Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
June 5, 2003 - Archaeologists in La Crosse say they've discovered evidence of a rare exchange between two ancient cultures. They say the discovery of pottery, jewelry and bones from a site near La Crosse could solve the puzzle of the origins of the people who lived here a thousand years ago. But not everyone agrees. The find has launched two archaeologists in a fierce academic debate. Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz reports.
June 6, 2003 - MPR's Morning Edition, Friday, June 6, 2003 Topic: Heat Not much hot weather around here, but plenty over India and Pakistan lately, with temperatures well over 120 degrees F and Heat Index values ranging from 125 to 135 degrees F. The town of Sibi in Pakistan, not far from the Afghan border
June 17, 2003 - Duluth is tearing down its only public housing project. The Harborview neighborhood was built in 1951. In those days, housing for low-income people was separated from everyone else. That's changing now, and most residents are pleased. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
June 24, 2003 - A new law makes it easier to build larger feedlots in Minnesota. People who oppose such facilities and their large manure lagoons say the law strips citizens' right to have a say in the future of their community. Supporters say it will save the government time and money. Mainstreet Radio's Rob Schmitz reports. Prior to the new law, neighbors could challenge any proposed feedlot that had more than 1000 hogs or 214 dairy cows.
June 25, 2003 - MPR’s Marisa Helms reports from Buffalo Lake, a small town about 75 miles southwest of the Twin Cities, where an F2 tornado struck on June 24th. Helms speaks with residents as they start picking up the pieces from extensive damage left behind.
July 4, 2003 - The 200th anniversary this year of the Louisiana Purchase is taking a back seat to the Lewis and Clark bicentennial observance. However, the Louisiana Purchase which included part of what would become Minnesota is arguably a bigger deal - literally. In one stroke the size of the country was doubled. And as Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports, behind the transaction lurks a tale of geopolitics and intrigue.
July 4, 2003 - Tropical Storm Bill emerged from the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week, drenching several southeastern Gulf states. It also produced many severe thunderstorms and over 30 tornadoes. This brought the number of tornadoes reported across the nation this year close to 1000, a record setting pace for so early in the summer. The record number of annual tornadoes is 1424 set in 1998.
July 4, 2003 - A group of midwest farmers has filed a class action lawsuit over the sale of their corn-processing plant to the agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland. The lawsuit claims ADM paid the corn plant's CEO and other executives millions of dollars in return for a deal that short-changed farmers. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports.
July 7, 2003 - The debate over the use of natural resources plays out in the national forests and other public lands. A new book by the head of the U.S. Forest Service in the Clinton administration advances that debate with some new ideas. Michael Dombeck has just published "From Conquest to Conservation: Our Public Lands Legacy." Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill spoke with him. {
July 9, 2003 - Supporters of the Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley are coming out in force this week. They're holding meetings and rallys to get the attention of city leaders who have proposed closing the Nature Center. The city says state cuts to local governments put Fridley's budget in tough shape... so they proposed eliminating the 300-thousand dollars spent on the Center every year. Joining us on the line is Malcolm Mitchell.... one of the leaders of the movement to save the Springbrook Nature Center. That is Malcolm Mitchell, one of the leaders of the movement to save the Springbrook Nature Center.