Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
April 2, 2001 - If clear skies prevail, the Northern Lights could provide viewers a spectacular show tonight. Astronomers are predictinga colorful display because of an enormous sun spot explosion last Thursday. Astronomer's say the magnetic sun spot or solar storm occurs in eleven year cycles. Bob Bonadurer, director of the Minneapolis Planetarium, says this is the cycle's peak:
April 3, 2001 - A lot of the rivers around the state are starting to flow, but the Minnesota River is the closest to cresting.
April 9, 2001 - Workers are rushing to keep the city of Breckenridge dry. The city sits at the confluence of the Otter Tail and Bois De Sioux Rivers which form the Red River of the North. With memories of the historic 1997 flood still fresh in most people's minds, crews work non-stop over the weekend to keep rising water out. Current projections by the national weather service say flood waters will crest slightly above 1997's levels. Mainstreet Radios Bob Reha reports..
April 9, 2001 - The possibility of getting 3/4 of an inch to 1 1/2 inches of rain could mean higher waters.
April 9, 2001 - A dike is being made on Harriet Island.
April 9, 2001 - The Minnesota River is expected to crest seven-feet above flood stage on Saturday in Granite Falls. The town has constructed an emergency levee across the street from City Hall and is suplementing that with sandbags. Bill Lavin is the city manager of Granite Falls. He says the town needs lots of volunteers to help:
April 9, 2001 - The city of Crookston narrowly avoided disaster early this morning when ice jams caused the Red Lake River to jump two feet in a matter of minutes. The river is *now* slowly dropping, but city officials are concerned waterlogged levees may fail if rain later this week pushes the river higher again. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
April 10, 2001 - Flood fighters across Minnesota are watching the river, and the skies. With a lot of rain in the forecast, river crest projections have been raised across the region. Along the Red River in the north, devastated by the flood of 1997, officials say they are confident they can handle the higher water levels, although some will add a couple more feet to their dikes. Along the Minnesota River and the Mississippi, where communities had problems in 97, but on a lesser scale, there's now greater concern. National Weather Service Hydrologist Gary McDevitt says taking projected rainfall over the next few days into account, there could be record water levels.
April 10, 2001 - Minnesotans in several areas of the state are fighting to keep their homes and cities dry today. State safety officials say water levels are quickly meeting levels last seen during the major floods of 1997. The main trouble areas are in the Red River Valley. In Breckenridge the river could reach 19 feet, which is 9 feet above flood stage. The situation is improving in Crookston, where the Red Lake River has crested at just over 26 feet and is dropping. Communities along the Minnesota River are expecting crests later this week. In Montevideo, Mayor Jim Curtiss has put out a call for volunteers to help fill 25-thousand sandbags. He says so far, the response has been only fair.
April 10, 2001 - Minnesota director of Emergency Management and MnDOT are examining the floods and what potential problems that could arise.