Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
February 1, 2001 - Small towns all across Minnesota are trying to attract businesses to provide jobs for workers. In Cook County on the North Shore of Lake Superior, businesses are thriving but there aren't enough places for the workers to live. It's a problem that plagues many resort areas, and people in Cook County are coming up with some innovative solutions. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill has the third in a series of reports about growth along the North Shore of Lake Superior.
February 16, 2001 -
February 19, 2001 - Until 1943 taconite was considered a waste product of Minnesota iron mining. Then University of Minnesota engineer Edward W. Davis developed the process to refine the low grade ore into the iron pellets that would mean jobs for thousands of Minnesotans. As part of our series "Universal U", Minnesota Public Radio's Steven John reports on taconite and the university's link to the Iron Range.
February 19, 2001 - After Katie Poirier was abducted from a Moose Lake convenience store and murdered in May of 1999, many gas stations around the state upgraded their security systems. Some stores decided to close at night. The federal government doesn't require safety measures to protect convenience store workers, but the Minnesota legislature is considering new requirements. Last year a similar measure stalled, but advocates are trying again. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports a new version will be introduced today. There are lots of "if-onlys" after the death of Katie Poirier. If only she hadn't been alone in the store. If only she had been protected by a bullet-resistent barrier. If only the store had had a window for late-night customers to pass their money through without going inside. These are some of the recommendations the federal government makes to convenience store owners. But it doesn't require any of them. In Minnesota lawmakers are talking about ORDERING stores to use at least one of these safety measures late at night.
February 20, 2001 - The president of the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern Railroad rejected a proposal by Rochester city officials this afternoon TUESDAY that would have secured the cities support for a rail expansion - as long as the freight tracks bypassed the city. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports
February 28, 2001 - MPR commentator Dale Connelly with his humorous Robert Frost inspired poem "Stopping by the Links on a Snowy Evening."
March 6, 2001 - The Peace Corps is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week. More than seven-thousand volunteers currently serve in 76 countries around the world. President Kennedy first established the Peace Corps as a challenge to young people to spend two years serving in developing countries. But you don't have to be fresh out of college to sign up. Sixty-Seven year old Prudence Perry of Milwaukee is in the first few months of a Peace Corp assignment in Tonga, an island chain in the South Pacific. She says the most difficult aspect of daily life is the weather:
March 6, 2001 - Snow drifts are piled high in western Minnesota reminding many people of the winter four years ago when the spring melt lead to record flooding. But the snow is not quite as deep as 1997, and that has most hoping this year's high water will be more a nuisance than a threat. As the snow begins to melt, residents of the Minnesota River valley are preparing; hoping for a slow, controlled melt, but ready just in case March brings more heavy snow or rain. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports:
March 7, 2001 - Spring in the Red River Valley is often a mixed blessing. Residents welcome the warmer temperatures, but shudder at the inevitability of at least some flooding along the Red River of the North. Now after years of discussion, planning and testing, the national Weather Service has developed a new system for issuing flood forecasts. As Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services or A-H-P-S is getting mixed reviews. (22) {
March 9, 2001 - Mark Seeley, with this week's weather.