Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
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.
January 31, 1997 - Many Minnesota school districts are wondering how to make up for missed "snow days." There's a lot of winter still to come, and while it's common for schools to build two or three extra days into the educational calendar, two or three extra WEEKs are another matter. Leif Enger of Mainstreet Radio reports. Any school superintendent will tell you, you can't win. Call off school on a stormy day, and parents will complain the weather's
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 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 20, 1997 - THE F-B-I IS TRYING TO STEM THE FLOOD OF FORGED E-MAIL MESSAGES SENT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. THE MESSAGES THREATEN TO DELETE EVERY FILE ON COMPUTERS ON CAPITOL HILL. THE "SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS" SAYS THE MESSAGES CLAIM TO BE FROM A "GANG OF CYPHERPUNKS" DEDICATED TO WIPING OUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS OF THE NATION'S LAWMAKERS. THE E-MAIL MESSAGES CARRY THE RETURN ADDRESSES OF SOME LEGITIMATE INTERNET USERS. BUT THE IDEN
March 20, 1997 - On this first day of spring, Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil presents some stories from the winter of '97…and shares words from winter's past in the works of Laura Ingalls Wilder and O.E. Rolvaag.
March 26, 1997 - With all the predictions of severe flooding this spring, some Minnesotans are considering taking rather extraordinary precautions, such as flooding their basements themselves before murky flood waters can penetrate them. In the southwestern Minnesota town of Dawson, the local fire department has told residents it will fill their basements with clean water when flood waters begin to rise. The idea is to equalize pressure inside the home to protect foundations from crumbling and prevent the muck from gathering in the basement. We contacted Duane Hoeschen (Hession), regional coordinator in Mankato of the department of public safety's division of emergency management, to find out what he thought of the strategy and to explain it in a little more detail. Duane Hoeschen, regional coordinator of the state's divisio
March 31, 1997 - As farmers in Minnesota deal with the potential of flooding, they're also starting the spring planting process. But Minnesota News Network Farm Director Tom Rothman says it's too early to be making a lot of guesses about what the spring will bring. Tom Rothman of the Minnesota News Network. Sun 28-MAY 20:11:58 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 31, 1997 - While most of us are glad to see the return of warmer weather... there are the downsides of the thaw to consider.... On the larger scale there is the potential for huge floods.... but on the smaller scale there are the piles of detritus left behind as the snow fades away.... particularly if you own a dog. But don't despair.... there IS help available.... Today in our Odd Jobs report we meet Todd Johnson, of Minneapolis, who makes a living picking up the small piles left by dogs in backyards throughout the Twin Cities. Spring is a busy time of the year for Johnson...who handles as many as 20 assignments a day. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Todd Moe the idea for Doggie-Doo Yard Cleaning came to him while cleaning up after his own black Lab... | D-CART ITEM: 4220 | TIME: 2:58 (outcue comes at 2:53...sfx wi