January 27, 1997 - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants to increase the cost of a fishing license. The DNR says the quality of fishing in Minnesota is at stake. but the chairman of a key legislative committee and some fishing groups says if the DNR wants to raise fees it must agree to be more accountable. Minnesota Public Radio’s Dan Gunderson reports.
January 27, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio's Catherine Winter reports from Embarrass, where several dozen people spend time in sleeping in snow shelters to test everything from sleeping bags to cell phones. Temperatures in northern Minnesota provide perfect weather for camping…if you want to find out how your camping gear performs in the bitter cold.
February 5, 1997 - Some residents in Northeastern Minnesota are fed up with the legislatures's slow movement on deer feeding. They're taking matters into their own hands and launching private deer feeding efforts.
February 5, 1997 - A State Senate panel has approved a bill to allocate 20-million dollars from the General Fund to pay for emergency snow removal. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: Those who testified before the Transportation Budget Division, didn't even have the LANGUAGE to explain the hardships they're living with...the video and the photographs coming out of the regions hardest hit by winters storms say it best. Senate minority leader Dean Johnson says the constituents in his western minnesota district are living under duress:
February 5, 1997 - A Senate panel today approved money to provide emergency food for the state's snow-bound deer population despite objections from the Department of Natural Resources. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports.
February 12, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports that there's a chance deep snows of the 96-97’ winter are only "part one" of a weather disaster. The spring flood potential may lie in a secret hidden within the snow…the water amount it contains.
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.