Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
July 23, 2007 - Morning Edition presents listener recollections on their watery experiences during the “Storm of the Century” in July of 1987.
July 23, 2007 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews meteorologist Bill Togstad about the science behind “The Storm of the Century” in Twin Cities on July 23, 1987. Togstad details how an unusual atmospheric condition brought massive amounts of moisture that lingered over the metro. He states there is nothing before or after that has matched this weather event for the Twin Cities.
August 8, 2007 - A bridge is thousands of pieces of metal and concrete. It's built to withstand all manner of weather and stress. And most bridges do exactly that. The Brooklyn Bridge has been carrying traffic for over 120 years, the Golden Gate Bridge for 70. So why did this bridge, the 35W collapse? Minnesota Public Radio's Sea Stachura has more.
August 13, 2007 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews Art Blakey, chief of police at the Minnesota State Fair, about the damage assesment after a storm wreaked havoc on the fairgrounds, knocking down trees, damaging concession booths, and tearing off part of the Grandstand.
August 14, 2007 - No bodies were recovered Monday from the 35W bridge site in the Mississippi River. Four people remain missing. Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek says recovery efforts have been hampered by the weather. He says the faster current makes it difficult for the divers to maneuver underwater. Stanek says the strong current has also carried items from the collapse site downstream. He is asking the public to call the Sheriff's office if they find anything in the river.
August 20, 2007 - MPR’s Sea Stachura reports on more than 10 inches of rain that scoured parts of Olmsted and Houston counties. But the real damage followed the rivers as they gushed through towns like Stockton, Goodview, Minnesota City, Houston, Rushford, and La Crescent.
August 22, 2007 - Minnesota and North Dakota transportation officials have closed a bridge over the Red River. The RobbinDrayton bridge carries Minnesota Highway 11 into North Dakota north of Grand Forks. It will be closed for at least a week. The bridge is the first to be closed since the 35W bridge collapse. It was scheduled for replacement in a couple of years. But, MinnDoT inspectors found damage on the span's approach. The inspection was part of the statewide bridge inspection program started after the 35W bridge collapse. To find out how the closure will impact the area around the bridge the Mayor of Drayton, North Dakota, Ardis Olson, is interviewed.
August 23, 2007 - Mark Seeley, climatologist and meteorologist at the University of Minnesota, stops by the MPR booth at the State Fair to answer listeners' questions about the weather and to ask weather quiz questions. Topics include extreme rainfall differentials across the state and climate change, amongst others.
August 24, 2007 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer chats with climatologist Mark Seeley about the record rainfall in southeastern Minnesota and the drought conditions along the North Shore.
September 18, 2007 - If your travel plans take you over the Lowry Avenue bridge in Minneapolis this week, you'll need to make new plans. Today's rain is delaying the closure of the Lowry Avenue bridge in Minneapolis. But the span connecting North and Northeast Minneapolis will be closed for inspection from 8am to 6pm for the rest of the week if weather clears up. While the two-lane truss bridge is closed Hennepin County recommends drivers use the West Broadway Ave. bridge to get across the Mississippi River in that part of town. Jake Bronder is a bridge engineer for Hennepin County. He says MnDOT and the county are just closing the bridge for inspection.