March 27, 1998 - The recovery from last spring's flooding is going faster in Breckenridge, Minnesota, than anywhere else in the Red River Valley. Dikes already line the river banks of two rivers in the city. The Army Corps of Engineers is studying the city's need for further dike protection. But city officials are concerned the community could experience spring floods for years while they wait for the study to be completed. Minnesota Public Radio's Hope Deutscher reports. In the middle of downtown Breckenridge, the Bois De Sioux River and the Ottertail River converge to form the Red River. This spring the rivers look peaceful...the water is slowing moving through the channel. It's a much
March 27, 1998 - Both sides in Minnesota's tobacco trial claimed a University of Minnesota history professor boosted THEIR case. Defense witness Historian Hy Berman repeated a tobacco company theme that Minnesotans have long known about the health risks of smoking. But Berman also supported evidence that showed the industry misled the public. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: At times it was hard to know just who Hy Berman was testifying for. The tobacco attorneys had hired him but when Berman stepped down from the witness stand he gave a thumbs up and a warm handshake to state's attorney Mike Ciresi. Even after court Berman refused to take sides:
March 27, 1998 - This week, the Minnesota House passed a bill strengthening the state's Shield Law. As it's currently written, the Shield Law protects journalists' confidential sources from subpeona ... But NOT reporters unpublished notes, videotapes and photographs. The bill's supporters say changing the shield law to include protections for unpublished material would allow journalists to work more independently from law enforcement. The bill does include an exemption though, when the reporter is the only one with critical evidence that could not be obtained elsewhere... then it can be supeonaed. Barbara Cochran, President of the Radio-Television News Directors Association--or RTNDA-- says that's a pretty significant loophole. She says tough shield laws are critical to journalists' integrity. | D-CART ITEM: 9753
March 30, 1998 - Midday presents a special report on the tornadoes that destroyed large parts of St. Peter and Comfrey. MPR’s reporters detail the massive destruction in the Minnesota towns and provide updates on aftermath. Program also includes various interviews and accounts from listeners.
March 30, 1998 - Hundreds of people are working to repair the damage left in the wake of a tornado that swept through the city of St. Peter last night. People are stunned but grateful. Looking across the cityscape, some residents say its is hard to imagine only one person was killed. Minnesota Public Radio's Lynette Nyman reports. Sun 28-MAY 11:52:28 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 30, 1998 - The National Weather Service is trying to catagorize the tornadoes that ripped through southern Minnesota yesterday. University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley says it's likely the tornadoes were what are called "F-Three," which means winds of 150 to 200 miles per hour: Seeley answers weather questions every Friday morning at 6:50 on Minnesota Public Radio's "Morning Edition." Sun 28-MAY 11:52:12 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 30, 1998 - Governor Carlson traveled to Saint Peter today to survey damaged caused by tornadoes yesterday. The Governor says he hopes to have a request for disaster aid to the federal government and state Legislature within a week. Emergency crews are working to restore power and phone service, and Authorities say it may be Friday before some residents of St. Peter have their electrical power back. Bob Julius is with the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency in Rochester, which serves Saint Peter. He says only the most crucial parts of Saint Peter have had the electricity restored.
March 30, 1998 - Tornadoes caused considerable damage in the communities of Comfry and St. Peter as they skipped east across south central Minnesota last evening. Their last stop on the ground was in Le Center in Le Sueur County. Several businesses and residences in Le Center were badly damaged but residents feel lucky the town escaped with only two minor injuries. Today, residents of Le Center were busy cleaning up and as Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports, Hispanic agricultural workers in the town face the biggest loses. SOUND OF TRUCK YANKING A TOPPLED TRAILER OFF ANOTHER TRUCK.
March 30, 1998 - Hennepin County, once looked to as a national leader in how it handles its trash, is starting to fall behind. The county's waste-to-energy incinerator is burning all it can .....and as the amount of garbage continues to climb, more and more is ending up in landfills. State law and the federal Environmental Protection agency regard landfills as the most environmentally harmful way of disposing of garbage. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. --------------------------------------------------------- | D-CART ITEM: 9608 | TIME: 6:07 | OUTCUE: "...soc --------------------------------------------------------- It's a fact of life in the garbage business---- when times are good, people buy more stuff...which means they throw out more trash. Bruce Wuolle
March 30, 1998 - MPR’s Art Hughes and Lynette Nyman describe the scene in St. Peter after a tornado went through the town, destroying much of it.