As the weather gets warmer, migratory birds head north from
their winter homes and fly through the Midwest to nesting sites in the
Great Lakes Region. Along their journey, rivers like the Illinois
provide
habitat, food, and shelter for the birds. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl reports on one small research station on the
Illinois River that tracks these birds to learn more about the
environment
we live in:
Month: May 2000
New Feed Reduces Toxins in Manure
Large-scale livestock operations face a big challenge: how to
handle all the manure the animals produce. Manure spills and runoff can
contaminate water with nitrogen and phosphorous. The result can be
polluted drinking water, or fish kills in streams and lakes. But now,
Purdue University researchers have found a way to significantly lower
the
pollutants in hog manure. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy
Nelson reports:
Commentary – Snack Attack
Ethiopia is in the news again, as drought causes renewed famine
in the country. Meanwhile, the United States is experiencing record
high
obesity rates, with 1 out of every 4 children overweight. Great Lakes
Radio Consortium commentator Julia King wonders if our nation’s
pampered youth can ever feel kinship with their starving counterparts:
FARM BELT BRACES FOR IMPENDING DROUGHT (Shorter Version)
Ponds and lakes in some areas of the Midwest are the lowest they've been in more than 35 years. Some cities are implementing water use restrictions. Some farmers are concerned there's not enough subsoil moisture for crops to use during the hot summer months.
The beginnings of a drought are hitting a large part of the nation’s
mid-section. Already some communities are facing water shortages. The
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
Farm Belt Braces for Impending Drought
Ponds and lakes in some areas of the Midwest are the lowest they've been in more than 35 years. Some cities are implementing water use restrictions. Some farmers are concerned there's not enough subsoil moisture for crops to use during the hot summer months.
The farm belt is short on rain. Since last summer, much of the
Midwest has been getting below normal rainfall. Lakes and rivers are
low. Long-range weather projections are not promising. Farmers and
communities that rely on reservoirs are concerned. The Great Lakes
Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:
Alzheimer’s Patients Take Up Gardening (Part 2)
Family Life Center founder, Cynthia Longchamps (right), and program participant JoAnn Scott. Longchamps says the sound of this waterfall helps soothe Alzheimer's patients, and its location encourages them to walk farther into the garden.
People have often turned to nature to rejuvenate their spirit –
whether they take a hike in the woods, or just look out the window. Now
there’s a type of therapy that taps into these powers of nature. In the
second of a two-part series, the Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy
Nelson visits a "healing garden":
Activities May Ease Alzheimer’s Disease (Part 1)
This garden at the Family Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is designed specifically to help Alzheimer's patients.
About 19 million Americans have a family member with
Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a diagnosis that can send a family reeling.
For
patients, even simple tasks become increasingly difficult, as the
disease
robs them of their memory. And for families, caring for an Alzheimer’s
patient often becomes a fulltime job. In the first of a two-part
series, the
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports new approaches
in Alzheimer’s treatment are offering hope to both patients and their
families:
Park Service Combats Exotic Plants
There’s a silent danger creeping through national parks across the
country. The parks – like many other wild areas – are being invaded by
alien species. Officials say these exotic plants are the most
significant threat to the parks’ natural resources. And now, the
National Park Service is taking action. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports:
Gardeners Grow Healthy Bones
Medical experts have long known that certain types of exercise help
build bone density, and help prevent osteoporosis. But no one knew
which activities were most beneficial, until now. As the Great Lakes
Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports, many people are sure to "dig"
the results of a new study:
Commentary – The Costs of Comfort
A recent Canadian Government study shows that sports utility vehicles
are responsible for a seven-percent increase in auto emissions. Great
Lakes Radio Consortium commentator Suzanne Elston thinks it’s time
consumers took a second look at the cost of comfort: