Huskey factory, Colleen ‘Boss Mama’ Myhre and Keith Lockhart from the Boston Pops

Air Date:
Heard On Simply Superior
Demolition and cleanup efforts are ongoing at the Husky Energy oil refinery
Demolition and cleanup takes place at Superior’s oil refinery in 2019. Danielle Kaeding/WPR

Five years ago this spring, an explosion rocked the Husky Oil Refinery in Superior, injuring 36 workers and forcing the evacuation of nearly a tenth of the city's 27,000 residents. It also caused roughly $550 million in damage and released 39,000 pounds of flammable hydrocarbon vapor into the air. Charged with investigating the accident and issuing recommendations to prevent a future disaster is the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The federal agency released its findings in a video last month, portions of which will be presented on WPR’s “Simply Superior” at 10 a.m. Friday, June 30.

Also, the music of Colleen “Boss Mama” has been described as smooth country heartbreak and foot-stomping Americana blues, with subject matters ranging from horses to strippers to whiskey. In an encore broadcast from 2021, she shares her music with Simply Superior host Robin Washington ahead of a July 9 performance at Superior’s Earth Rider Brewery.

Episode Credits

  • Robin Washington Host
  • Robin Washington Producer
  • Ezra Wall Producer
  • Kate Spranger Producer
  • Colleen Myhre Guest

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