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Stories from March 24, 2023

Great Lakes shipping season begins with little ice, new cargo

Great Lakes shipping season begins with little ice, new cargo

It’s a telltale sign of spring in the Northland. The Great Lakes shipping season has begun. This winter there’s very little ice on Lake Superior to slow the giant freighters.
by Dan Kraker

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Xcel officials answer questions from media, public about tritium leak

Chris Clark, president of Xcel's Minnesota operations, told reporters that a container being used to catch water from the leaking pipe spilled over. The new leak is much smaller than the original one back in November. Clark says there's still no threat to the public. Xcel is hosting an open house on Monday at the Monticello Community Center from 5 to 8 p.m. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Hannah Yang. Music by Gary Meister.

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Northern lights possible Friday night; quiet weekend weather

Northern lights possible Friday night; quiet weekend weather

After Thursday night’s show across Minnesota, some of us may get a chance to see the northern lights again Friday night, especially in northern Minnesota. Clouds may be a problem, though.
by Ron Trenda

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U.S. and Canada reach a deal to close a popular but unofficial border crossing

U.S. and Canada reach a deal to close a popular but unofficial border crossing

President Biden announced a deal that will allow Canada and the U.S. to turn away more migrants at unofficial border crossings. He announced the deal in remarks to the Canadian Parliament.
by Joel Rose

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Art briefs: Advocates rally for creative jobs lost during pandemic

Art briefs: Advocates rally for creative jobs lost during pandemic

Arts advocates gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol to rally for a bill to fund the rehiring of jobs lost in the creative sector during the pandemic; the Central Minnesota Arts Board announced the winners of its Individual Artists Awards; and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival runs April 13-27 and will host a slate of films made in Minnesota.
by Max Sparber and Alex V. Cipolle

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Lawmakers introduce legislation to ease first time homebuying

If you’re trying to buy a home in the Twin Cities, prices last month cooled a bit, much like the temperatures. But they’re still up a couple thousand dollars from a year ago.
by Cathy Wurzer and Lukas Levin

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Bayport riverside residents prepare for possible flooding

Bayport riverside residents prepare for possible flooding

The National Weather Service said major flooding is likely in several areas of Minnesota this year. In the town of Bayport, just south of Stillwater, residents who live close to the St. Croix River are doing what they can now to prepare for high water.
by Mark Zdechlik

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River flooding worries remain high; storm potential late next week

River flooding worries remain high; storm potential late next week

The chance of major flooding this spring on some rivers continues to be much higher than normal spring probabilities. Snowfall and the slow thaw continue to be major factors. March 2011 serves as a good comparison of a snowy season with a more normal thaw.
by Sven Sundgaard

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Xcel to temporarily shut down Monticello plant after tritium leak continues

Xcel Energy says it will power down its Monticello nuclear power plant after the utility discovered more radioactive tritium leaking into groundwater. This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.

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Milder Friday with more sunshine; relatively quiet weekend

Milder Friday with more sunshine; relatively quiet weekend

Temperatures will be several degrees or more warmer for much of Minnesota Friday. We’ll also have more sunshine. The weekend should continue mostly dry weather for most of Minnesota.
by Sven Sundgaard

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'You belong here': Minnesota House passes trans health refuge bill

'You belong here': Minnesota House passes trans health refuge bill

The proposal would grant legal protections for transgender youth and family members who come to Minnesota seeking gender-affirming health care.
by Dana Ferguson

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On Madeline Island, residents aim to preserve their ferry lifeline

On Madeline Island, residents aim to preserve their ferry lifeline

A warming climate and the gradual loss of the ice road on Lake Superior has made the Madeline Island Ferry an even more essential lifeline for residents and tourists. Now the town of La Pointe, Wis., is trying to buy the service to ensure it runs well into the future.
by Dan Kraker

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Xcel to temporarily shut down Monticello plant amid new tritium leak

Xcel to temporarily shut down Monticello plant amid new tritium leak

Crews discovered a container being used to catch the contaminated water as a short-term solution had spilled over, resulting in a new leakage from the same location, Chris Clark, Xcel's Minnesota president, told reporters Friday morning at the nuclear plant.
by Kirsti Marohn

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Iowa governor signs gender-affirming care ban, bathroom law

Iowa governor signs gender-affirming care ban, bathroom law

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a pair of laws restricting the bathrooms transgender students can use and banning gender-affirming medical care amid a flood of legislation nationwide targeting the trans community.
by The Associated Press

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Minnesota officials press fight against 'forever chemicals'

Minnesota officials press fight against 'forever chemicals'

Minnesota pollution and health officials are making the case at the State Capitol to restrict nonessential uses of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. And they're touting the $45.6 million that Gov. Tim Walz has requested in his budget to prevent, manage and clean up the ubiquitous compounds.
by The Associated Press

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