Stories from March 11, 2010

 

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2010 Census
Cassey LeMay Reporting

Another ten years has come and gone. That means another census is here. One group of people may be less likely to fill out their forms than others.



 

2010 Census
Cassey LeMay Reporting

Another ten years has come and gone. That means another census is here. One group of people may be less likely to fill out their forms than others.

Homework, jobs, and a social life are all things many college students worry about balancing. This year, there's something else student's should be aware of.

Kevin Dean, Grand Forks Public Information Officer says, "It's a snapshot of America. And the US census is taken once every 10 years to determine number one the total population of the United States of America."

College students are considered a hard to reach group. Some students feel is just isn't advertised well to students while others feel it becomes just another piece of junk mail. Many students are unaware of the place they should be calling home.

Dean explains, "What college students often tend to think is their address is where their parents live. According to the census, your address at the time of the census is where you're going to school. It's where you spend the majority of your time in one year."

Everyone used to get the census, but if you were one of the 1 in 6 unlucky households who got the long form, you were in for an ordeal. This year, everyone will get a short, 10 question form that's easy to fill out. This change is because the Census Bureau is trying to increase their reply rate for an important reason.

Dean says, "If we lose even just 1 person, the Census Bureau estimates that we will lose $10,000 over the course of the next 10 years."

Some college students have other ideas on how the government can entice them to fill out their census forms.

One students says, "If there was like a Papa John's coupon, get a free pizza, I would do my census."

While pizza is not a likely reward for filling out the census, knowing that their reply is helping out local schools, hospitals and roads is.

The Census Bureau keeps the information confidential for 72 years. After that it becomes public record. Not even President Obama can ask and receive information from the Census Bureau.


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Soda Pop
Laura Aldridge Reporting

The average American drinks at least 50 cans of soda per month. Some are tackling the issue of obesity by trying to reduce this number.

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Soda Pop
Laura Aldridge Reporting

The average American drinks at least 50 cans of soda per month. Some are tackling the issue of obesity by trying to reduce this number. Soda, pop, soft drink, call it whatever you'd like, this sugary beverage is not the healthiest menu choice.

Allen Anderson, Public Health Dietician says, "When you think about soda you really need to think about the effects that is has had on people's health and probably the largest affect that it has had is in general weight gain."

Experts say soft drinks are the only beverage to increase the risk of obesity. To decrease soft drink sales some health officials are trying to put tax on all sugared beverages. The potential tax increase may have more benefits than just a smaller waistline.

Anderson says, "We've already seen some statistics that say this maybe the first generation where parents out live the kids-so the choices we're making matters and the types of foods and beverages that are being provided matter as well"

A possible tax will not include any diet soft drinks. However, diet soda can still have negative consequences.

Donna Bernhardt, Nutritionist tells us, "Diet pops still does have the acid in it, in fact, diet pop has more acids than regular pop so those acids are hard on our teeth".

Americans are consuming an average of 175 calories daily through soft drinks.

Bernhardt says, "The pop has replaced a much more nutritious item which then can lead some people down the road to osteoporosis"

Osteoporosis is just one of the many health concerns. But with the help of a possible new tax, public health experts hope it will help make America healthier.

A federal tax on soft drinks was defeated last year in Congress. Now the tax is heading towards state and local levels. Chicago already has a soft-drink tax. California and about a dozen other states are heading in that direction.


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Iceman Triathlon
Eric Swanson Reporting

For many active people, competing in a triathlon can be the pinnacle of their athletic achievement. One group of athletes in North Dakota has taken things one step further.

 

Iceman Triathlon
Eric Swanson Reporting

For many active people, competing in a triathlon can be the pinnacle of their athletic achievement. One group of athletes in North Dakota has taken things one step further.

What do you get when you combine 70 adults, 15 miles of snow, and a dash of craziness?

Robert Deringer tells us about the first ever iceman triathlon in Grand Forks. , "Today we did the first ever iceman triathlon here in Grand Forks."

Keith Becker, another triathlon participant explains, "8 miles of biking, 3 miles of running, and about 3 and a half of cross country skiing"

Athletes raced as individuals or as a team. This led to some creativity that only people willing to run a race in the dead of winter could be capable of.

Robert Deringer calls his team, "The Steven Segal Snow Patrol Project"

Kyle Crawford says, "We are team robot unicorn attack"

Deringer says, "If you've seen any of his movies it's obvious you want to have Steven Segal on your side"

But neither robots nor Steven Segal could help these ice men prepare for the home stretch.

You see, it turns out this triathlon actually has a 4th element.

Becker says, "We wanted to add a little fun here with the finale so we have a sledding hill here behind us where you have to have two team members sliding down going around some obstacles and then running back up the hill and doing it three more times and then you have to run across the finish line together as a team"

Deringer explains, "We had to sled up and down a hill three times and we only had a sled about yay big so it was quite a challenge."

The race did prove to be a tremendous challenge for most competitors.

But when mixed with a helping of positive attitudes, and a festive atmosphere, the biggest challenge may just be: trying to stop these folks from doing it all again next year.

This year's event was the first ever held in Grand Forks. The organizers plan to continue the race as an annual event, and hope to build upon this year's success in 2011.


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Chef School
Julie Bech Reporting

Some must be stirred and others fried. There are many ways to prepare foods. One Chef knows them all and decided to share with a special group.

Chef School
Julie Bech Reporting

Some must be stirred and others fried. There are many ways to prepare foods. One Chef knows them all and decided to share with a special group.

Start off with a Chef that knows advice about cooking.Then toss in nine people,all male.

Chef Jeff Tiedeman says, "I guess my philosophy in foods is, and cooking is, all foods will fit in a diet, in a person's diet."

Add say, a handful of drive and determination.

Tiedeman says, "My wife always tells me I should teach a cooking class for men because a lot of her friends would like for their husbands to know how to cook."

Blend curiosity, interest and hungry stomachs till inspiration starts to spread. Stir well.

Kevin Gruholt, a course participant says, "Different ways of changing the recipe. Cause, you know, a lot of guys will. We might see something and put it together and then look at the instructions later."

And as expected with most males… season to taste.

Charlie Murphy, another course participant tells us,"Changed a few things that, he said, go ahead and experiment, and I'm still alive so I haven't poisoned myself yet."

Chop up a healthy reminder and throw it in.

Another participant says, "I thought this stuff was prepared much more heart healthy than I'm used to."

Sprinkle on both a sense of humor, and a willingness to learn, and let the blend sizzle.

Wait for about 3 minutes.

You'll have a classroom with flavors of camaraderie, admiration, and, let's not forget, some tasty treats.

Even though it may be a stereotype that men enjoy meat, Chef Jeff also teaches two courses in soups and sauces.

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Enjoying Dance
Mari Boe Reporting

Two things Africa is known for is their rhythm and their coffee. At one cultural event the coffee was full of rhythm. Attendees at this event got to experience a whole new energetic Coffie.

Enjoying Dance
Mari Boe Reporting

Two things Africa is known for is their rhythm and their coffee. At one cultural event the coffee was full of rhythm. Many Americans start their day with a cup of coffee. Attendees at this event got to experience a whole new energetic Coffie.

Evans Coffie,says, "People being themselves and that inspires me big. And I also get my energy from the audience and the people that I see"

Evans Coffie, or Coffieman as he is nicknamed, needs no caffeine.

Katyla, event coordinator says, "We could see, we could feel so much energy coming through his performance"

Edson Novoa, entertainment manager agrees, "His performance is always very exciting. It makes people want to get up and dance. The best thing about it is that he involves the audience as well. He interacts with the audience"

During his performance he invites all the guys to join him on stage.

Coffie says, "They're not afraid to go on stage, especially the guys, and they shake their bodies and groove to the music. I think that is beautiful!"

For Coffie, language and cultural barriers are nonexistent.

Eller Bonifacio says, "Even though you don't understand what he sings and stuff he somehow speaks to you.I just feel the passion in him when he does this stuff"

Coffie says, "You have that culture background in you already. Only thing is our color code and their names."

Coffie tours the nation teaching and entertaining.

He tells us, "Life is beautiful and life is too short and as long as you are living you should love taking care of yourself and enjoy life. And this is my life and I am enjoying it!"

There is no cup of coffee strong enough to compare to the energy that Evans Coffie brings to audiences every time he dances. Coffie used to work for Ghana’s National Dance Company. He went to villages and learned about their dance, food, and song culture. When he returned, he taught people from around the world about different village traditions.


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Your Thoughts - News sources?

People can get news from many media sources. The Pew Research Center reports most people get their information from television, the Internet or a combination of information sources. The study says local television tops the list of preferred news platforms. We wanted to know where you get your news from and why.


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Flood Season
Matt Saari Reporting

On the border between North Dakota and Minnesota, spring season means flood season. Various conditions are monitored to predict the magnitude of the floods.

Flood Season
Matt Saari Reporting

On the border between North Dakota and Minnesota, spring season means flood season. Various conditions are monitored to predict the magnitude of the floods.

Michael Lukes, a hydrologist says, "It's how much water is in the snowpack, how much that builds up before the melt, and the ground conditions before the melt."

While the factors hydrologists use to make a forecast remain the same, the impact each one has on the forecast varies each season.

Lukes says, "Every flood is different as we say here in the office."

This season, one factor seems to outweigh the others.

Lukes says, "We do have a very significant snowpack. If we get a really quick thaw or some rain on top of the snowpack, that will pretty much clobber the channel capacity and we get the big, major floods."

To monitor the snowpack a group of observers across the region will take snow core samples. These determine how much water is in the snow. The forecasters then collect the observations and combine them with the other factors to create the flood forecast.

The biggest concern is how fast that water gets into the river system.

Lukes agrees, "I think depending on how the snow melts, that will be the determining key right now."

But until the weather warms up, all we can do is wait and see how the forecast pans out.

This year, the latest outlook for flooding in Fargo, North Dakota shows a 96% chance of reaching major flood stage which is 30 feet. The chance of reaching last year's record stage of around 40 feet is 20%.

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Sue Thompson
Humor Lecturer

Some people dread going to work, and in turn do not do their best. Incorporating laughter into your day can greatly increase productivity. Thompson tells us about how it makes the person happier, which can also bring along many health benefits.

Monique Lamoureux
Olympic Silver Medalist - US Womens Hockey

Lamoureux tells us about returning home from winning a silver Olympic medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics last month. She tells us all about the lifestyle, the motivation and the experience that comes along with the glory of an Olympic medal.