Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
May 22, 1997 - It's been a hard winter...and for some an even harder spring. But while the media attention has focused on the drama of flooding in the Red River Valley...ranchers in the Dakotas are also counting the cost. Hundreds of thousands of head of livestock perished with the cold and blizzards and now many farmers are faced with a late start in the fields Minnesota Public Radio's Cara Hetland reports: It's estimated as many as 400-thousand cattle and calves died in North and South Dakota this winter. Of that - 77-thousand died during the early April blizzard. Another ten-thousand cattle, sheep and hogs died in Minnesota from winter storms. It's difficult for ranchers to put a price tag on their losses but many estimate a thousand dollars per lost adult cow and five-hundred
May 22, 1997 - Hundreds of camper trailers are moving into communities along the Red River as temporary shelter for flood victims. Most of the trailers are being set up in peoples' yards while they repair their houses. Outside Grand Forks, North Dakota, a community of refugees have taken over a small campground. Some campers expect a short stay, but others say it could be several months before they have a permanent home again. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
May 23, 1997 - Federal and city inspectors have begun condemning flood-damaged houses in Grand Forks. Demolition of the unsafe structures is expected to start within a week. One neighborhood along the bank of the Red River is nearly a total loss, and the line of proposed new dike would prevent any rebuilding there. As the housing loses mount, Grand Forks city officials are looking for ways to provide affordable replacements. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports...
May 23, 1997 - One month ago, President Clinton told Grand Forks flood evacuees their hardest days were still ahead, as the reality of the devastation sinks in. In that crowd were three residents of the Lincoln Drive area, which was one of the first neighborhoods to flood. Before the President's speech they talked to MPR about their experiences, and we wanted to check in with them again. Since the president's visit, two neighbors have begun the messy clean-up process; the third knows her home will likely be condemned, because Lincoln Drive will probably be on the wrong side of a proposed new dike. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
May 23, 1997 - *****ATC VERSION****** High school seniors in Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota are back home this weekend for graduation. The school year ended abruptly last month in both school districts when the Red River consumed the two cities. Some students fled to finish out the school year elsewhere. Others spent their unexpected vacation helping clean up flood damage. School administrators, teachers and students say they expect these graduation ceremonies to be an especially emotional end to a traumatic spring. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports | D-CART ITEM: 3508 | TIME: 2.45 | OUTCUE: "...soc
June 2, 1997 - School officials in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks are trying to clean up, dry out and repair their school buildings in time for the start of classes in the fall. The school year abruptly ended in April for both districts when the flooding Red River forced residents to evacuate. Flood damage to schools is estimated at more than 40-million dollars in Grand Forks and at least 10-million dollars in East Grand Forks. Some of the schools might never reopen. Minnesota Public Radios Tim Pugmire reports... (Sound)
June 2, 1997 - (FOR AIR MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1997) Even before the snow melted this spring... the harsh winter was expected to cause problems for farmers in the Red River Valley. Now, following the widespread flooding farmers are getting back into the fields... and many are finding they are actually on schedule. However as Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports... some farmers say they will still take a beating... (sound of tractor tilling away) North of Moorhead, a few miles from the Red River...Curt Brendemuhl is working
June 3, 1997 - Governor Carlson has vetoed his 200-th bill of his tenure as Governor. He pulled out his well-inked pen and killed the K-12 Education Funding Bill Today (tues) Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports: It's no secret...Governor Carlson holds the record for the number of vetoes issued by any governor in state history. He is an ardent supporter of the power of the veto, saying it not only ensures that no single partisan agenda dominates...but also ensures greater bi-partisan cooperation among lawmakers and an active Governor willing to delve deep into the legislative process. Carlson was up-front about what he wanted from the K-1
June 4, 1997 - House and Senate Republicans have wrapped up final details on legislation providing five-and-a-half billion dollars worth of disaster relief. But Republicans did keep provisions that have sparked veto threats from the Clinton administration. Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson, who represents the flooded areas of the Red River Valley, says today's progress will result in more delays: Minnesota 7th District Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson. Sun 28-MAY 19:13:13 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
June 4, 1997 - Farm drainage ditches help keep thousands of acres of Minnesota cropland dry enough to produce crops each year. Some say the ditches do their job too well and are such efficient water movers they contribute to downstream flooding. During this year's floods one county engineer said ditches became "raging rivers", with their own distinct flood plains. Economic gain versus environmental damage....that's the arguement behind a dispute between two southwest Minnesota counties over the reconstruction of a farm drainage ditch. Mark Steil of Mainstreet Radio reports: The farmland water Yellow Medicine and Lyon