Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
February 4, 2002 - Good Morning, I'm Cathy Wurzer and this morning I am coming to you from our studios in Duluth. We've brought Morning Edition to the Twin Ports to learn about the area and explore what makes this part of Minnesota unique. Well, anyone who lives here will tell you that if there's one thing that's unique about Duluth, it's the weather. University of Minnesota Meteorologist and Climatologist Mark Seeley says there are two main reasons that the weather here is so unusual.
February 5, 2002 - The Sierra Club is suing the U.S. Forest Service. It wants the court to block aspen logging on the national forests in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The Sierra Club says the Forest Service allows too much clearcutting of aspen. The suit says that's holding back re-growth of native pine and hardwood forests. The lawsuit is a sign of the times: American forests are in transition. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill has the first in a series of three reports on how things are changing in the Northwoods.
February 6, 2002 - Walk in the woods in Minnesota today and chances are you will see a young forest. Much of the state was heavily logged in the early 20th century. The old growth pines and hardwoods have been replaced by softwoods like aspen. Aspen has become a staple of the forest products industry. It's used for pulp, paper and particle board. But some people would like change that. In the second in our series of reports on changes in the Northwoods, Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill visits a logging site in Aitkin County, about 50 miles west of Duluth. Aitkin was the first county in the nation to have its lands certified as a well-managed forest. The certification is part of a conscious effort to encourage local forest-based industries.
February 8, 2002 - To: Perry Finelli, Jim Bickal, Eugene Cha, and Julie Siple From: Mark Seeley Re: Suggestions for MPR's Morning Edition, Feb 8, 2002 On Monday (Feb 4th) this week Embarrass, MN reported a low of -27 degrees F, while Tower, MN reported -28 degrees F, the lowest temperature in the lower 48 states on that date. These are also the coldest temperatures of the winter reported anywhere in Minnesota.
February 11, 2002 - Many kids from small towns grow up and leave. Teachers at Cotton high school in northeastern Minnesota have a plan to keep more of their graduates in town. They've started a student-run business. Teachers hope some students might be inspired to stay in Cotton and start their own businesses. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
February 15, 2002 -
February 18, 2002 - FOR USE MONDAY MORNING The U-S Senate is taking up a long awaited national energy bill. Like a house version passed last year, the Senate is expected to support continued research and development into what's called "clean coal technology." Two Northeast Minnesota power plant proposals are based on the new technology. But some environmental groups say there's no such thing as clean coal - especially at the edge of the Great Lakes. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports from Duluth.
February 25, 2002 - One place that's never been popular for sailing or cruising is the North Shore of Lake Superior. The big lake is famous for its sudden storms. MPR's Stephanie Hemphill reports that local boaters have been pushing the state to build safe harbors along the rocky North Shore. Duluth City Council looks at a plan for a harbor that's created its own storm of controversy.
March 7, 2002 - This late return of cold, winter weather has been unwelcome news for the growing number of homeless people in Minnesota. Statewide the number of people seeking help from shelters and transitional housing was up five percent last year. The number turned away for lack of space was up as well. In St. Cloud, there is an acknowledged shortage of beds in town. But Mainstreet Radio's Jeff Horwich reports this winter the city's churches have provided warm spaces for a few more.
March 7, 2002 - A strong winter storm has been pushing its way across Minnesota. Right now, the arrowhead is reporting some of the heaviest snow. Mark Kavinsky, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says the storm totals will vary widely.