Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
July 8, 2002 - Nearly one third of homes in Minnesota use on-site systems to treat household wastewater. And the number is growing, as baby boomers retire to northern lakes. Many on-site systems, especially in northern Minnesota, don't protect groundwater and nearby lakes from contamination. Now, people are trying new technologies that may cost more but may work a lot better. And health officials are gradually moving toward new ways of monitoring the performance of on-site septic systems. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
July 10, 2002 - Northeastern Minnesota has some special challenges when it comes to handling human waste. Health officials say most of the septic systems in St. Louis County don't function properly. Now, people are beginning to experiment with new kinds of septic systems that might work better than the traditional trench system. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
July 12, 2002 - The stadium debate will be back at the Capitol again next year. Now that a new Twins ballpark in St. Paul seems all but dead, Hennepin County officials say they'll try to persuade lawmakers to take up the issue again next session. The four major party gubernatorial candidates say they're willing to allow Hennepin County to bid for a new ballpark, but some key legislators are skeptical about the prospects for revisiting the issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
July 30, 2002 - Many Americans are distressed about the stock market, and angry about corporate fraud. At a conference in Duluth, some people are trying to get organized to do something about both. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
August 2, 2002 - The tall-masted sailing ship Niagara is visiting Duluth this weekend. During the War of 1812, the original Niagara helped defeat the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry made his famous remark - "We have met the enemy and they are ours" from the deck of this ship. The original Niagara was built in Erie, Pennsylvania. The replica is part of a living museum collection, and it's on a tour around the Great Lakes. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
August 14, 2002 - Most of us think of earthworms as benign creatures. Gardeners are always happy to spot a worm in the flowerbed. And many anglers say they're the best thing for catching fish. But scientists are beginning to learn worms aren't so friendly to forests. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. Outcue: You can find a link to the Minnesota Worm Watch web page by going to Minnesota Public Radio - dot - org.
August 26, 2002 - World leaders are gathered in South Africa this week to take the next steps in protecting the environment. Some have expressed doubts about how much can really be accomplished at the Earth Summit, because the Bush Administration is resisting setting new targets on environmental improvement, including global warming. All of us -- in our daily lives -- contribute some of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Some cities around the world are deciding they need to set an example. Duluth is the most recent Minnesota city to join the effort. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
September 2, 2002 - Mardi Oakley Medawar (MAR-dee OAK-lee MED-ah-war) is a Cherokee who lives in Wisconsin. She's written several historical novels and family sagas, and a series of mysteries set in 19th century Kiowa country. Now she's turned her attention to a book about contemporary Indian life in Wisconsin. She says most non-Indians have no conception of what life is like on a reservation today. Mardi Oakley Medawar talked with Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill.
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September 10, 2002 - Residents in the central Minnesota town of Albertville spent the day wondering whether it was a tornado that hit their town overnight. The National Weather Service gave them an answer this afternoon. It was a tornado. It was a small one, but bounced through a new neighborhood and damaged 20 homes, even ripping some of their roofs off. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has this report.