Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
July 10, 2001 - Dry conditions have prompted a number of Minnesota cities to enact water restrictions. Public Works Supervisor Doug Hartman. In Prior Lake, officials have issued an emergency ban on all outdoor watering. Hartman says new water emergency means Prior Lake's 15,000 residents face steeper fines for violations.
July 11, 2001 - In Duluth tonight, the Parks and Recreation Commission hears public comment on a controversial proposal to build a golf course and lodge on Spirit Mountain. The Commission approved the $24 million project last month, but people opposing it are still hoping the development can be stopped. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
July 12, 2001 - Dry conditions are forcing new restrictions on wilderness hiking, campfires and outdoor burning in Northeastern Minnesota. Firefighting reinforcements are arriving in case wildfire breaks out in the huge blowdown in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
July 12, 2001 - The dry weather has prompted officials in the Boundary Water Canoe Area to ban open fires throughout the BWCA. Officials are worried that a fire could quickly get out of control and could ignite the hundreds of thousands of blown down trees that were knocked down during a severe storm two years ago.
July 12, 2001 - The weather has been dry as a bone in the last three weeks in Minnesota. Since mid-June, the Twin Cities has had only 4 days with rain. The recent dry weather is making life difficult for farmers who, a few weeks ago, were worried about flooding.
July 13, 2001 - Ecological economics is a relatively new field combining economics with environmental and social issues. A conference in Duluth this week is bringing together about 200 academics, business people, and government officials. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill visited with some of them to find out what ecological economics is all about.
July 16, 2001 - There's a new round of mineral exploration in Northeastern Minnesota. The region best known for iron-bearing taconite could soon produce precious minerals like gold, silver and platinum - maybe even diamonds. New developments are making the prospects of prospecting more appealing. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports: {A barge, floats on an island studded lake near Ely. It's actually several barges strung together; one equipped with a rotating drill - another stacked with dozens of rusty steel pipe-sections. Dick Backstrom's drilling company is looking for riches under Birch Lake.
July 18, 2001 - People who live in Duluth love this time of year. They think it's fun to get outside where they can look at the big lake -- and watch out-of-towners huddle on street corners, shivering in their shorts and sandals. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Julin reports.
July 19, 2001 - Dead fish are popping up in several southern Minnesota lakes. Department of Natural Resources officials have reported several "summerkills." Minnesota Public Radio's Laurel Druley has this report.
July 19, 2001 - Wild weather has hit eastern North Dakota two days in a row. The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued more than 130-weather warnings since Tuesday. Weather spotters reported nine tornadoes in Griggs county in northeast North Dakota. Weather Service forecasters say the severe weather pattern could continue for the next four to five days. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports. The storms have cut a wide path, flooding city streets in Grand Forks and farm fields. To the west in Nelson County, a tornado hit the home of County Sheriff Dale Quam, ripping the roof off his house and destroying his barn. No one was injured, but witnesses said the tornado was half-a-mile wide and was on the ground for about five miles.