October 16, 2000 - Two-term North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer's surprise announcement he was not seeking re-election set the stage for a tight race this fall. Republican John Hoeven, the former Head of the state owned bank of North Dakota wants to keep the office in the hands of the GOP. Democrat Heidi Heitkamp is hoping voters will make history by electing her North Dakota's first female governor. The polls show the result is likely to be close, with gender and Heitkamps recent stuggles with cancer likely to be important issues. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha Reports...
October 6, 2000 - Research at Minnesota State University-Moorhead could drastically improve the survival rate of walleye stocked in lakes. The project is trying to teach young fish to sniff out predators. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports. Doctor Brian Whizenden and his students sit in front of the Detroit Lakes Fish Hatchery waiting for walleye
September 27, 2000 - A rare Siberian tiger has some residents of Hawley in northwestern Minnesota concerned and Clay County officials uncertain about how to respond. No laws prevent Elaine and Jerry Sweggberg from keeping the tiger, which is on the endangered species list, as a pet. And even if county commissioners do draft a dangerous animal ordinance, there's little promise it could put the Sweggberg's neighbors at ease. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports.
September 25, 2000 - Legislators, adminstrators and teachers from 29 northwest Minnesota school districts gathered in Crookston today (Monday) for a rural education summit. More than 400 people were expected to discuss budget shortfalls, implementation of graduation standards and teacher shortages. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports. {Gary Stegman is usually an art teacher and graduation standards technician for Crookston Public Schools. For the summit he's an improptu tour leader at the high school.
September 21, 2000 - Just north of Grand Forks, Walsh County North Dakota residents are tired of dealing with flooding along the Red River of the North. The Red is the county's eastern border and over the last decade repeated flooding has left millions of dollars in damage and high levels of frustration. Now some folks are calling for a buy out of up to 26,000 acres of eastern Walsh county to return it to wetlands for flood water storage. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports.
September 15, 2000 - One of the important functions the VA hospital has assumed in recent years, ongoing research to find clues to the chronic health problems afflicting the veterans of the Gulf War. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports. }
September 11, 2000 -
August 25, 2000 - It used to be that schools only had to concern themselves with the three "R's." But academics have made way for a list of new 'subjects;' and avoiding school violence is now a standard instruction area. In northwest Minnesota a coalition of educators, law enforcement, and health and human service providers have come together to ensure their schools are safe and students healthy. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports that the coalition believes there are indications that preventive action is needed.
August 14, 2000 - Floating down the Otter Tail River on an inner tube is a popular summer pastime in Becker County in Northwestern Minnesota. Over the past 20 years "tubing " has grown from a kids summer pastime into a profitable business. But the profit has come at a price. Despite the efforts of outfitters to keep the river clean, pollution is a problem. Empty cans, broken bottles and other trash litter the stream bed and banks. It gets noisy too when tubers get a little rowdy. Now county Commissioners are considering a clampdown, and at least one outfitter is crying foul. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports }
August 4, 2000 - Food safety is the focus of much public debate and academic research but the subject has only recently become available for study at the undergraduate level. At North Dakota State University in Fargo the Great Plains Summer Institute of Food Safety has developed a special series of courses in food safety. Officials at NDSU say they're the first in the nation to offer students a minor in the subject. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Reha reports.