the northwestern corner of the state was hit h