WTIP News Director Kalli Hawkins discusses their coverage of the Cook County township meetings, which focus on updating the county’s land use plan. These meetings explore opportunities for residential development, potential rezoning, and economic growth. Plus, Health officials are concerned about radon levels in Minnesota schools, and The History Theatre in St. Paul presents The Secret Warriors, a play about Japanese-American translators and interrogators that served in World War II.
Transcript
HOST: You are listening to North Star Stories - voices from where we live - a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: Today, our monthly conversation with WTIP's news director, as well as a play at Saint Paul’s History Theatre about the role Japanese Americans played during World War 2. And, how radon is affecting Minnesota's schools. I'm Gracie J.
ANCHOR: Minnesotans have the chance to learn about the role Japanese Americans played during World War 2. The play, The Secret Warriors, is on stage at Saint Paul’s History Theatre, now through April 19th. The play is inspired by the stories of two Japanese Americans who served as translators and interrogators for the us armed forces. They served as the eyes and ears of General Macarthur and helped to save the lives of countless allied soldiers. It’s also said their work helped shorten the war. Ticket information for The Secret Warriors is online at history theatre dot com.
ANCHOR: Coming up, in this month's conversation with WTIP news director Kalli Hawkins, the Schroeder Township board meetings, and a project aimed at increasing density for residential development.
Victor Palomino: Every 10 years, the community in Cook County gathers for a series of meetings and discussions to update its land use plan. This meeting focuses on opportunities for residential development potential rezoning and economic growth. WTIP news director Kalli Hawkins explains,
Kalli Hawkins: We have three townships in our county. We have Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder.
Victor Palomino: In this month's conversation with WTIP, we discuss their coverage of this township meetings and the key issues being addressed.
Kalli Hawkins: This week, one of our top stories was checking in with the Schroeder Township. It's kind of on the west end of Cook County. I had a chance to sit down with the Schroeder Township board chair, Bruce Martinson, and then also with our Cook County Planning and Zoning administrator, Neva Maxwell.
Victor Palomino: Kalli explains that three community meetings have already taken place over the past few months, with a fourth meeting now in the works.
Kalli Hawkins: So one of the items that they're looking at is potentially decreasing the minimum acre lot size or parcel size there in targeted specific areas to allow for some of that residential density along the Lake Superior shoreline and the Highway 61 corridor. At this moment in time, they're looking at maybe changing a little bit more targeted inland areas to allow for some density on specific roads. So one of those being Sugarloaf Road,
Victor Palomino: Another critical component of the land use update is broadband access, an essential service for the present and future of every community.
Kalli Hawkins: The Arrowhead Cooperative, kind of our local internet and electric provider here in Cook County, has been working out throughout the past few years, actually, of installing electric and broadband services along rural areas of Cook County. That kind of sits underneath the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and Arrowhead Cooperative was awarded funding from that
Victor Palomino: The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, established by the Federal Communications Commission in January 2020, aims to expand broadband access in rural America as part of the effort to bridge the digital divide.
Kalli Hawkins: Which is kind of a big deal in our neck of the woods, because a lot of the area we don't have that.
Victor Palomino: Another key discussion point is the potential expansion of about 170 acres near a decommissioned coal power plant, which could be repurposed for residential or commercial development.
Kalli Hawkins: The Taconite Harbor. It's a coal-fired power plant that has been in operation for many years. It was shut down and then they started the decommissioning process back in 2023. There are conversations ongoing with the landowner, Minnesota Power, right now to potentially transition that site.
Victor Palomino: The land use planning process is still ongoing, with several months remaining before completion to hear the full interview and more from WTIP News, visit WTIP dot ORG. For North Star Stories and Victor Palomino.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories. Health officials are expressing concern about radon in Minnesota’s schools. The odorless and colorless gas is linked to more than 21,000 deaths each year in the U.S. Radon seeps into buildings through cracks and openings in the foundation. A study by the Minnesota Department of Health found that only 39 percent of Minnesota’s public schools tested for radon. The study also found that schools outside of the metro are less likely to test for the gas. The health department is offering reduced-cost testing kits to make it easier for schools to test for radon.
HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS - Diverse Radio for Minnesota's Communities - with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at AMPERS dot ORG.