Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
September 29, 2003 - Humans have harnessed the wind for thousands of years since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Wind has powered sailboats, ground grain, pumped water and most recently generated electricity. Now Minnesota has emerged as a national wind leader. In the first story in a Mainstreet Radio wind power series Erin Galbally reports on the state's rise from windmills to wind farms.
October 8, 2003 - There are half as many Catholic nuns today as there were forty years ago. The median age of nuns is 69. Many religious communities around the country are trying some unusual approaches to attract new members. A group of sisters in Duluth is one of them. They're advertising. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
October 14, 2003 - How game-playing monkeys could lead to better lives for people suffering from paralysis. Scientists at Duke University say that a monkey with electrodes implanted in it brain managed to move a robotic arm with pure thought.
October 17, 2003 - Tomorrow, October 18th marks the 115th Anniversary of the founding of the University of Minnesota Agriculture School, now known simply as the St. Paul Campus my home. Prior to this, the property was known as the university farm, but formal teaching of agriculture began on this date in 1888 with a class of 47 students. The campus is now home to the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences; College of Natural Resources, College of Human Ecology, College of Biological Sciences, and College of Veterinary Medicine.
October 22, 2003 - College campuses around Minnesota are dealing with issues of racism. Last year, St. Cloud State settled a lawsuit with faculty who complained the university fostered a racist atmosphere. Tonight at the University of Minnesota Duluth, students and faculty are gathering to talk about racism. Some black students say they've experienced overt racism. Others say they've felt welcomed at UMD. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
October 24, 2003 - The string of warm days earlier this week produced a number of high temperature records for individual communities, but perhaps the most remarkable record occurred on Sunday, October 19th when Browns Valley, MN Traverse County reported 90 degrees F. A temperature this high is most unusual for the second half of October, and was indeed a new state record high for October 19th, breaking the old record of of 88 F at Milan in 2000 and at Winona in 1950. There have been only five other years in Minnesota history, when temperatures of 90 F or higher have been recorded in the second half of the month they were 1910, 1927, 1947, 1950, and 1958. October 30, 1950 at Canby, MN marks the latest fall occurrence of 90 degrees F in the state. But the rest of this October looks to be colder than normal around the state.
October 28, 2003 - A winter storm warning is in effect for the Northeastern part of Minnesota due to heavy snow and periodic freezing rain. A small craft advisory is also in effect along the North and South shores of Lake Superior. Craig Sanders is a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Duluth. He says his office initially issued only a winter weather advisory this morning, but changed it to a warning once more information came in.
October 30, 2003 - There's a tiny piece of the Big Woods still standing in Wayzata. Tuesday, voters in the western Twin Cities suburb next to Lake Minnetonka will decide its fate. On the ballot is a proposal, which if approved, would tax Wayzata property owners about three million dollars to help pay for preserving fourteen acres of trees. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
October 30, 2003 - The Duluth Schools are in trouble. The district is short $6 million dollars for next school year. The district is asking voters to raise property taxes to help close the gap. But even if the tax increase wins at the polls, the district will face a $2 million shortfall. And Duluth is not alone. On Tuesday, voters in more than 60 Minnesota school districts will decide whether to raise their taxes. Two years after the legislature took school funding off the property tax, 80% of districts are taxing themselves anyway. Mainstreet Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
October 31, 2003 - Preliminary Climate Summary for October. It appears that mean October temperatures will range from 1 to 3 degrees F warmer than normal for most communities around the state. Temperature extremes during the month ranged from just 13 degrees F at Embarrass back on the 2nd, to 90 degrees F at Milan on the 7th and at Browns Valley on the 7th and the 20th..the latter being a new all-time state high temperature for that date.