South Saint Paul News and Announcements

Ban The Bug Campaign Urges Minnesotans To Get Their Influenza Vaccinations

EarthTalk: Stimulus package rewards for businesses greening up

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been following reports about President Obama’s stimulus package and what it may mean for creating green jobs. Beyond that, are there programs in place to...

Ice Skating Rinks for Dakota County Minnesota - Maps and Directions

Providers Can Now Offer H1N1 Vaccine To All If Priority Groups Are Getting Immunized....

Cut your own Christmas Tree from tree farms in Minnesota

Minnesota Children With Special Health Needs

World AIDS Day to be Observed Dec. 1, 2009

South Saint Paul Holiday Shopping Guide - Black Friday deals and South Saint Paul Malls and Outlets

Health Officials Expand H1N1 Vaccination To All CDC Priority Groups

Minnesota Department Of Health Receives CDC Grant To Address Teen Dating Violence Prevention

Two More H1N1 Deaths Confirmed In Minnesota Residents

Minnesota Records Three More Deaths Associated With H1N1 Novel Influenza

Minnesota Department of Health Tobacco Prevention News Update - October 15, 2009

An Invitation to our South Saint Paul Community: BLOG ON!

Dakota County Apple Picking Orchards and Apple Farms for Dakota County

Dakota County Pumpkin Patch Farms and Pumpkin Picking Guide - Dakota County

First Supply of H1N1 Vaccine Will Go To Minnesota Health Care...

Find Minnesota Corn Mazes - Get lost in a Minnesota haunted Halloween corn maze this season!

Minnesotans Encouraged To Be Persistent In Getting Seasonal Flu Shots

Officials Update Guidelines For Handling Flu-Like Illness In Child Care Settings.....

Health Officials Urge Minnesotans To Learn More About The Warning Signs.....

Infertility Prevention Project Funds Awarded To Local Agencies Start In 2010

Two More Diseases From Ticks Found in Minnesota

Minnesota WIC Program to Offer Healthier Food Choices to Women, Infants and Children

Minnesota Records Two Additional H1N1-Associated Deaths

AmericanTowns PR Tool: Getting publicity for your South Saint Paul organization has never been easier

Health Officials Remind Minnesotans To Practice Healthy Swimming Behaviors This Summer

Weekend Activities in and around South Saint Paul

Eat Local! Great Resources in the South Saint Paul area

E.Coli O157:H7 Cases Linked To Eating Raw Toll House Brand Cookie Dough

State's fish consumption guidelines help consumers choose fish to protect health

Large numbers of Minnesota ticks carry disease organisms

Mild cases of H1N1 novel influenza virus continue to appear in Minnesota

MDH Sends Another Probable Sample of H1N1 Novel Influenza Virus to CDC for Final Testing

Refinance Your Mortgage Locally, as Mortgage Rates Drop to 5% Level

Digging into 'shovel-ready projects' in the South Saint Paul area

Giving To South Saint Paul Non-Profits: It Does Good…And It Feels Good

Make a difference in South Saint Paul! Find the perfect local volunteer opportunity

The (Even Greater) Outdoors: Get Out There!

Browse This Week's Classified Ads For South Saint Paul

Don’t let dining out in the South Saint Paul area do you in!

EarthTalk: Harvesting rainwater for household use

Dear EarthTalk How can I make good use of the rainwater that runs down my roof and into my gutters? -- B.S.For most of us, the rain that falls on our roof runs off into the...

EarthTalk: Simple improvements for greening the home

Dear EarthTalk: What are some simple low cost improvements I can do to my home to make it greener? -- S.L.According to consumer advocate Remar Sutton, there are many ways to save...

EarthTalk: Bike riding and traffic pollution

Dear EarthTalk: I ride my bike to work along busy urban streets. Should I be worried about inhaling pollutants from vehicle emissions and other sources?  -- J.K.The short...

EarthTalk: Vertical Farming

Dear EarthTalk: What is “vertical farming” and how is it better for the environment? – J.S. “Vertical farming” is a term coined by Columbia University professor of...

EarthTalk: Fashion's footprint

Dear EarthTalk: Can you enlighten on the environmental impact of the fashion industry? As I understand it, the industry overall is no friend to the environment.  --...

EarthTalk: more affordable energy-efficient cars

Dear EarthTalk: Celebrities and billionaires are shelling out big bucks for cutting edge green-friendly cars like the Tesla Roadster. But what are the rest of us—who live in the...

EarthTalk: High molybdenum levels from cookware

Dear EarthTalk: I recently had a tissue mineral analysis indicating that my levels of the nutritional element, molybdenum, were off the chart.  I believe this may be leaching...

Share the season in pictures with the Fairfield Community

EarthTalk: Toxic hair salons

Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, hair salons are pretty toxic enterprises on many counts. Are there any efforts underway to green up that industry? -- P.H.Hair salons have...

EarthTalk: Recession hurts green group efforts

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that environmental non-profits have been hit hard by the economic downturn, and has this had an impact on their effectiveness? -- B.W.Non-profits of...

EarthTalk: Disposable paper products decimate forests

Dear EarthTalk: Are any major brands of disposable tissues, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper yet using recycled content and chlorine-free bleaching? -- S.C.Not many. In...

EarthTalk: Pesticides, fertilizers and water pollution

Dear EarthTalk: What effects do fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides used on residential lawns or on farms have on nearby water bodies like rivers, streams—or even the ocean...

EarthTalk: Green Power for Homes

Dear EarthTalk: I’d like to know the relative electricity cost of utility scale solar and wind plants versus rooftop residential solar. In other words, how can I know whether to...

EarthTalk: How "green" is Borax for housecleaning?

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard so much about using Borax for green housecleaning.  But if this mineral has to be mined, doesn't that negate some of its...

EarthTalk: Green life lessons for youngsters

Dear EarthTalk: What are some things that children and families can do to be greener (and to provide life lessons for the kids in the process)? -- C.M.There are many ways to...

Winning the Real Estate Game in Fairfield in a Tough Market

EarthTalk: Cigarette litter

Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone ever studied the environmental impact of discarded cigarettes? I’m constantly appalled at the number of drivers I see pitching their butts out their...

EarthTalk: Green ways to keep groundhogs and others away

Dear EarthTalk: What would you recommend as a non-toxic/non-lethal way to keep squirrels, gophers and groundhogs away?   -- F.G.Keeping unwanted critters away can...

EarthTalk: Upgrading older appliances

Dear EarthTalk: I am considering upgrading some older appliances in my home. Where can I find information on which models are the most energy efficient?  -- J.D.There has...

EarthTalk: Tax incentives for energy-efficiency

Dear EarthTalk: Since Obama took office, have any new incentives been put in place for homeowners looking to increase energy efficiency and reduce the overall environmental...

EarthTalk: Can cars run on water?

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that cars can be modified to run on water. How is this possible? -- D.M.There are a number of online marketing offers of kits that will convert...

EarthTalk: Can we bring back train travel?

Dear EarthTalk: If train travel is so much less polluting than driving or flying, why are passenger rail options in the U.S. so limited compared to Europe? And is anything being...

EarthTalk: The stimulus package and green jobs

Dear EarthTalk: What kind of job opportunities might be opened up by the new federal emphasis on green projects? -- D.W.If it’s a U.S. industry that has the potential to be...

EarthTalk: Insulating paints

Dear EarthTalk: Do insulating paints actually insulate and save energy? If they do, are they environmentally friendly to use? -- B.D.Paint additives that claim insulating...

EarthTalk: Do sunspots and solar wind contribute to global warming?

Dear EarthTalk: Don’t some scientists point to sunspots and solar wind as having more impact on climate change than human industrial activity?   -- D.N. ...

EarthTalk: Neighborhood Solar Power

Dear EarthTalk: I know of solar power systems that people can put on their roofs to generate electricity or heat water. Are there systems that serve whole neighborhoods? -- L.H. ...

EarthTalk: Recycling mattresses

Dear EarthTalk: How can I recycle my old mattress if the place I buy a new one from doesn’t take it? What do mattress companies do with old mattresses when they do take them? Do...

EarthTalk: Where will we re-charge our plug-in cars?

Dear EarthTalk: With plug-in hybrid and electric cars due to hit the roads sometime soon, will there be places to plug them in besides at home? And if so, how much will it cost to...

EarthTalk: Microwaves vs. gas and electric ovens

Dear EarthTalk: How does the microwave compare in energy use, say, to using a gas or electric stove burner to heat water for a cup of tea? -- T.D. The...

EarthTalk: Nanotechnology forges ahead

Dear EarthTalk: What is "nanotechnology?" I’ve heard that nanoparticles are already in consumer products, yet we haven't really studied their potential health...

EarthTalk: Global warming, human illness and loss of life

Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone been tracking whether climate change is causing more loss of human life as it gets more pronounced? -- G.G. Researchers...

EarthTalk: Nontoxic flea and tick products and remedies

Dear EarthTalk: Are there any flea and tick products out there that don’t contain toxic chemicals? --E.L. Harmful pesticides in mainstream flea and tick products are...

EarthTalk: More fuel-efficient diesel cars coming to the U.S.

Dear EarthTalk: I don’t understand why there are many European diesel cars with very high mileage ratings that are not available in the U.S. Can you enlighten? -- J.H. ...

EarthTalk: What does Carbon Neutral really mean?

Dear EarthTalk: What does "carbon neutral" really mean? And is it really possible to live in such a manner without just resorting to buying carbon credits? --V.H. ...

EarthTalk: Sun-protective clothing

Dear EarthTalk: Is there really such a thing as “sun-protective clothing?” If so, does it mean I can dispense with oily sunscreens once and for all? -- J.S. ...

EarthTalk: Global warming skeptics

Dear EarthTalk: I keep meeting people who say that human-induced global warming is only theory, that just as many scientists doubt it as believe it. Can you settle the score? --...

EarthTalk: Living near a gas station

Dear EarthTalk: I am looking at possibly buying a house that is very close to a gasoline station. Is it safe to live so close to a gas station? What concerns should I have? I have...

EarthTalk: Backyard (organic) vegetable gardening in small spaces

Dear EarthTalk: I want to start an organic vegetable garden in my yard and I would like to know how to combine crops to make better use of time and space. -- Val Thomason,...

EarthTalk: What role might biomass play in our energy future?

Dear EarthTalk: There’s a lot of talk today about solar and wind power, but what about biomass? How big a role might this renewable energy source play in our future? Couldn’t...

EarthTalk: Does a cold and snowy winter mean that global warming is bunk?

Dear EarthTalk: Don’t all these huge snow and ice storms across the country mean that the globe isn’t really warming? I've never seen such a winter! -- M.F. ...

EarthTalk: Smart grid technology for conserving energy

Dear EarthTalk: What is the so-called “smart grid” I've been hearing about, and how can it save energy and money? -- L.B. America’s...

EarthTalk: Is #5 plastic, used for some food containers, safe?

Dear EarthTalk: It seems like more products are being packaged in #5 rather than #2 plastic today, and my local recycling agency won’t take #5. I’ve also heard that #5...

EarthTalk: Technological climate change fixes

Dear EarthTalk: What are some of the leading proposed technological fixes for staving off global warming, and how feasible are they? -- J.H. While most...

EarthTalk: Comparing battery to gasoline power, electricity wins hands down

Dear EarthTalk: If you have an electric or plug-in hybrid car, you’re paying for electricity rather than gasoline all or most of the time. How does that cost compare to a...

EarthTalk: Toilet paper and other disposable paper products decimate forests

Dear EarthTalk: Are any major brands of disposable tissues, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper yet using recycled content and chlorine-free bleaching? -- S.C. ...

EarthTalk: Which parts of the U.S. will be hardest hit by global warming?

Dear EarthTalk: Which parts of the United States are or will be hardest hit by global warming? -- A.P. It’s difficult to predict which areas of the U.S. will suffer...

EarthTalk: Reducing home heating energy use

Dear EarthTalk: This winter is shaping up to be one of the coldest in recent memory where I live. What can I do to reduce my home heating bill now and in the future?  --...

EarthTalk: The "green cities" movement

Dear EarthTalk: What is the “green cities” movement?  -- J.M. Best described as a loose association of cities focused on sustainability,...

EarthTalk: Synthetic chemicals in baby bottles

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that some baby bottles contain chemicals that can cause health problems for babies? If so, how can I find alternatives that are safer? -- A.G. ...

EarthTalk: Desalinization of ocean water for drinking

Dear EarthTalk: With all the talk of desalinization of ocean water for drinking, what do we know about the impacts this might have on climate, ocean salinity and other natural...

EarthTalk: Fireplace Dangers

Dear EarthTalk: It is starting to get colder and I’m eager to try out the fireplace in our new home, but we don't want to create health or environmental problems. Are there...

EarthTalk: Which is greener: dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener?

Dear EarthTalk: Which is better for our environment: to use dryer sheets in the dryer or liquid fabric softener in the wash? It seems they both have properties that are not very...

EarthTalk: Rooftop solar panels for home energy and hot water

Dear EarthTalk: I am considering solar panels for my roof to provide heat for my hot water and possibly to do more than that. Are there some kinds of solar panels that are better...

Blades of glory! Find ice skating rinks in and around South Saint Paul, Minnesota

EarthTalk: Starting a School Environmental Club

Dear EarthTalk: I’m thinking about starting an environmental club in my middle school.  Can you give me some ideas about how to start?  Can you connect me with other...

EarthTalk: What's more green-friendly: flying or driving?

Dear EarthTalk: How can I determine if it is more eco-friendly to fly or drive somewhere? -- C.M. The simple answer is that driving in a relatively fuel efficient...

EarthTalk: Green-friendly holiday gift ideas and sources

10 ways to combat the red, white and post-election blues

EarthTalk: Eco-Psychology

Dear EarthTalk: I caught the tail end of a discussion about “ecopsychology” recently on the radio, something about the negative impacts of people not communing with nature...