In southeast Minnesota, transmission line for green energy raises environmental concerns A massive expansion of the electricity grid through southern Minnesota has local landowners and conservationists worried about the impact on wildlife, ground water and the land. Utilities say the proj...

A massive expansion of the electricity grid through southern Minnesota has local landowners and conservationists worried about the impact on wildlife, ground water and the land. Utilities say the project is necessary to expand the reach of renewable energy produced in the upper Midwest.

St. Cloud mayor describes year of transition, challenges in first State of City address During his tenure so far, Mayor Jake Anderson has had to navigate the challenges of a budget deficit and a federal immigration enforcement operation.

"How do we integrate? How do we be a stronger community?” Mayor Jake Anderson said. “One of the ways you don't do that is by singling out groups of people and targeting folks and making it not about seeking the worst of the worst, but simply targeting for political points."

Feds to close Grand Rapids lab that does global-leading research on forestry, climate change The Trump administration plans to close two northern Minnesota U.S. Forest Service research facilities, including one in Grand Rapids that led globally recognized research on the impacts of climate ch...

The Trump administration plans to close two northern Minnesota U.S. Forest Service research facilities, including one in Grand Rapids that led globally recognized research on the impacts of climate change on forests and peatlands.

Judge bars property owner from landing helicopter at his Gull Lake home after lengthy legal dispute Twin Cities CEO Doug Schieffer has been fighting with the city of East Gull Lake over whether he can take off, land and store his helicopter on his property. The city says that under its zoning ordina...

The city of East Gull Lake says that under its zoning ordinances, taking off, landing and storing the helicopter constitute an airport and aren’t permitted in residential areas.

A proposed expansion to create the largest livestock farm in Minnesota sparks debate A proposed dairy expansion in the west-central city of Morris could create Minnesota’s largest livestock farm. Critics raise environmental and economic concerns.

Riverview, a dairy company, aims to expand one of its operations near the west-central city of Morris to house more than 18,000 animals, becoming the state's largest livestock farm.

Riverview officials say the proposal could help create jobs. Critics are raising environmental and economic concerns.

Minnesota lawmakers push for water permits for data centers and other big industries The bill’s proponents say the practice of large industries piggybacking on a city’s water-use permit helps them avoid public scrutiny and puts the state’s groundwater supply at risk.

Minnesota is often thought of as a water-rich state. But some environmental groups warn that water-guzzling industries, including hyperscale data centers, bottled water manufacturers and ethanol plants, are increasingly straining the state’s groundwater resources. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

Report: Minnesota to see billions in costs from impacts of climate change The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report found that the costs of inaction, including health effects and damaged infrastructure, far exceed the cost of climate adaptation measures.

A new report estimates that climate change could cost Minnesotans more than $20 billion a year by 2040, if global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and the state doesn’t take action to adapt to a warmer climate. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

Citing increased pressures, Minnesota DNR proposes dropping walleye limit from 6 to 4 The DNR says Minnesota’s iconic state fish is not currently in crisis. But walleye are facing a number of complicating factors that could affect their long-term health – including climate change, inva...

Walleye are facing a number of complicating factors that could affect their long-term health – including climate change, invasive species and increased pressure from anglers armed with better gear and technology. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

Controversy over data centers in Minnesota leads to calls for statewide moratorium, new regulations Opponents of the massive projects say the measures the Legislature passed last year aren’t enough to protect communities, residents and the environment from potential negative impacts. They’re calling...

Opponents of so-called hyperscale data centers are calling on Minnesota lawmakers to adopt stronger regulations this session, including a two-year pause in new construction. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

Trump orders some U.S. coal plants to keep operating. Will Minnesotans foot part of the bill? Electricity customers in 15 Midwest states, including Minnesota, might bear the costs of continuing to operate a Michigan coal plant. A week before it was scheduled to shut down, the U.S. Department o...

Minnesota electricity customers might be on the financial hook for coal plants in other states that were scheduled for retirement, but ordered by the Trump administration to keep operating. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

Amid surge, some greater Minnesota sheriffs plan to continue cooperation with ICE More than half a dozen Minnesota counties have signed agreements to assist ICE to varying degrees, from detaining people in county jails to helping federal agents find and arrest people suspected of i...

Some greater Minnesota counties already cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and say they have no plans to change the practice, despite controversy over the recent federal enforcement surge in Minnesota. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

New St. Cloud State president aims to attract, retain more students A few weeks into his new role, Gregory Tomso said he wants the university to be a more vibrant campus that’s more alluring to students and better connected to the larger community and workforce.

In a Jan. 16 interview, Tomso said he wants the university to be a more vibrant campus that’s more alluring to students and better connected to the larger St. Cloud community and workforce.

Here's where to find all of the @mprnews.org work on the immigration enforcement surge: www.mprnews.org/ice-in-minne...

Trump’s EPA wants to narrow the scope of federal water protections. What does that mean in Minnesota? Environmental advocates say the proposal could lead to increased pollution and destruction of wetlands that provide valuable benefits, including flood protection and wildlife habitat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed dialing back federal protections for many wetlands and streams across the country.
The federal rule change wouldn’t have much effect in Minnesota, where state laws already protect most wetlands and streams.
www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

As demand for energy surges in Minnesota, interest in battery storage booms Batteries can store electricity from solar and wind when it’s plentiful and cheap to produce, and release it when it’s in short supply. There's a growing consensus that batteries are critical to makin...

As demand for energy surges in Minnesota, interest in battery storage booms www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe sues 3M, other companies over 'forever chemicals' contamination The lawsuit says the band's testing found "alarming" levels of PFAS in lake water, fish and deer on the Leech Lake Reservation. Tribal members depend on hunting, fishing and cultivating wild rice for ...

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe sues 3M, other companies over 'forever chemicals' contamination www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

Whitefish Chain’s early attack on invasive species shows signs of success Starry stonewort, a fast-growing invasive algae, was discovered in the Rush Lake channel. The Whitefish Chain of Lakes Association mounted a counter-attack, including hand pulling, chemical treatment ...

Whitefish Chain’s early attack on invasive species shows signs of success www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

Family sues Crow Wing County over 2024 death of man in jail Robert Slaybaugh, 57, was booked into the jail in February 2024 on suspicion of drunk driving. He was later found unresponsive in his cell. The lawsuit claims the county ignored red flags that he was ...

Family sues Crow Wing County over 2024 death of man in jail www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

After federal firings, officials worry about program that helps many Minnesotans pay for heat Minnesota was scheduled to receive an additional $12 million to $13 million in LIHEAP funds to help another 10,000 households. If that payment is delayed, the program could run out of money by mid-Apr...

Minnesota receives more than $100 million every year from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help people pay home heating costs. About 107,000 Minnesota households, including both homeowners and renters, have received help this winter paying utility bills.

Proposed cut in local aid to prevent aquatic invasive species sparks fears of more infested lakes For the past decade, Minnesota has distributed about $10 million a year to counties for aquatic invasive species prevention. Gov. Tim Walz’s proposed budget reduced that amount by 50 percent. Some lak...

Minnesota has distributed about $10 million a year to counties for aquatic invasive species prevention for the past decade. Gov. Tim Walz’s proposed budget reduced that amount by 50 percent and some lake advocates worry cutting the funding could potentially lead to more infested waters.

In St. Cloud, leaders of color aim to fill community's housing need Several organizations in St. Cloud led by people of color are working to address local housing needs. A recent study found the city will need 17,000 new housing units over the next decade and a half t...

Several organizations in St. Cloud led by people of color are working to address local housing needs. A recent study found the city will need 17,000 new housing units over the next decade and a half to meet anticipated demand.

"Ick" factor aside, it was interesting to look back at the rapid development of this scientific process during the COVID pandemic, and how it could help alert scientists to new disease outbreaks in the future.

Former jail nurse charged in death of Hardel Sherrell while in custody in Beltrami County A former nurse at the Beltrami County Jail is facing charges in the 2018 death of Hardel Sherrell, who was incarcerated at the time.

Attorney General Keith Ellison filed charges in Beltrami County on Friday against Michelle Skroch, a former nurse at the county jail. Skroch was the director of nursing for MEnD Correctional Care, the former healthcare provider at the jail, at the time of Hardel Sherrell's death.

COVID in Minnesota: Five years in five graphs The COVID-19 pandemic upended life in Minnesota and across the country in March 2020. Schools and businesses closed. Hospitals nearly reached a breaking point as deaths and hospitalizations leaped. Fi...

The COVID-19 pandemic upended life in Minnesota and across the country in March 2020. Schools and businesses closed. Hospitals nearly reached a breaking point as deaths and hospitalizations leaped. Five charts show different ways in which the pandemic shaped us.

New fines and awareness help reduce litter on Minnesota lakes, but advocates want more action Lake advocates say a recent state law is helping curb the problem of trash left on Minnesota’s frozen lakes. But they're hoping for more action, including passage of a bill requiring state agencies es...

Every winter, thousands of people fish on Minnesota’s frozen lakes. Some leave trash, an unsightly problem that can affect a lake’s health.

Lake advocates say a recent Minnesota law targeting litter left on the ice is helping curb the problem.

As inspiration for ‘The Brutalist,’ famed St. John’s Abbey Church gains renewed interest Completed in 1961, the strikingly unique Abbey Church is the flagship of St. John’s, and a heralded example of modern architecture. It’s also the inspiration for “The Brutalist,” one of the favorites ...

Completed in 1961, the striking Abbey Church is the flagship of St. John’s, and a heralded example of modern architecture.

Northstar commuter trains from Minneapolis to Big Lake could be replaced with bus service After more than 15 years, the days of Northstar commuter rail service between Minneapolis and Big Lake may be numbered. MnDOT and the Met Council are considering replacing Northstar commuter trains th...

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council on Monday issued a joint statement stating that they’ve started to study replacing those Northstar trains through the northwest Twin Cities metro area with buses.

For a St. Cloud family, Trump's pause of refugee admissions brings worry for Afghan relatives One of President Trump’s first actions after taking office was an executive order indefinitely suspending the U.S. refugee resettlement program. A family living in St. Cloud who fled Afghanistan a yea...

Rahima Frogh is grateful her family is safe, and now living in St. Cloud. But she worries about the relatives she left behind.

Minnesota lawmaker wants statewide ban on new billboard signs Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, said the signs detract from the state's natural scenic beauty and pose a safety concern for motorists. Billboard companies say the bill would hurt local businesses and ...

Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, said the signs detract from the state's natural scenic beauty, and pose a safety concern for motorists. He authored a bill that would impose a statewide moratorium on new billboards. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Getting to Green: Minnesota's energy future Minnesota’s plan to go carbon free by 2050

The full Getting to Green series: www.mprnews.org/environment/...