August 23, 2000 - Another exotic species is causing concern, this time in the Northeastern part of the state. Curly leaf pond weed has been in Minnesota since the late 1800's but a warm spring has boosted its population on lakes near Biwabik, Minnesota. Wendy Crowell, of the D-N-R's Eurasian water milfoil program, answered questions on the nusiance weed at meeting last night sponsored by the Cedar Island Lake Association. She says curly leaf pond weed has a distinct look:
August 21, 2000 - Northwest Airlines is offering condolences to the family and colleagues of a Northwest airline pilot who died last night en route from Los Angeles to the Twin Cities. Thomas Christianson died of an apparent heart attack. Back-up pilots landed the plane without incident. As airline traffic has increased, so has the number of in-flight medical emergencies. Federal Aviation Administration figures indicate that more than 100 people die on airplanes each year. The agency is considering a proposal to require airplanes to be equiped with Automated External Defibrilators or A-E-D's, which deliver a shock to heart attack victims to help restore normal heart activity. Joan Sullivan Garrett is President of Medaire Inc, a Phoenix-based company that offers in-flight medical advice to commercial airlines. She says the major comercial airlines aren't waiting for the F-A-A to require the upgrade:
August 18, 2000 - An effort to control the zebra mussel population has killed at least 75,000 fish along the Mississippi River. Earlier this week, N-S-P used a pesticide chemical to clear the mussels from piping in their Prairie Island plant near Red Wing. The chemical seeped out into the plant's discharge canal, where shiners, sunfish and channel catfish became infected. Marilyn Danks is a biologist with the Department of Natural Resources. I asked her what such a massive fish kill would look like:
August 17, 2000 - The Democratic National Convention wraps up tonight when Vice-President Al Gore formally accepts his party's nomination for President. Throughout the week, Democrats have been treading a fine line between the party's more liberal elements and the need to appeal to centrists and independent voters. Some of that tension was on display last night during vice-presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman's remarks. Earlier today, Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton attended a closed meeting with Senator Lieberman. And Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo joins us now from the convention center in Los Angeles. Michael, what was on the agenda?
August 17, 2000 - MPR’s Annie Feidt reports on a local team of adventure-enthusiasts competing in the Eco-Challenge held in Sabah, Malaysia. The four members of team Northstar have spent months preparing to endure the 300-mile race that will test their skills in jungle trekking, river paddling, sailing, scuba diving, caving and mountain biking.
August 17, 2000 - Monica Webber, from Staples, Minnesota, is an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention . She is a student at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph and has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
August 16, 2000 - The big event on the agenda tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles is the nomination and speech by Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Lieberman. Lieberman is more conservative than many members of the Minnesota delegation...but any policy differences are being overshadowed by the fact that Lieberman will be the first Jew to ever appear on a major party presidential ticket. Minnesota Public Radio's Mike Mulcahy joins us from the convention center in Los Angeles. --Mike, what are the Minnesotans saying about Lieberman ? Well Lorna, the delegates seem to be paying more attention to what Lieberman represents than to his positions on issues. Dick Cohen is a DFl state
August 15, 2000 - BENSON: ...Some Democrats have noted the party's ticket leans to the center of the political spectrum and that the party's platform follows suit. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo is travelling with the Minnesota Delegation and had a chance to speak with Mayor Sayles Belton about the party's direction. Michael, how much attention are the delegates giving to the platform? KHOO: Well, Lorna, many Minnesota delegates were in the convention center this afternoon paying attention -- primarily because of Mayor Sayles Belton's speech -- although the platform presentation clearly didn't have the same
August 15, 2000 - The Minnesota Orchestra is backing away from a report in the Star-Tribune that it is canceling its annual Viennese Sommerfest music festival. The paper reported that the four week summer festival lost a record 250-thousand dollars this year. But the orchestra says it doesn't yet have the final accounting on this year's festival and that Minnesotan's can look forward to a summer festival next year, even if isn't in the twenty-year Sommerfest tradition. Louise Rohr (rur) is Vice President of marketing for the Minnesota Orchestra. She says the Orchestra has spent the day trying to get the word out that the festival is still on:
August 14, 2000 - Former Presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole is in the Twin Cities today, campaigning on behalf of Republican Senator Rod Grams. Dole is appearing at a fundraiser for Grams at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis. She says Republican candidates like Grams are doing a good job attracting the attention of women voters: