Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
March 14, 2003 - The cold spell earlier this month in historical perspective represented the third coldest ever March 1-10 in the modern state records. Only 1943 and 1960 were colder in early March. This exacerbated already thick lake ice and deeply frozen soils. Last week, we noted that the deep soil frost will take some time to thaw this spring. Similarly lake ice, now up to 50 inches thick in some places, will take a good long time to disappear as well, as it did in those other years with a cold March like 1943 and 1960. In addition, ice dams may be a problem on some Minnesota rivers.
March 18, 2003 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it's reclassifying gray wolves. Wolves will be considered a threatened species, instead of endangered in most of the lower 48 states. Minnesota's wolves are already considered threatened. The reclassification also starts a countdown to where wolves might be taken off the endangered species list altogether. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Kelleher reports:
March 24, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio’s Chris Julin takes a ride with the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Sundew. The vessel is carving a path through the ice of Lake Superior in Duluth harbor so the ships can leave.
March 31, 2003 - Researchers from around the world are gathering in St. Paul this week to talk about the possible dangers in fibers in taconite ore. Those microscopic fibers are a lot like asbestos, and asbestos causes cancer. Some studies show the fibers in taconite cause cancer too. Organizers of this week's conference will try to determine once and for all whether taconite fibers pose a health risk. The answer could have a big impact on future mining projects, and the economy of northeastern Minnesota.
April 1, 2003 - Duluth's port director is retiring. Davis Helberg has been in charge of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority for 24 years. That makes him the longest serving port director in the Great Lakes, and second in seniority among all the nation's ports. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill talked with Helberg as he packed up his things, and found he's concerned about the port's future.
April 11, 2003 - Though the 71 degrees F high temperature at International Falls, MN on Wednesday, April 9th did not set a new record, it was only the 3rd time in history that the temperature has reached 70 F or higher there on that date.....the others were 72 F in 1977 and 77 F in 1987. Many other Minnesota communities reported highs of 70 F or above on Wednesday as well.
April 18, 2003 - New all-time state high temperature records were set on April 13 and 14 earlier this week. Both Benson and Montevideo reported highs of 93 degrees F on those dates, while Madison also reported a high of 93 F on April 14th. Numerous individual community record highs were set on both days as well, including an 89 F reading in the Twin Cities on April 14th....recall last year a new record high of 91 F was set on April 15th...
April 23, 2003 - Macalester College in Saint Paul officially flipped the switch today Wednesday on a 10 kilowat wind turbine that will feed electricity directly into the college's power grid. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
May 2, 2003 - Minnesota's reputation for cold was preserved during the month of April, when the state reported the nation's lowest temperature on three separate dates. On April 23rd, Embarrass reported a morning low of 17 degrees F. Again on April 29 and April 30, Embarrass reported morning lows of 12 F and 11 F, respectively, both record lows for that community, as well as lowest in the nation.
May 5, 2003 - Lots of people have a compost pile in the back yard. They throw their grass clippings and kitchen scraps in a pile and let it sit. Eventually it turns into rich black stuff that can be spread on the garden. In Duluth, folks have moved beyond the back yard pile. They compost on an industrial scale, using some surprising ingredients. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.