May 11, 1998 - It's an old argument with a new twist. Which is more important: economics or the environment? As new technologies have emerged, some people criticize the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for favoring the economics of new ventures, and ignoring the serious environmental questions posed by emerging industries. All this week we will look at specific cases ... including animal feedlots, expanding potato farms and a new ethanol plant. In some cases, the concerns center around how a variety of state and federal agencies work together, or do not, to protect our environmental resources. We begin our series of reports, with an issue that's received a lot of attention recently. Opponents of large livestock feedlots say the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has ignored health problems created by those operations. They're especially concerned with air pollution. This spring for the first time the MPCA documented hydrogen sulfide emissions from a hog farm which violated state law. Opponents call it vindication, but wonder if the MPCA will take vigorous action to bring the feedlot into compliance. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports:
April 29, 1998 - What is organic food? That question is at the heart of a fight between the U.S. Agriculture Department and organic farmers. New rules proposed by USDA leaves open the chance "organic" may include genetically modified food and items currently banned from carrying the label. A public comment period on the nation's first organic standard ends Thursday (April 30). Thousands have commented, a majority oppose a broad definition of "organic". Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports. : Most of the nation's organic farmers agree some sort of national definition of organic is needed. Right now organic is whatever individual state or private agencies say it is and that varies a great deal. Far
April 14, 1998 - Hundreds of volunteers are picking up tornado debris from southern Minnesota farm fields this week as a new phase of the cleanup from the March 29th tornadoes begins. Its estimated more than 400 farms were damaged by the storms. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil went along as volunteers cleaned fields near New Ulm yesterday: :04 (Okay if I could have everybody's attention!) Duane Laffrenzen stands in the front of a school bus parked at the New Ulm High School. The seats are filled by 50 volunteers from New Ulm, Fairmont, Minneapolis, Mapleton, and Renville.
April 13, 1998 - Comfrey schools will reopen today (Monday, April 13th), two weeks and a day after a tornado swept through the southwest Minnesota community. The tornado heavily damaged the Comfrey elementary school and high school, so students will travel to Sanborn to resume classes. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports the startup of school is important for both towns: Comfrey students won't need to bring any supplies when they make the 20 mile bus trip to Sanborn. Standing in a third grade classroom, elementary school music teacher Laurie Fredin points out donated items neatly laid out on each desk:
April 6, 1998 - Residents of Comfrey began their second week of recovery from the March 29th tornado with a church service. Most of the town packed into St. Paul's Catholic Church yesteday, the only church still usable in the community of about 500 people. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: The tornado wrenched off steeples, broke stain glass windows, and tore up roofs at Comfrey's four churches. St. Paul's on the north side of town suffered the least, but even it will likely need new shingles. Under bright sunshine, many Comfrey residents walked to church Sunday past the wreckage of their former lives. In a town where its hard to take anything for granted, there was one familiar sound:
April 3, 1998 - As the cleanup in Comfrey continues, teachers and students are struggling with how to complete the school year. Comfrey's K-12 building was heavily damaged by Sunday's twister. The plan is to move school to a building in the town of Sanborn. Books, computers, lab equipment and other material will be transferred and its hoped classes can resume April 13th. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports the longer term outlook for the school is not so certain. The school on the west side of town was among the first buildings to feel the mile wide tornado's 200 mile per hour winds: SOUND OF TARP FLAPPING
April 1, 1998 - Southern Minnesota extension officials say Sunday's tornadoes damaged more than 200 farms. Dairy farmers have been especially hard hit. In Brown County dairy farmers are scrambling to care for their cows, which must be milked twice a day. With barns destroyed and electricity out, some are selling their herds. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: Brown County extension director Wayne Schoper says 140 farms were damaged as the tornado cut a 30 mile long path through the southern part of the county. The storm is causing the most immediate hardship for dairy farmers. If cows are not milked regularly their udders' may get infected, possibly ending their milk producing days for good. Schoper says some farmers h
March 31, 1998 - MPR’s Mark Steil provides an on-location report detailing the aftermath of tornados that devastated Comfrey, Minnesota.
March 31, 1998 - Midday presents a special report on the tornadoes that went through southern Minnesota and destroyed large parts of St. Peter and Comfrey. MPR reporters give updates on aftermath, followed by various interviews and accounts from listeners.
March 30, 1998 - MPR’s Mark Steil reports on the tornado that went through Comfrey, Minnesota. Local residents share their experiences during the twister, which damaged the economic heart of the town and caused more misery for farmers already facing challenging times.