In part two of a special multi-part series featuring artists exploring their role in the climate conversation, KUMD speaks with poet and musician Ben Weaver about how small gatherings of music and poetry have become an outlet for working through climate grief.

Who knew musicians had "climate stories"? For that matter, who knew any of us did? Green Visions producer Adam Reinhardt knew, and today, he talks with Jeremy Messersmith about his.

Here, up north, we figure we're in pretty good shape. We take a lot of pride in our clean air and water and spend a lot of time looking out for them. So it was a shock to hear that two- to four-thousand people in Minnesota die early every year from causes linked to air pollution - and most of those are in rural areas, particularly around Aitkin and McGregor. Since transportation emissions are the leading cause of this pollution, which is hurting the health of people and the planet, the MPCA sees

Explorer Will Steger didn't capture the world's imagination through a recitation of dry facts: he did it by telling stories. His organization, Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy, uses storytelling to get across the message of climate change and its effects.* But next month, they're pulling out all the stops with Band Together: "an evening of music, storytelling, and collective climate action." *Read Will Steger's climate story:

To paraphrase, courage is a dish best served around a big, crowded table packed with friends.

The vote to ban single-use bags - paper AND plastic - was pushed back a couple of weeks on Monday night to allow for more discussion. A committee-of-the-whole meeting is set for October 24 to concentrate on the proposed ordinance. Jamie Harvie of Bag It, Duluth says the group has been working to get the ordinance passed for over two years, so a delay to answer more questions isn't a problem. But he says Duluth is playing catch-up in terms of other cities, states and countries that have begun the

Last month, UMD students threw away almost 200 fewer pounds of food than in September of the year before. Solar production on campus has tripled since the SUN program got off the ground four years ago. Tomorrow (October 10) is UMD's Sustainability Fair , and whether you're a student or a community member, there's a lot for you to take in.

There have been plenty of protests and public feedback, and even Minnesota's Department of Commerce has weighed in on Enbridge's Line 3 tar sands pipeline (they said a new one isn't needed and the old one should be decommissioned). But the Commerce department doesn't have the final say: the Public Utilities Commission does. So a group will gather Saturday on the shores of Gitchi Gammi (Lake Superior) for a rally and march to leave no question in the minds of the PUC where they stand on the issue

Well, some people are listening to the educated. On Friday, all across the globe, young people (and others) will walk out of their schools and workplaces to "demand an end to the age of fossil fuels." Here in Duluth, the Climate Strike Rally will include young activists like Harbor City International School's Harper Glisczinski and Will Smith, and if you're wondering if this is just an excuse to skip school, or if they think their efforts will do any good, just listen to them.