March 19, 2008 - The Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, is planning to close some roads, and designate others for all-terrain-vehicle use. Matt Norton, a member of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, says the agency wants to convert too many old logging trails into permanent roads, encouraging motorized recreation at the expense of quiet sports.
March 19, 2008 - MPR’s Stephanie Hemphill reports on ATVs in the north woods. The U.S. Forest Service is about to make a major decision about where ATVs can go and cannot go in the vast Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. Segment includes various interviews of residents and environmentalists.
February 1, 2008 - Governor Pawlenty is calling for repeal of Minnesota's moratorium on new nuclear power plants. It's part of his preliminary action plan on climate change. He also wants to reduce red tape for renewable energy projects. His proposals are included in a report sent to the legislature today. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
January 17, 2008 - Governor Pawlenty wants to make low-interest loans available to small businesses and homeowners, to install renewable energy systems. The governor announced the initiative at a news conference today (THURS). He also set up a collaborative group to oversee research and development on clean energy. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports. {
December 5, 2007 - Polls show a majority of Americans are concerned about global warming. But it's not clear what we're willing to do about it. A task force is due to vote today (WED) on some measures we could take here in Minnesota, to reduce our carbon footprint. The group has been studying fifty possible approaches to the problem. It's planning to report to Governor Tim Pawlenty after the first of the year. Some of the ideas are the energy equivalent of castor oil. They may be good for us, but they're a little hard to swallow. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
November 26, 2007 - Audio excerpt of R. T. Rybak on subject of renewable energy.
October 8, 2007 - A new report on the economy of northeastern Minnesota calls into question the value of mining jobs. The region is poised to add more than a thousand high-paying jobs in several new mining projects. But the report's author says the region should think hard about whether those jobs will fulfill the promises their backers are making. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.
September 24, 2007 - If you've ever walked along the North Shore of Lake Superior, you might have wondered how the rugged scenery came to be. A geologist and a naturalist have teamed up to write a guidebook for hikers in the eight state parks along the North Shore. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill visited Gooseberry Falls State Park with one of the book's authors.
August 20, 2007 - A new children's book by two northern Minnesota writers combines vibrant watercolors with a gentle message of positive self-esteem. It's about a moose called "Agate," and its authors both live on the North Shore of Lake Superior. They talked with Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill.
July 3, 2007 - Stephanie Hemphill reports on the U.S. Forest Service facing a lawsuit over its plan to log near Trout Lake, just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.