October 13, 2005 - As part of the series “Polluted Waters - Costly Cleanup,” MPR’s Dan Olson reports on the Whitewater River and concerns of pollution contamination, resulting in damage to its ecosystem.
February 7, 2006 - MPR’s Stephanie Hemphill reports that a team of researchers has been trying to track down possible sources of the bacteria on the beaches of lake Superior in Duluth. What they've found so far is surprising, and it raises a big question about the standard way of testing for beach contamination.
March 6, 2006 - Former Minnesota Twins star, Kirby Puckett, remains in critical condition in a Phoenix, Arizona hospital after suffering what is being called a massive stroke. 45-year-old Puckett underwent surgery the day prior to relieve pressure due to bleeding in his brain. Dr. David Anderson, head of Neurology at the University of Minnesota, provides some background on strokes.
November 1, 2006 - The American RadioWorks documentary “Reports from a Warming Planet” takes you to parts of the planet where global warming is already making changes to life and landscape, and demonstrates how climate change is no longer restricted to scientific modeling about the future. It's happening now.
February 2, 2007 - Scientists more sure than ever that people cause global warming. A panel of leading scientists have concluded with 90% certainty that people are causing global warming. What can lawmakers and individuals do to about it? Guest Elizabeth Wilson, professor of energy and environmental policy and law at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs discusses the reports and climate change in general.
February 23, 2007 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports that researchers in Duluth say Lake Superior is quickly warming, even faster than the climate around the lake. They believe decreased lake ice over that last couple decades is behind the warming. With the water temperature change comes concerns over future impact for the local environment and lake species.
April 1, 2008 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports that there are urgent new efforts to keep a virus that's deadly to many kinds of fish out of Lake Superior. The disease, known as VHS, has quickly spread through the other Great Lakes. Minnesota officials say if it reaches Lake Superior, VHS could jump to inland waters and devastate the state's fishing industry.
May 12, 2008 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports that Lake Superior's low water in 2007’ revealed something disturbing…gaping rusted holes in much of the underwater steel in the Duluth-Superior harbor. The aggressive corrosion, discovered just a couple of years ago, has caused extensive damage below the water line. The cause is still a mystery, but studies have begun to identify some leading suspects.
August 5, 2009 - MPR’s Lorna Benson profiles a special little black dog named Batman. 2009 marks the one year anniversary of cancer treatment, a major milestone for the dog and University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2008, University researchers began an experimental procedure to save Batman from an aggressive brain tumor that threatened to kill him within a month.
January 28, 2010 - MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports that a deadly fish disease has been confirmed in Lake Superior. Researchers have identified the disease known as VHS in fish taken from four places in the lake, including the Duluth-Superior Harbor. It is not known yet if that means fish populations are at risk in the big lake.