March 6, 1998 - The flood of 1997 set records all along the Red River of the North. The river rose to levels no one alive has ever seen. The high water caused billions of dollars in damage, but it also gave flood fighters some valuable insights that may help their communities and communities across the country fight future floods. In the final part of our series on the flood of '97, Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson examines what lessons were learned.
March 17, 1998 - Resort owners in the Northwest Angle of Minnesota are fed up with Canadian fishing regulations and the U-S's lack of response to their concerns. So fed up, in fact, that they're threatening to secede from the United States and join Canada. The Northwest Angle is that little notch of territory on the top of Minnesota. Thanks to a surveyor's error in 1775, the Angle is part of the United States, even though it's attached to Canada on one side, and otherwise surrounded by Lake of the Woods. The problem, say resort owners, is Canada won't allow people staying in Northwest Angle resorts to keep fish caught in Canadian waters. That's bad for businesses that depend on anglers. The one hundred or so residents of the Northwest Angle have one powerful ally in their quest for fishing justice... Minnesota 7th District Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson. Peterson's planning to introduce a bill in the next couple days that would allow the Northwest Angle to secede:
March 20, 1998 - The economy is strong - unemployment is low...seems just the equation that MIGHT mean the end for the nation's food shelves. But many food shelf operators say it's likely they'll serve even MORE people this year because of welfare reform. There have already been reports of a jump in the number of new clients looking for food. At this point, the connection isn't conclusive, but food shelf operators believe they are in a unique position to gauge the effects of welfare reform. Minnesota Public Radio's Gretchen Lehmann reports. It's the beginning of the month, the only down time here at St. Francis Food Shelf in Little Falls. By month's end, when paychecks have been stretched thin, there will be a long line of people waiting to pick up their monthly allot
March 27, 1998 - The recovery from last spring's flooding is going faster in Breckenridge, Minnesota, than anywhere else in the Red River Valley. Dikes already line the river banks of two rivers in the city. The Army Corps of Engineers is studying the city's need for further dike protection. But city officials are concerned the community could experience spring floods for years while they wait for the study to be completed. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports. In the middle of downtown Breckenridge, the Bois De Sioux River and the Ottertail River converge to form the Red River. This spring the rivers look peaceful...the water is slowing moving through the channel. It's a much
March 30, 1998 - Hundreds of people are working to repair the damage left in the wake of a tornado that swept through the city of St. Peter last night. People are stunned but grateful. Looking across the cityscape, some residents say its is hard to imagine only one person was killed. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports. Sun 28-MAY 11:52:28 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 30, 1998 - The National Weather Service is trying to catagorize the tornadoes that ripped through southern Minnesota yesterday. University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley says it's likely the tornadoes were what are called "F-Three," which means winds of 150 to 200 miles per hour: Seeley answers weather questions every Friday morning at 6:50 on Minnesota Public Radio's "Morning Edition." Sun 28-MAY 11:52:12 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 30, 1998 - Governor Carlson traveled to Saint Peter today to survey damaged caused by tornadoes yesterday. The Governor says he hopes to have a request for disaster aid to the federal government and state Legislature within a week. Emergency crews are working to restore power and phone service, and Authorities say it may be Friday before some residents of St. Peter have their electrical power back. Bob Julius is with the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency in Rochester, which serves Saint Peter. He says only the most crucial parts of Saint Peter have had the electricity restored.
March 30, 1998 - Tornadoes caused considerable damage in the communities of Comfry and St. Peter as they skipped east across south central Minnesota last evening. Their last stop on the ground was in Le Center in Le Sueur County. Several businesses and residences in Le Center were badly damaged but residents feel lucky the town escaped with only two minor injuries. Today, residents of Le Center were busy cleaning up and as Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports, Hispanic agricultural workers in the town face the biggest loses. SOUND OF TRUCK YANKING A TOPPLED TRAILER OFF ANOTHER TRUCK.
March 30, 1998 -
March 31, 1998 - State legislators lost no time responding to Sunday night's storm damage. A Senate committee has already passed one piece of disaster-relief legislation, and more relief is in the works. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Only sixteen hours after the last twister pulled back into the sky, a Senate committee voted for what amounts to a blank check for the devastated communities. The Senate Government Finance Committee approved what legislators call a "placeholder" -- legislation to dole out an unspecified amount of money to local governments in the stricken counties. For now, senators are guessing the state will have to spend $