July 22, 2003 - Golfers fear it, and experts say it can add five strokes to a players game. We're talking about the "yips." As Mainstreet Radio's Rob Schmitz reports, Rochester's Mayo Clinic is trying to find the cause. For many golfers it's an everyday nightmare. You're on the green of the tenth hole and you're shooting for a birdie. All you have to do is sink a simple, two-foot putt. The last thing that goes through your mind is: "Anyone can make this putt." But you don't. You either freeze up and barely hit the ball, or your wrist makes a jerking motion that sends the ball sailing past the hole. You probably should've taken a gimmee, but you've just yipped it. And golfer Alan Ferguson knows exactly how you feel.
July 17, 2003 - The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit against a Minnesota County. MCLU officials say the Freeborn County Board is viloating local residents' right to free speech. For the last several years, a county rule has banned some members of the public from speaking at board meetings. County officials say the rule is necessary to keep order at its meetings. Mainstreet Radio's Rob Schmitz reports. {The focus of the lawsuit is a rule passed by the Freeborn County Board. Rule 19, as its called, was written for one man. Roger Bok is a self-described county watchdog. He uses the public comment time during county board meetings to air his complaints about the county. County Administrator Ronald Gabrielsen says Bok's frequent comments during board meetings were a nuissance.
July 9, 2003 - Lots of people have fishing lures. But Ken Bachman has hundreds, possibly thousands of lures collected over the past 25 years. In this week's edition of our series, "The Enthusiasts", Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz talks with Ken Bachman in the basement of his Owatonna residence, home to nothing less than a fishing lure archive. According to Ken, some of the world's best fishing lures were created by accident.
June 25, 2003 - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Citizen's Board gave the go-ahead to Rochester Public Utilities on its plan to increase its coal consumption by 55 percent. The decision makes it the first time in ten years that the MPCA has allowed a power plant to INCREASE its burning of coal. Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz has this report. {Rochester Public Utilities, or RPU, will increase its coal consumption by up to 73,000 tons per year. It will produce steam to power new buildings at the Mayo Clinic. The nine-member MPCA Citizen's Board listened to five hours of what was mostly intense criticism of the plan before unanimously voting for it. The board did write an amendment to the permit requiring RPU to complete what the board called an 'economic analysis' and a 'feasibility study' on developing cleaner burning technology. RPU will have to present the study to the MPCA in November. Norm Erickson represents the Rochester Energy Futures Coalition, the main opposition to RPU's plans. He says he's satisfied by the amendment, but he's worried it won't be enough.
June 24, 2003 - A new law makes it easier to build larger feedlots in Minnesota. People who oppose such facilities and their large manure lagoons say the law strips citizens' right to have a say in the future of their community. Supporters say it will save the government time and money. Mainstreet Radio's Rob Schmitz reports. Prior to the new law, neighbors could challenge any proposed feedlot that had more than 1000 hogs or 214 dairy cows.
June 6, 2003 - Minnesota's concealed carry law has been in effect a little over a week. In that time, private establishments across the state have put up signs banning guns on their premises. Now, Minnesota counties and cities are following suit. But as MPR's Rob Schmitz reports, the law may not be on their side. {By the time applicants get their concealed carry permits, there may be severe limitations on where they can legally carry a gun. Ramsey county is just one of several counties planning to ban guns on county property. According to County Board Chair Jim McDonough, the ordinance will make it a misdemeanor to carry a gun into county buildings, parks, beaches, ice arenas and libraries. McDonough says he needs to look out for the safety of county employees.
June 5, 2003 - Archaeologists in La Crosse say they've discovered evidence of a rare exchange between two ancient cultures. They say the discovery of pottery, jewelry and bones from a site near La Crosse could solve the puzzle of the origins of the people who lived here a thousand years ago. But not everyone agrees. The find has launched two archaeologists in a fierce academic debate. Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz reports.
June 3, 2003 - For years, scientists have looked for the causes behind obesity. They've found many possibilities. They've looked at Pyschological, physiological and cultural reasons. As part of our on-going series, 'The Fight against Fat', Mainstreet Radio's Rob Schmitz reports that recent advances in neuroscience have given researchers an unprecedented look into the brain's important role in the equation.
May 14, 2003 - Rice County officials heard public testimony last night (5/13) about a proposal to build Minnesota's first Muslim meat-processing plant. Some Rice County residents are protesting the proposal. They say the facility would damage the environment, increase traffic to the area, and lower their property taxes. Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz reports. {The slaughter house would produce halal meat.
May 8, 2003 - A group in southern Minnesota concerned about immigration is attracting both support and controversy. The group says now is the time for the United States to dramatically reduce immigration. Critics say the group uses the atmosphere of a post-9/11 America to preach fear and hatred. They say organizations supporting this group have ties to a branch of science that aims to prove the superiority of whites. Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz reports.