November 30, 1998 - The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear a dispute over where to store highly radioactive waste from the nation's nuclear power plants. Spent nuclear fuel is building up at power plants across the nation, including Nothern State's Power's Prairie Island nuclear plant. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. Utilities including NSP had hoped the case would force the Federal Department of Energy to meet a 1998 deadline to accept the spent nuclear fuel. The Supreme Court's decision lets stand a lower court ruling that said the DOE does not have to take the waste until the agency has a place to put it. The DOE's permanent storage site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada won't be ready un
December 1, 1998 - In about a year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is expected to take gray wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan off the endangered species list. The return of the wolf is seen by some as a high profile success for the Endangered Species Act. The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to protect endangered animals and plants until their populations recover and they can be taken off the endangered species list.
December 1, 1998 - MPR’s Karen Louise Boothe reports that Governor Arne Carlson has presented a plan to spend another $51 million on three "quality of life" initiatives. the proposal calls for aid for homeless children, more funding for the arts, and money to clean up and maintain Minnesota lakes.
December 1, 1998 - Craig Edwards, meteorologist in charge of the Chanhassen office of the National Weather Service, talks about mild winter weather and record breaking temperatures. It reached 68 degrees at the Twin Cities airport this afternoon, breaking the old high of 57 set in 1962.
December 2, 1998 - ONE OF MINNESOTA'S MOST DIVISIVE DISPUTES NOW RESTS WITH THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. THE 9 JUSTICES PEPPERED ATTORNEYS WITH QUESTIONS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TODAY ON WHETHER THE MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE HAS RETAINED RIGHTS TO HUNT AND FISH OFF ITS RESERVATION FREE FROM STATE REGULATION. AT THE HEART OF THE DISPUTE IS WHETHER THE BAND HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEARFISH ON THE STATE'S PREMIER WALLEYE LAKE: LAKE MILLE LACS. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S ELIZABETH STAWICKI REPORTS... Sun 28-MAY 07:42:32 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
December 2, 1998 - The U-S Supreme Court hears arguments on a Minnesota treaty rights case this week (December 2nd) that could have wide-ranging implications for tribal rights throughout the country. The Court will decide whether the Mille Lacs (mill-LAKS') Band of Chippewa has retained rights to spearfish off its reservation free from State regulation. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The Chippewa say they need to carry on their centuries-old practice of spearfishing to keep their culture alive. But that tradition has enraged sportsfishermen and resort owners. They say the chippewa are depleting the lakes of the highly prized game fish--walleye. Spearing is an efficient way to fish and can result in a catch of hundreds of walleye in a few hours. During the 1980's violence erupted over this conflict in Wisconsin; a
December 3, 1998 - MPR's Brent Wolfe has this Mainstreet report on the study of tundra swans. The Upper Mississippi River between Wabasha and La Crosse is a temporary home to as many as 15,000 tundra swans, as they stop off here each winter enroute from their breeding grounds along Alaska's north slope to their wintering grounds on the Chesapeake Bay.
December 3, 1998 - MPR’s Mary Losure reports on Governor-elect Jesse Ventura touring the state’s Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Hundreds of state employees gave an enthusiastic welcome to Ventura as he visited the two state agencies that oversee Minnesota's environment.
December 4, 1998 - Farmers are planning a blockade at the Canadian border this weekend. Some of the dozens of border crossings from Minnesota to Seattle will be closed. Loggers in Maine say they will shut down a border crossing in solidarity with Midwestern farmers. Protest organizers say Canadian ag products are flooding the U-S market, driving down prices. They want more restrictions on Canadian trade. But some trade experts say farmers are fighting the wrong battle. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports... For Curt Trulson the issue is fairly simple. Canadian wheat is pouring into the U-S, and wheat prices are at rock bottom.
December 4, 1998 - Note host outcue! The Minnesota D-F-L Party is asking Minnesotans what went wrong in last month's election, and how should the party change. The D-F-L holds a public hearing at the Capitol tomorrow (Saturday) to get ideas. The soul-searching comes in the wake of devastating election defeats - their gubernatorial candidate came in third, they lost control of the Minnesota House and not one endorsed candidate for statewide office won. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... HOST OUTCUE: The D-F-L party holds its public hearing tomorrow (Saturday) at noon at the State Office Building. Reform ideas are posted on the party's web site at www.dfl.org.