Soil Testing Strips Aid Gardeners

Chemical test strips are often used for pregnancy and drug tests. Now the same principle’s being used by gardeners to improve soil and plant quality. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s David Naylor reports:

Snake Habitat Halts Road Construction

A wildlife habitat may force officials to change their plans to connect two roads in Indiana and Michigan. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s David Naylor reports:

Army Plans Destruction of Nerve Gas

The U-S Army has applied to treat and destroy all of its V-X Nerve Gas at its Newport, Indiana facility. The weapon is considered one of the deadliest substances known to man. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Tom Scheck reports:

Commentary – The Truth About Pet Food

One California-based animal rights group is calling for aboycott of commercial pet food. The Animal Protection Institute claimsthat most consumers are unaware that they are not providing their petswith proper nutrition. The group charges that most commercial foodscontain things like slaughterhouse waste, roadkill and restaurant greaseand they’re calling on pet owners to replace commercial foods withfresher, more nutritious foods. However, not everyone is sold on theidea. Great Lakes Radio Consortium Commentator Julia King questions thewisdom of treating pets like people:

A Greener Way to Hit the Slopes

Each year, Purdue University sponsors a contest to find creative usesfor soybeans. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s David Naylor reportson how this year’s winners may have found a "greener" way to hit theslopes:

El Nino Creates Ladybug Explosion

El Nino has been blamed for several things this year…And now there’s one more—an explosion of ladybugs. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Beverly Amsler explains:

El Nino Brings Early Allergy Season

The tropical weather pattern known as El Nino has been blamed for floods in California and tornadoes throughout the South. In the Great Lakes Region, El Nino has brought warmer than usual temperatures. And as the Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Tom Scheck reports, the mild winter has health care professionals worrying about this year’s allergy season:

Commentary – Champlain a Great Lake?

Earlier this month (March, 1998) President Clinton signed a bill declaring Vermont’s Lake Champlain as one of the Great Lakes. The move was engineered by Senator Patrick Leahy in order to make Vermont universities eligible for federal research dollars. But the move created a firestorm of ridicule and protest. Last week, the Senate voted unanimously to remove the designation. The House is expected to do the same this week—a move that pleases Great Lakes Commentator Julia King:

Sprawl Slows Emergency Response

Suburban communities near American cities have been expanding for decades. And as they grow, more and more farmland is being paved over to make way for new roads and subdivisions. But a study being released today (Wednesday, March 4) finds that the desire for big homes on big lots may come at the expense of personal health and safety. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel reports:

Commentary – Completing the Cycle

Just a generation ago, Americans threw their household waste in one big trash can and sent it off to landfills. Today, recycling is part of the fabric of daily life. We sort and save; carefully putting our bottles curbside or carting them off to the nearest collection site. But what does it mean? Great Lakes Radio Consortium commentator, Julia King, wonders if we’ve really learned the lesson, or if we’re just mouthing the words: